Clare 2-13
Kilkenny 1-11

Clare clinched a rare All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship success on Saturday when they overcame Kilkenny challenge at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

A goal from veteran captain Tony Carmody, who was later forced with injury, in the 14th minute set the tone for the Banner men as it gave them a two-point advantage, after the early concession of a Paul O'Flynn goal, and they would never surrender their lead after that.

A flurry of points then arrived for the would-be winners via Shane Golden, Niall Gilligan and Padraig Hickey to send them into a 1-8 to 1-4 half-time lead.

The decisive moment then came ten minutes into the resumption when substitute Dara Keane pounced on a shot from Hickey and blasted in the game's third goal.

O'Flynn looked to haul the holders back into the game with some hard-earned points, but it seemed there was no way Clare would be denied the win and in the end they held on for a victory which saw Carmody hobble up the steps to lift the cup.

Clare: A Fahy; M Earley, P Kelly, A Brigdale; K Moynihan, M Hawes, J Fennessy; R Keane (0-1), S Golden (0-2); M Duggan (0-1), T Carmody (1-0), K Dilleen (0-1); J O'Connor (0-2), N Gilligan (0-3, 0-2 frees), P Hickey (0-2). Subs: D Keane (1-0) for T Carmody, P Fitzpatrick for K Moynihan, D O'Rourke (0-1) for M Duggan, S Chaplin for S Golden, C Tierney for N Gilligan.

Kilkenny: R O'Neill; W Phelan, M Walsh, S Phelan; L Harney, PJ Rowe, S Byrne (0-1); M Grace (0-1, free), W O'Dwyer; P O'Flynn (1-2), S Kenny, JJ Farrell; G Shelly, E Hickey (0-2), A Stapleton. Subs: G Aylward (0-2) for A Stapleton, S Burke (0-2, frees) for JJ Farrell, O Walsh for S Kenny, C Conway (0-1, free) for W O'Dwyer, N Kenny for E Hickey.

Ref: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork). Tweet

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