Clare welcomed Kilkenny to a wet Cusack Park last Sunday as the Banner looked to begin their defence of their 2024 league win in a repeat of last year’s final. The conditions favoured Clare early on with the home side leading by 7 points at one stage in the first half. David Reidy stared for Clare scoring 0-8, 7 of these coming from frees. The tide of the match turned after the first 20 minutes however as Kilkenny gained a foothold with increased tackling and accuracy. While Clare led by 0-12 to 0-10 at the break, Kilkenny maintained possession in the second half as Martin Keoghan and Billy Drennan scored a late brace to gain a first win over Clare in Ennis since 2013.
Clare
1. Eibhear Quilligan
Surprisingly didn’t have a shot to save which was perhaps indicative of the entire match that was
content to pick off points in a blow-for-blow slugfest. However, his distribution and restarts were
impressive and more significant provided enough variety to avoid any predictability as Kilkenny had
hoped to dominate the skies with a towering half-back unit of Mackessy, Blanchfield and Carey.
Rating: 7
2. Ian Macnamara
A long-awaited senior competitive debut for the Killanena defender who battled tirelessly in a
relatively inexperienced rearguard. Crucially the versatile performer kept marker Billy Drennan
scoreless from play but his most important contribution came just before half-time when
persevering against Eoin Cody who had cut in from the right corner, only for Macnamara to snuff
out his shot.
Rating: 6
3. Darragh Lohan
Had his hands full with Eoin Cody who had grabbed a goal in each of his last two outings against
Clare. However, Lohan superbly frustrated the 2023 All-Star and more impressively utilised ever
limb and sinew of his body to do so as on three occasions when grappling with the Ballyhale
forward, he cleverly kicked the ball out of the danger zone. Indeed, Cody had to switch out the field
to get scores for a finish.
Rating: 7
Photos by Gerard O’Neill
4. Conor Leen
Named at full-back but ended up in a man-marking role on the pacy Billy Ryan who roamed deep
from the full-forward line. Kept him scoreless though throughout, even if it did mean that the
Corofin star didn’t get on the ball as much himself either and wasn’t as influential as was expected
considering his experience compared to others in defence. Went off late with a leg injury too.
Rating: 6
6. David McInerney
The fact that his absence was solely felt in the second period demonstrated just how pivotal his
experience and calming influence was on a predominantly rookie defence. Following his recent
wedding bells, the Tulla man enjoyed an equally major reception as captain as he anchored the
defence and provided a steady supplyline, Unlike his wedding though, this time his big day was cut
short after a hamstring injury just before the break.
Rating: 8
7. Cian Galvin
Can rightly feel aggrieved not to have gotten more frees when attempting to break out of defence
in the opening period. Arguably did best in a frantic finale when not only helping to cover the
centre-back role but also winning two crucial frees, teeing up Shane Meehan for a point and even
scoring one himself from the right wing to dramatically snatch back the lead at 0-19 to 0-18 in the
63rd minute.
Rating: 7
Photos by Gerard O’Neill
8. Ryan Taylor
A combination of weather conditions and congestion made it a difficult battleground around the
centre, with the returning Taylor, in his first competitive start since the 2023 All-Ireland Semi-Final
against the same opponents almost 19 months, getting a baptism of fire from the Cats once more.
Did set up Shane Meehan for a point but was replaced by Paddy Donnellan early in the second
period.
Rating: 6
Photos by Gerard O’Neill
9. Cathal Malone
Only playing in his first competitive match in almost six months after a brief sejour to Australia,
normal service resumed for the busy midfielder who immediately showed his Koala-ty when not
only aiding his defence but also tried to burst forward at every available opportunity. Extremely
efficient on the ball and directly set up two points, it’s his relentless unseen work that still baffles
how he was never nominated for an All-Star in 2024.
Rating: 7
Photos by Gerard O’Neill
10. Patrick Crotty
Another to start like a train as he helped steamroll Kilkenny in a scorching opening quarter, with his
aerial prowess central to manufacturing early points for David Reidy and Shane Meehan. With the
Scariff attacker’s confidence up, he did try a bit too hard to get on possession and ended up
crowding the centre instead of remaining on the wing while his tracking also needs work but overall
is an excellent puck-out winning option.
Rating: 6
11. Davie Conroy
Arguably his most impressive performer in a Clare senior jersey, competitively at least, as along
with David Reidy, the Parish man pulled the strings up front for the home side in the first half,
scoring two from play but also earning two frees for his Éire Óg neighbour to convert. Also got on
the scoresheet with an excellent point from the left wing but did wain slightly in terms of influence
as the tie developed.
Rating: 7
12. Sean Rynne
Initially found it difficult to win any primary possession against the towering Fionan Mackessy but
crucially persisted and was much better off the shoulder, receiving a pass from Malone to extend
Clare’s early lead before also raiding for his side’s second last point. At this stage of his
development, the Inagh-Kilnamona star is perhaps better suited to midfield or centre-forward but
time will tell.
Rating: 6
13. Shane Meehan
It’s a big year for Shane Meehan who despite scoring the winning point in last year’s All-Ireland
from the bench, will be determined to finally nail down a starting championship berth for the very
first time. Showed well here, scoring a point in each half and winning frees but too often won
possession running away from goal instead of where he is most dangerous, bearing down on it.
Great start to 2025 though.
Rating: 7
14. Aron Shanagher
His flowing locks were akin to Samson and he will be Delilah to have set up Reidy for the first
score, won an early free and also fire Clare’s final point of the half. Inevitably proved a difficult
opponent for Huw Lawlor and broke a lot of ball which wasn’t fully capitalised upon. The supplyline
was less frequent on the turnover and the Wolfe Tones forward was replaced approaching the final
quarter.
Rating: 6
15. David Reidy
Clare’s best player throughout in an inspirational display of free-taking, support play as well as
being the hosts’ most fouled player. Set the tone for the afternoon with a superb opener and
maintained the scintillating form for the remainder of the half by which time he had scored seven
and set up two more of Clare’s twelve point haul. Had to delve deeper on the restart but continued
to lead by directly teeing up three points for and adding another free.
Rating: 8
17. Jack O’Neill
It’s difficult enough to make your senior debut but to do so in a whole new position just highlights
how valuable the Under 20 could potentially be for Brian Lohan. Got on a lot of ball in the opening
period and while he did at times tend to carry possession into trouble or out over the line instead of
passing, there were much more positives and negatives to suggest that the Clooney-Quin man will
see a lot more action before his league is out.
Rating: 6
18. Keith Smyth
Another to really impress in his limited cameo as the Killanena marksman ignited Clare’s last real
rally with a brace of points in the space of 30 seconds, one instinctively over his shoulder, to regain
full parity with the Cats entering the final ten minutes. Also took the ambitious final free from 35
metres that was tipped away when it was goal or nothing for Clare.
Rating: 6
21: Paddy Donnellan
Came into the action early in the second half when Clare were under increasing pressure and to
his credit added real energy bursting forward from midfield. Scored two inspirational points to level
the tie on both occasions including Clare’s last point and has definitely put himself in the frame for
a starting jersey.
Rating: 7
22. Ross Hayes
Was catapulted straight into centre-back for the injured David McInerney just before the break but
as the game developed, was more a man-marker than defensive sweeper which did allow Kilkenny
to prosper in the space. Needs more game-time to develop but had a great physical tussle with
Eoin Cody for a finish.
Rating: 6
23. John Conneally
Was thrown into the lion’s den entering the final ten minutes when Conor Leen had to go off with
injury and like Hayes, understandably looked a little ring-rusty when having to try and quell
Kilkenny’s insatiable thirst for a first victory over Clare in Ennis since 2013.
Rating: 5
25. Rory Hayes
Came on at the turn of the final quarter for Patrick Crotty but operated more as defensive cover
and shadowed as Clare looked to nullify the wind-assisted Cats. It wasn’t an easy position to
immediately master as the Shannon man mixed the good with the bad defensively in a frantic
finish.
Rating: 5
