Cillian Buckley's last-minute point handed Kilkenny a thrilling 1-18 to 1-17 victory over Clare at Nowlan Park.

A crowd of 7,162 were entranced from start to finish as these two teams slugged it out for survival but, in a tense match where the sides were level on no fewer than ten occasions, it was Buckley's 70th-minute score that saved the Cats' bacon and consigned Clare to relegation to Division 1B.

The Banner County led by the slenderest of margins at the end of an exciting first half, 1-8 to 1-7. The visitors had played with wind advantage but needed a late '65' from Tony Kelly to give them a slight interval advantage.

The winners started brightly with quickfire points from Richie Hogan and Colin Fennelly but when Clare goal machine Shane O'Donnell lifted the sliothar over Eoin Murphy before tapping it to an empty net in the third minute - following up with an instant point - Davy Fitzgerald's charges led by 1-2 to 0-2.

Fennelly and Kelly traded scores and Hogan (free) and Walter Walsh drew the Noresiders within a point before TJ Reid gathered possession and smashed an unstoppable 17th-minute shot into the top corner of the Clare net: 1-5 to 1-3.

Kelly drilled a Clare penalty wide of the target in the 26th minute after Walsh's point for Brian Cody's team was replied to by scores from Conor McGrath and O'Donnell.

Reidy equalised, as did John Conlan, with TJ Reid registering in between and, ultimately, it was Kelly's converted '65' that separated the teams at the short whistle.

Kilkenny moved back in front with points from Reid and Hogan but Kelly equalised from a 41st-minute free.

As both teams refused to concede an inch, exchanges remained tight and Michael Fennelly's point had the sides level again with ten minutes left to play, 1-15 apiece. Former Hurler of the Year Kelly and 2013 All-Ireland final Man of the Match O'Donnell were giving an exhibition of hurling to keep the Shannonsiders in contention.

Seadna Morey edged the Banner County back in front with seven minutes remaining but two Kilkenny points in as many minutes made it 1-17 to 1-16 after 65. An inspirational O'Donnell point tied the scores up for the tenth time to set up a grandstand finale.

As the tension mounted, there were no further scores until Buckley lofted over a monster clinching Kilkenny point on the stroke of 70 minutes.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; S Prendergast, P Murphy, J Holden; K Joyce (0-1), L Ryan, C Buckley (0-2); J Lyng, M Fennelly (0-1); W Walsh (0-3), TJ Reid (1-3), M Ruth; J Farrell, C Fennelly (0-3), R Hogan (0-5, 2f). Sub: M Kelly for L Ryan.

Clare - P Kelly; D McInerney, C Dillon, D O'Donovan; J Browne, Conor Ryan, P Donnellan; C Galvin, P O'Connor; J Conlon (0-1), T Kelly (0-9, 1f, 1'65), Colin Ryan; D Reidy (0-3), S O'Donnell (1-3), C McGrath. Subs: C O'Connell for C McGrath, S Golden for Colin Ryan, A Cunningham for C O'Connell, S Morey (0-1) for C Galvin, B Duggan for T Kelly.

Referee - C McAllister.

Tweet

Most Read Stories