Clare will be playing Allianz Division 1B hurling next season after just coming up short this afternoon in a thrilling relegation clash in Nowlan Park. Davy Fitzgerald saw his side die on their backs in a 1-18 to 1-17 loss to the All-Ireland champions. No-one would have complained if there was extra time as both sides had served up a thrilling spectacle in difficult weather conditions. But in the only added on minute at the end of the seventy, TJ Reid pulled on a loose clearance from Patrick Kelly and set up wing-back Cillian Buckely to split the posts to edge the home side in front before the full-time whistle
Brian Cody was able to welcome back his Ballyhale contingent and with a more settled look to his side Kilkenny got the opening score after just 12 seconds. However Clare responded with a magnificent goal from Shane O Donnell,and were ahead by 1-3 to 0-2 after five minutes.
The Ennis man was left one-on-one with Paul Murphy and showed his incredible pace to flick the ball past Eoin Murphy and finish before the despairing block of Cillian Buckley.
However with Kilkenny dominating possession,especially around the middle, it was inevitable they would strike back. And it was one of their returning Ballyhale contingent that did the necessary. TJ Reid snatched a ball from the sky on the edge of the parallelogram and twisted to angle a shot high into Patrick Kelly's net.
The game was being played at a ferocious pace and at half time Davy Fitzgerald's side led by 1-8 to 1-7 with Tony Kelly and the lively O'Donnell impressing while Colin Fennelly and Water Walsh hurled a huge amount of ball for the home side.
After the break both sides traded scores with Tony Kelly putting on a masterclass as he slotted over from a variety of angles. Michael Fennelly also thundered into the game for the home side and entering the final minutes it was deadlocked at 1-17 each.
That was until Reid's hard work paid off in spectacular fashion for the home side who maintain their top-flight status at the expense of the 2013 All-Ireland champions.
