Clare 1-16
Kilkenny 0-18
Clare secured their first competitive victory over Kilkenny in nine years this afternoon as the All-Ireland champions edged out their league equivalents in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Far from being a cobweb blowing league opener, it was a full blooded seesaw affair in front of 10,125 that saw Clare set the pace for the majority before finally seeing off a stubborn Kilkenny challenge.
The hosts were settled by 1-5 from Colin Ryan in the opening quarter while Henry Shefflin kept Kilkenny within touching distance, mainly through frees.
When Ryan finally received assistance in the scoring stakes from John Conlon and Conor McGrath, Clare pushed 1-8 to 0-6 clear by the 26th minute.
However, inevitably it was the returning Shefflin who led a late revival, with five unanswered points increasing his tally to seven and ensuring parity at 1-08 to 0-11 at half-time.
The second half was equally as tense as the sides went score for score while Shefflin also had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Donal Tuohy in the 45th minute.
The defending champions did finally take the lead ten minutes later with a Padraig Walsh point but it only seemed to motivate the home side even further as three late points from Cathal O’Connell, Conor McGrath and Colin Ryan ensured a perfect start for the Banner.
Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 1-9 (7f), Conor McGrath 0-3, John Conlon 0-1, Patrick Donnellan 0-1, Colm Galvin 0-1, Cathal O’Connell 0-1
Scorers for Kilkenny: Henry Shefflin 0-12 (8f, 2’65), Walter Walsh 0-2, Padraig Walsh 0-2, Jonjoe Farrell 0-1, Colin Fennelly 0-1
CLARE: Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Cian Dillon (Crusheen), David McInerney (Tulla), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate); Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge); Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), John Conlon (Clonlara); Conor McGrath (Cratloe), Shane O’Donnell (Éíre Óg), Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
Subs: Padraic Collins (Cratloe) for Kelly (48), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) for Bugler (55), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara) for Golden (60)
KILKENNY: David Herity (Dunnamaggin); Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own), Michael Walsh (Young Irelands), Brian Kennedy (St Lachtain’s); Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Lester Ryan (Clara), Paul Murphy (Danesfort); Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan); Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); Jonjoe Farrell (Thomastown), Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
Subs: Jackie Tyrell (James Stephens) for Fogarty (HT), Joe Brennan (St Patrick’s) for Kelly (53), Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds) for W. Walsh (65), Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan) for Buckley (65)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
Report by Eoin Brennan.
Seems to be fairly grounded. Best of luck to him!
Wow. That closing piece of advice is powerful for a 16 year old. I like him already.
Not going to be popular but gaa is the main reason Ireland isn’t producing more professional sports people. Nothing against gaa but young kids are playing a sport they can’t make a living from when they may make a career from another sport with the same input.
@Harry Trafford: that is of no fault of the GAA to be fair. It’s up to the FAI to attract these young players to their product…every country faces the same issue, sports competing with other sports to attract young participants. Ireland is no different.
@Harry Trafford: not everything is about money. For some playing gaa and having a good job etc is enough for them. They play the sport and can obtain legendary local status. For others it’s about chasing huge wads of cash in a more commercial industry overseas with huge failure rates. Retire & play golf & grow a beer belly. Different folks, different strokes. As long as you’re happy. That’s the main thing.
@Ottomaaan: I agree the FAI need to pull the finger out. Ireland have some of the best sports people in the world right across the board. Just the article mentions a career in GAA but it’s an amature sport, all be it played with a professional attitude.
@Ronan McDermott: a career in sport isn’t all about money, not everyone makes massive wads of cash only the very small majority. I’m not referring to just becoming a footballer. You can make a decent wage in most sports at a professional level.
@Harry Trafford: I hear you. Not disagreeing with you as such. Lots of sports have salary caps etc. By being involved with gaa you could have a very good job arranged with a sponsor etc. So technically you’d still be making money with a company that’ll work around your schedule.
@Ronan McDermott: very small minded, being a top footballer against the billions that play or the the top hurler against the 100s that play
@tubbsyf: I’m not small minded at all. Different folks, different strokes is all I said.
“Stay committed to doing it. Don’t go over there and think you’ve made it. You’re only playing 18s football. You haven’t made it anywhere yet, so keep your head down and keep working away.” Sounds like Roy Keane got to him.
I think this is a story the GAA need to be cery cognisant of. The way the competitions are set up now you only have a few counties who are ever likely to win anything with back doors, super 8′s etc making it almost impossible for one of the “smaller” teams like wicklow to hold onto or encourage their best players to stick with the support. The constant push for revenue generated by the biggest counties making finals is seeing the players from the top counties putting in even more effort in the knowledge they might win something while concurrently you have teams from weaker counties who are saying upwards of 40 players are refusing to come into their County set ups.
@Dino Baggio: This is vividly highlighted in Munster where they seed the draw to have Cork and Kerry in the football final every year even though Cork are at best the third best team in Munster and the likes of Limerick footballers are struggling to get players to commit. The drain of players to pro sports is going to get worse unless the Gaa address this issue.
Only just came across this article. Conor was with Mill Celtic from the age of 11 before joining Newbridge Town at 13. He was in the KDUL Academy from 11 and played inter league at u 12 and u 13. Not sure where the only playing soccer since 14 is coming from
Bully Beef?