KILKENNY...3-17 CLARE...1-16: All-Ireland champions Kilkenny made the best of things when on top and went on to win this interesting senior hurling challenge game at Clara yesterday.

Clare turned in a strong second half after being somewhat untidy in their defensive play during the opening period.

There was little or nothing between the teams during the opening quarter. A 16th minute goal from a free by Niall Gilligan helped Clare reduce the deficit to the minimum, 1-5 to 0-7.

However, from there to the break Kilkenny were impressive. In the 18th minute a foul on Tommy Walsh earned them a penalty, which Jimmy Coogan scored.

Coogan also shot a second goal, and that, along with a 28 minute goal from John Maher, helped the winners into a strong interval lead of 3-10 to 1-6.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, B Hogan, M Phelan; S Dowling, P Barry, R Mullally; D Lyng (0-3), P Mullally (0-1); T Walsh (0-2), J Hoyne (0-1), P Tennyson (0-4); J Maher (1-1), M Comerford, J Coogan (2-5). Subs: J Ryall for Dowling, K Coogan for R Mullally, E Mackey for Barry.

CLARE: D Fitzgerald; C Harrison, B Lohan, G O'Grady; D Hoey, D McMahon, B Lynch; T Holland, C Lynch (0-3); F Lohan, G Quinn (0-1), T Griffin (0-2); N Gilligan (1-7), T Carmody (0-2), D O'Connell. Subs: P Vaughan (0-1) for B Lynch, B O'Connell for D McMahon, D Clancy for Hoey, B Colbert for D O'Connell, S McMahon for Harrison, S Moloney for Carmody.

Referee: John Direen (Kilkenny).