Kilkenny duo ensure victory over Clare
Clare 1-12 Kilkenny 2-10
First-half goals from All-stars DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin helped Kilkenny to a much-needed win over current league leaders Waterford in windy conditions at Cusack Park.
But the Banner men will be kicking themselves after Seanie McMahon missed an injury time chance to level the game from 40 metres out, after Niall Gilligan had been fouled.
The Cats opened well, firing over three unanswered scores, with Shefflin’s second free coming on 9 minutes.
Alan Markham and Niall Gilligan pointed frees for Clare in reply, and before Shefflin slotted over another free on 21 minutes, the game was disrupted when Ollie Baker clashed with Paddy Mullally, forcing the Kilkenny midfielder off with a blood injury.
Frank Lohan won a 23rd minute free for Markham to point and five minutes later Gilligan lashed home a penalty low to James McGarry’s net to level at 1-3 to 0-6.
Two quick fire Kilkenny goals on 28 and 35 minutes from 20-metre frees from first Carey and second from Shefflin, a shoulder high hit, put the visitors into a 2-7 to 1-4 half time lead.
Markham had hit a third free in first half stoppage time and points from McMahon (’65) and Gilligan put just two points between the sides on 51 minutes.
Points from Shefflin, who was stretchered off with a late injury, and a 20-metre run and score from Carey lifted the Cats back into a three-point advantage but backed by the wind, Clare made it a single score game on 65 minutes when McMahon and David Forde, but McMahon could not stretch their unbeaten run to four games, as Kilkenny held on for their second win.
