Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the second Allianz League hurling semi-final as Kilkenny face Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare.
Throw-in at Semple Stadium is 4pm and we’ll have all the build-up between now and then.
Clare, meanwhile, have recalled Podge Collins for this last four clash.
The Banner have made three changes in total with David Fitzgerald making his first start, replacing Conor Ryan, while Óisin O’Brien comes in for Ciaran O’Doherty at corner back.
Clare:
1. Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona)
2. Óisin O’Brien (Clonlara)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5. Conor Cleary (St. Joseph’s Miltown / Kilmaley)
6. Pat O’Connor (Tubber)
7. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
9. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
10. John Conlon (Clonlara)
11. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
12. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
13. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
14. Darach Honan (Clonlara)
15. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
Kilkenny have made five changes for today. Jackie Tyrrell and Joey Holden come in for the injured Paul Murphy and Robert Lennon in defence, while Padraig Walsh’s inclusion at half-back means Cillian Buckley can take his place in midfield instead of Michael Fennelly.
TJ Reid and Richie Hogan feature in the forward line, with the injured Colin Fennelly and Liam Blanchfield making way.
In addition, Conor Delaney, Michael Rice, Joe Lyng and Alan Murphy have all come in to the match-day squad.
Kilkenny:
1 Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2 Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens)
3 Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4 Shane Prendergast (Clara)
5 Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6 Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge)
7 Conor O’Shea (Clara)
8 Lester Ryan (Clara)
9 Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
10 Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
11 T J Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12 Kevin Kelly (St Patricks)
13 John Power (Carickshock)
14 Jonjo Farrell (Thomastown)
15 Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
Full-time in the first semi-final, with Waterford defeating Limerick by 11 points.
Not long to go now until throw-in at Semple. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
After Waterford’s impressive win over Limerick, the attention now turns to the meeting of Kilkenny and Clare.
We’re all set for action in Thurles.
But before then it’s the national anthem. Healthy looking crowd in place for the second semi-final. Here we go.
And we’re away!
Clare 0-1 Kilkenny 0-0
The Banner up and running. Shane Prendergast is overly physical in the challenge with John Conlon and Conor McGrath opens the scoring with a free.
Clare 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1
Lovely score from Richie Hogan as he opens Kilkenny’s account. Lively start to proceedings.
Clare 0-2 Kilkenny 0-1
Davy Fitz’s side regain the lead as Aaron Cunningham dissects the posts with a sweet strike from under the stand on the far side.
Clare 0-4 Kilkenny 0-1
Podge Collins looks to get in on the act but his effort is deflected behind. From the resulting ’65, McGrath extends Clare’s lead and then Collins gets his name on the scoreboard with a super point.
Clare 0-5 Kilkenny 0-1
An extremely bright start from Clare and that’s been translated into points as McGrath’s free puts the Banner County four points ahead.
Richie Hogan in possession.
Clare 0-5 Kilkenny 0-2
Brian Cody’s men have yet to click into gear and while TJ Reid fires over a free, Clare go straight down the other end with Darach Honan pointing.
GOAL! Clare 1-7 Kilkenny 0-3
What a start from Clare! A high ball isn’t dealt with by the Kilkenny goalkeeper and the sliotar drops to John Conlon who slaps it home from a couple of yards out.
Moments later, Cunningham adds another point to Clare’s tally.
Clare 1-7 Kilkenny 0-5
The Cats look to work their way back into the contest. Two points in quick succession from TJ Reid and Jonjo Farrell keeps the scoreboard ticking over.
GOAL! Clare 2-7 Kilkenny 0-5
Clare are on fire. Cunningham weaves his way through and fires low past Eoin Murphy, who ought to have done better.
At the other end, TJ Reid and Richie Hogan come close to finding the breakthrough for Kilkenny.
Clare 2-8 Kilkenny 0-6
Points at both end but Brian Cody has made an early change. Jackie Tyrrell has been hauled off with Brian Kennedy coming on in his place.
Aaron Cunningham and Kieran Joyce.
Clare 2-9 Kilkenny 0-7
Breathless stuff. Padraig Walsh reduces the deficit to seven with a surging run and score but then Colm Galvin cancels it out with a point of his own.
Clare 3-9 Kilkenny 0-7
Eoin Murphy is having an absolute nightmare. He fails to deal with another highball and there’s a bit of a goalmouth scramble. It eventually drops to Cunningham, who fires in his second goal.
Clare 3-10 Kilkenny 0-9
End-to-end. Colm Galvin keeps Clare on the front foot but John Power responds for Kilkenny. It’s been a brilliant 30 minutes of hurling.
Clare 3-12 Kilkenny 0-9
While Kilkenny have been at sixes and sevens defensively, Aaron Cunningham has been in superb form. He’s dominating out there and fires over another point before Conlon registers another.
The lead is now 12 points.
Clare 3-12 Kilkenny 0-10
Kilkenny reach double-figures as Kevin Kelly points but the Cats are going to need a big fightback in Thurles.
Half-time: Clare 3-12 Kilkenny 0-10
A brilliant half from Clare with Kilkenny unable to deal with their intensity. Davy Fitz’s men were clinical and thoroughly deserve their half-time lead.
Back underway at Semple! Can Kilkenny turn it around in this second-half or will Clare’s dominance continue?
Clare 3-13 Kilkenny 0-11
And Clare have picked up where they left off. McGrath with a classy score, before Padraig Walsh responds for the Cats.
Attendance of 20,481 at Semple Stadium for this semi-final double-header.
GOAL! Clare 3-14 Kilkenny 1-11
The start of the comeback? TJ Reid’s free somehow finds the back of the net from 20 yards out.
Clare 3-14 Kilkenny 1-13
The Cats are beginning to find their stride. TJ Reid fires over another point and then Cillian Buckley reduces the deficit further with a great running point from the right touchline.
Clare 3-16 Kilkenny 1-14
Clare still have breathing space but you just sense Kilkenny are settling into the contest now. It’s taken them a while but Cody’s men are moving through the gears.
Walter Walsh dissects the posts but David Reidy and Darach Honan respond for Clare.
GOAL! Clare 4-16 Kilkenny 1-14
What a strike! McGrath with Clare’s fourth goal of the match after bursting through to leave the goalkeeper with no chance.
Clare 4-18 Kilkenny 1-14
Moments after coming off the bench, Tony Kelly gets in on the act and that brings a huge roar from the Clare supporters.
It’s been a difficult afternoon for Brian Cody.
GOAL! Clare 4-18 Kilkenny 2-14
The Cats aren’t prepared to surrender just yet. Tony Kelly points again but Jonjo Farrell fires home Kilkenny’s second goal at the other end.
Clare 4-18 Kilkenny 2-17
Kilkenny slowly closing the gap. Walsh and Reid point and then the latter fires over another fine score to reduce the deficit further. 10 minutes to go in Thurles.
Clare 4-20 Kilkenny 2-17
Clare needed that. Galvin and Cathal O’Connell add two further points and they’re just pulling clear now with time running out for Kilkenny.
Clare 4-20 Kilkenny 2-17
Clare within touching distance now. Just two minutes left on the clock.
Four minutes of injury time.
Clare 4-22 Kilkenny 2-19
The sides exchange points in the closing stages.
Full-time! Clare 4-22 Kilkenny 2-19
That was a clinical performance from Clare and a very impressive one too. It’s they who advance to the league decider against Waterford on 1 May.
Thanks for joining us this afternoon for the Allianz League hurling semi-final double-header. Full report from Thurles to follow.
