Clare are Allianz Hurling League champions for the first time in eight years after defeating Kilkenny by 3-16 to 1-20 at Semple Stadium this evening.

Two well-timed goals from Aidan McCarthy and another from David Fitzgerald proved the difference as they held on to deny a late rally from the Leinster champions in this Division 1 decider.

Minus the services of injured talisman TJ Reid, the Cats had been 0-9 to 0-7 in front after the opening 30 minutes but a superbly taken goal from the deadly McCarthy would see Brian Lohan’s men surge ahead and take in a 1-8 to 0-9 lead at the half.

Martin Keoghan trimmed the Kilkenny deficit down to one in the opening minutes of the restart but Clare midfielder Fitzgerald would raise his team’s second green flag after bursting through to find the net.

From there, the Munster side opening up a six-point advantage and it’d be seven after the points of Eoin Cody and John Donnelly were erased by McCarthy’s second goal in the 53rd minute.

Derek Lyng’s charges kept the heat on their opponents and a goal from Cody left three in it down the home stretch but Clare saw out the win with a couple of late McCarthy frees.

WATCH: FULL-TIME HIGHLIGHTS 🚨📺

Clare are the 2024 Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Champions. 🏆🏆@GaaClare 3-16@KilkennyCLG 1-20

Enjoy the best of a thrilling final with #GAANOW 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Uqrvt6oMzX

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 6, 2024

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