TJ’s return can’t prevent Clare victory
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
Allianz National Hurling League
Round 4
Cusack Park, Ennis
Clare 0-19
Kilkenny 0-16
Kilkenny’s unbeaten start to the Allianz League was halted last weekend in Ennis as Brian Lohan’s Clare ran out 3-point winners, and on the balance of play, were probably deserving winners in the end. Derek Lyng’s charges struggled to create chances from play and only two of the Cats starting six forwards scored from play during a physical clash at Cusack Park. TJ Reid top scored for the Noresiders on his return to intercounty action.
The visitors got off to a quick start, Adrian Mullen bursting forward in the opening seconds before being fouled, and this presented the first chance in 2024 for TJ Reid to split the posts for his beloved Kilkenny, and the veteran did just that from the resulting free. Clare were presented with two opportunities to level matters inside the first 6 minutes, but the usually reliable Mark Rodgers pulled both placed ball attempts wide for the home side.
The Banner did open their account in the 7th minute thanks to a nice effort from wing-forward Peter Duggan who found himself in acres of space about ‘65 out in a cental area, the Clooney-Quin man was never going to pass up that chance. Mark Rodgers then put the home side ahead a minute later from a free after Tommy Walsh was adjudged to have fouled Keith Smyth, third time lucky for the Scariff man.
Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Darragh Corcoran then took a pop pass and powered down the left side of the field, but his hand pass was intercepted by the Clare defence and in his attempts to halt the break, Cian Kenny was shown an early yellow card from referee James Owens. From the next attack, wing-back Conor Leen pick up the ball and struck it off his left side for a lovely score before fine play by Darragh Lohan saw the Wolfe Tones Na Sionna man pick out the ever-moving David Reidy, who turned Richie Reid before dissecting the posts with a nice effort.
Derek Lyng’s side were struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game, got a much-needed score in the 13th minute courtesy of David Blanchfield who sent over a magnificent point from halfway. Clare replied immediately via the talented David Fitzgerald who beat Shane Murphy to the catch before showing good pace to create and nail the scoring opportunity. Richie Reid, who looked a little rusty in the opening quarter, was then blown-up for a pull on the shoulder of Mark Rodgers, this time the free was taken by Aidan McCarthy, who popped over his first score of the game.
The Cats then managed to turn over Darragh Lohan and sent a long delivery towards Adrian Mullan who did brilliantly to emerge from two opposition defenders with the ball. As the former captain sought to shake off the challenges, he gave a pass to TJ inside and while there may have been a goal chance, referee Owens brought play back for the free which TJ duly converted for just his sides 3rd point of the match.
TJ was heavily involved in the next score also. Cian Kenny sent a good delivery in towards the Shamrocks man who under pressure managed to secure possession and scanned for options and had the vision to pick out Paddy Deegan who rifled over his first point as Kilkenny captain. Brian Lohan’s men then stopped the visitors scoring streak when despite a lovely block by Huw Lawlor, Keith Smyth outmuscled Tommy Walsh before pointing from a tight angle. From the restart, The Banner forced the turnover and David Fitzgerald picked up the sliotar on halfway before sprinting clear of the trailing Darragh Corcoran and shortening his grip to strike his second point of the day in Ennis.
John Conlon’s battle with TJ was interesting to follow and during their next contest for possession, the Clonlara man was blown for a couple of grabs and tugs on Reid. TJ duly popped over the placed ball to reduce the Clare lead to 3 points with almost 22 minutes on the clock. David Fitzgerald then notched his 3rd point of the day when his effort was adjudged to have gone over the bar, despite Eoin Murphy’s best attempts to prevent the score.
Another long delivery in and around the house saw a scramble for possession and despite losing his hurl, Cian Kenny showed nifty footwork to flick up the sliotar and give a nice pass to the supporting Eoin Cody who took a lovely point. Shane Murphy then saw his name taken following a high challenge on the threatening David Fitzgerald and Aidan McCarthy struck over the free that was awarded. Paddy Deegan then showed his long-range shooting ability to fire over a stunning point from the middle of the park to reduce the deficit to just two points.
Dicksboro’s Harry Shine then showed patience and vision as he gave a lovely pass to The Village’s Cian Kenny who was fouled, and this indiscretion allowed TJ Reid to point and leave just the bare minimum between the sides at Cusack Park with 32 minutes played. Adam Hogan then saw yellow for the home side, and this allowed TJ to draw the sides level with about one minute of normal time remaining in the opening period.
The last two scores of an intriguing first half both came from the placed ball, and another brace of scores for Aidan McCarthy after referee Owens had blown for consecutive fouls on Peter Duggan to leave the halftime score in Ennis, Clare 0-11, Kilkenny 0-9.
Derek Lyng Sent on John Donnelly for the second half, in place of Richie Reid and the half started a little scrappily, with both sides hitting wide’s early on. This pattern was broken on 42 minutes when the dangerous Peter Duggan was again fouled, this time David Blanchfield was the offender. Aidan McCarthy popped over the close range free for the opening score of the second period.
Captain Paddy Deegan then set up John Donnelly and the Thomastown man fired over a lovely point to get on the scoresheet. Cian Kenny then did well to win a free, which saw Darragh Lohan booked, and TJ got his first point of the second half to make it a 1-point game again. Young Harry Shine then made way for Tullaroan’s Gearoid Dunne as the Cats sought to freshen up their attack.
Killanena’s Keith Smyth then got the better of Tommy Walsh and Adrian Mullen before rifling over his second score of the match. Rory Hayes was then penalised for wrestling John Donnelly to the ground and TJ converted the free that followed. Then came a chance for the game’s first goal. Bustling full-forward Aidan McCarthy gave a lovely pass to David Fitzgerald show steadied himself before striking a fierce shot that Eoin Murphy did brilliantly to deflect over the bar.
John Donnelly’s battling qualities then drew a free, much to dismay of the Clare players, but TJ ignored the complaints and fired over another placed ball to reduce the lead to the minimum again. Lohan’s charges responded and converted a placed ball of their own from Aidan McCarthy. Another probing delivery into the Clare defence caused some problems, and after a bit of a schemozzle, the ball broke to John Donnelly, who pointed from a tight angle as he again underlined his importance to this Kilkenny side.
A strange decision by referee James Owens then gave TJ the opportunity to draw the sides level and did just that in his first outing of the season in Stripes. From the restart, Peter Duggan took a lovely catch before sending a pass across the pitch to David Fitzgerald. The Inagh-Kilnamona man secured possession, turned inside Shane Murphy before dispatching a fantastic score between The Cats posts. Kilkenny then almost fashioned a goal themselves, when TJ did brilliantly to win the ball and get his shot away, which the Clare keeper, Eamonn Foudy parried, and then John Donnelly’s follow-up effort struck the netminder and The Banner faithful breathed a huge sigh of relief.
TJ Reid and John Donnelly then combined again to allow the latter to strike over another cracking score from distance. With just a couple of minutes of normal time remaining, things got a little heated, with lots of pushing and shoving that resulted in 3 yellow cards being issued, one of which was to Huw Lawlor. The referee threw the ball in and immediately blew for a foul on Peter Duggan, which Aidan McCarthy punished by converting the free to edge Clare back in the lead.
Banner sub Shane Meehan then gave a lovely pass to wing-back Diarmuid Ryan who fired over a fine point, to the approving home crowd in attendance. Kilkenny two down in injury time. Just as the announcer in Cusack Park signaled 4 minutes of additional time, Clare won the restart and slipped the ball to Peter Duggan just outside his own ‘65. The Clooney-Quin man didn’t hesitate and struck over one of the scores of the game to push the home sides lead to 3 points.
Referee Owens then issued a second yellow card to Darragh Lohan and yellow to TJ. Kilkenny needed a goal, and they came close, but somehow Clare stood firm, got the rub of the green and held on for a 3-point win at Cusack Park. Final score, Clare 0-19, Kilkenny 0-16.
Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-6 frees, David Fitzgerald 0-5, Keith Smyth 0-2, Peter Duggan 0-2, Conor Leen 0-1, David Reidy 0-1, Mark Rodgers 0-1 free, Diarmuid Ryan 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-9 frees, John Donnelly 0-3, Paddy Deegan 0-2, David Blanchfield 0-1, Eoin Cody 0-1.
Red card: Darragh Lohan (72)
CLARE: E Foudy; P Flanagan, C Cleary, A Hogan; D Ryan, J Conlon, C Leen; C Galvin, D Lohan; D Fitzgerald, D Reidy, P Duggan; M Rodgers, A McCarthy, K Smyth.
Subs: Seadna Morey for Leen (half-time), R Hayes for Hogan (39), S Rynne for Conlon (46), S Meehan for Rodgers (61), Ross Hayes for Flanagan (68).
KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, S Murphy; D Corcoran, M Carey; A Mullen, TJ Reid, P Deegan; C Kenny, E Cody, H Shine.
Subs: C Buckley for Blanchfield (temp 35-37), J Donnelly for Reid (half-time), G Dunne for Shine (46), T Clifford for Kenny (57).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford)
