Clare denied victory over Kilkenny after late Murphy score earns draw

Kilkenny 1-19 Clare 3-13

A late Alan Murphy pointed free ensured a share of the spoils between Kilkenny and Clare at UPMC Nowlan Park this afternoon.

Clare entered this contest unbeaten, and looked set for victory after Shane O'Donnell netted the second of his goals on the day on the stroke of 70 minutes.

That three-pointer levelled the tie at 3-12 to 1-18, but momentum was now with the visitors.

An Aaron Cunningham point edged Clare ahead, before Murphy's seventh point from a placed ball ensured a share of the spoils.

This was an epic encounter, and following an entertaining opening half Clare led by 2-7 to 0-10 at the break.

O'Donnell grabbed Clare's opening goal in the fifth minute, with the sides tied at 1-1 to 0-4 just five minutes later.

Adrian Mullen and Billy Ryan were among Kilkenny's opening point scorers, in a game which was played in ideal conditions.

Colin Guilfoyle grabbed Clare's opening point, with the visitors grabbing their second goal from Ryan Taylor after initial good work by the Clare defence.

Clare pushed 2-6 to 0-8 ahead, with Kilkenny losing Walter Walsh to injury, after he picked up a heavy knock after 20 minutes.

Richie Hogan kept Kilkenny in touch, but Clare continued to work hard, and deserved their three-point interval lead.

Murphy continued to impress from placed balls for Kilkenny, before a goal from Ger Aylward brought the hosts back into contention.

Substitute Aylward added a point to leave the score at 1-14 to 2-9 in Kilkenny's favour.

Tony Kelly kept Clare in touch, before a frantic finish, where in the end a share of the spoils was the fairest result.

Scorers for Kilkenny: A Murphy 0-7 (7fs); G Aylward 1-1; A Mullen, W Walsh, J Donnelly 0-2 each; B Ryan, E Cody, R Leahy, R Hogan, D Mullen 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: S O'Donnell 2-1; T Kelly 0-7 (5fs); R Taylor 1-0; D Reidy, J Conlon, A Cunningham, D Ryan, C Guilfoyle 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: D Brennan; C Browne, H Lawlor, C Wallace; C Delaney, P Deegan, D Mullen; C Buckley, A Murphy; A Mullen, J Donnelly, R Leahy; B Ryan, R Hogan, W Walsh. Subs: G Aylward for A Mullen (22 inj); T Walsh for Browne (HT); B Sheehan for Hogan (44); E Cody for Ryan (59)

CLARE: D Tuohy; L Corry, C Cleary, J Browne; S O'Halloran, P O'Connor, A McCarthy; D McInerney, T Kelly; C Guilfoyle, D Reidy, D McMahon; R Taylor, J Conlon, S O'Donnell. Subs: A Shanagher for Conlon (44); D Ryan for Guilfoyle (45); A Cunningham for Reidy (59); P Collins for Taylor (64): S Morey for McMahon (68).

REFEREE: R Kelly (Kildare)