Clara 1-19
Carrickshock 0-8
KILKENNY CHAMPIONS CLARA held on to their hurling crown as they blasted their way past Carrickshock and back into a county final.
Led by star performer Lester Ryan in midfield the men in maroon were never overly troubled as they comfortably coped with everything Carrickshock could muster in a one-sided semi-final in Nowlan Park.
Much of the early damage in a stop-start first quarter was caused by Keith Hogan. Twice he converted frees from inside his own half, adding another point from play as Clara fashioned a solid lead.
Darragh Brennan and Richie Power (free) replied for Carrickshock, but after 19 minutes they were five points down (0-7 to 0-2) thanks to a brace from the flying Jack Langton.
Power (free) and Michael Rohan hit back, but the game unravelled for Carrickshock in the closing stages of the half.
Two late Keith Hogan frees and a Chris Bolger point stretched Clara’s lead to six points, before Bolger robbed possession from a short puck-out and teed up James Nolan to blast an injury-time strike to the net.
That goal rocked Carrickshock, leaving them facing a nine-point gap at the break (1-10 to 0-4).
Carrickshock tried to muster a revival in the second half, shooting three of the opening four points, once Clara clicked into gear there was no way back.
In a fine scoring burst the reigning county champions rattled off eight points without reply – Conor O’Shea and Liam Ryan were to the fore in that run – as they set about sealing their final berth long before full-time.
They will be back in Nowlan Park on November 16 to play Ballyhale Shamrocks in the decider.
Scorers for Clara: Keith Hogan (0-6, 0-4f); James Nolan (1-1); Conor O’Shea and Liam Ryan (0-3 each); Jack Langton (0-2); David Langton, Lester Ryan, Chris Bolger and Austin Murphy (0-1 each).
Scorers for Carrickshock: Richie Power (0-3, 0-3f); John Dalton, Jamie Power, Kevin Farrell, Darragh Brennan and Michael Rohan (0-1 each).
CLARA
1 Killian Phelan
2 Dermot Nolan
3 Sean O’Shea
17 Shane Prendergast
5 Neal Prendergast
6 Tom Ryan
7 David Langton
8 Lester Ryan
9 Jack Langton
4 Conor O’Shea
11 Keith Hogan
12 Liam Ryan
13 Chris Bolger
14 Austin Murphy
15 James Nolan
Subs: 22 David Prendergast for Nolan, 60 mins; 20 John Murphy for Hogan, 60 mins.
CARRICKSHOCK
1 John Butler
2 John Murphy
3 John Dalton
4 David Franks
17 Darren O’Dwyer
6 John Tennyson
7 Pat Tennyson
8 John Cahill
9 Paddy Mulcahy
10 Jamie Power
11 John Power
21 Darragh Brennan
13 Kevin Farrell
14 Richie Power
15 Michael Rohan
Subs: 5 Shane Power for Mulcahy, 31 mins; 18 Brian Donovan for Brennan, 43 mins; 19 Richie Frisby for P. Tennyson, 52 mins; 20 James Grace for O’Dwyer, 52 mins.