Clare 0-24 Kilkenny 2-16 (FT) - Banner book All-Ireland final spot after comeback win over Cats

Thanks for joining us on today’s live blog. There will be lots more coverage, analysis and reaction to Clare’s win on The Irish Times website over the course of the evening from Seán Moran, Denis Walsh and Nicky English. We’ll be back again tomorrow for a live blog of Limerick v Cork.

Here is a brief video of the game’s highlights via GAANow.

Kilkenny will rue not taking more of those first-half goal chances but Clare deserve huge credit for their second-half display. They could have easily packed up the tent for the year on the back of a poor opening period, but they were the dominant team after the break. The momentum was with the Banner for the vast majority of the second half, Kilkenny just couldn’t wrestle it back. One wonders will we see TJ Reid in a Kilkenny jersey again? What a player.

Clare celebrations at the final whistle.

We will have an all-Munster All-Ireland final this year. Limerick take on Cork tomorrow. Clare will be waiting for the winner.

FULL-TIME: Clare 0-24 Kilkenny 2-16

75mins: Clare 0-24 Kilkenny 2-16

Richie Reid drops a free in around the square but Clare clear their lines. There’s the final whistle. It’s all over. Clare have won. The Banner are through to the All-Ireland final for the first time since 2013. A super second-half display by Clare.

72mins: Clare 0-24 Kilkenny 2-16

Tony Kelly shows superb leadership with a massive point from long range. Clare by two. Seconds ticking away.

70mins: Three minutes of added time announced. Clare lead by one.

70mins: TJ Reid hits a wide from a tricky free between the 45 and 65-metre lines.

69mins: Clare 0-23 Kilkenny 2-16

Shane O’Donnell is fouled after winning a long puckout. Aidan McCarthy makes no mistake with the free to put Clare in front for the first time all afternoon.

64mins: Kilkenny 2-16 Clare 0-22

Mark Rodgers sends over a great score from long range to bring the sides level. Clare appear to have the momentum.

63mins: Kilkenny 2-16 Clare 0-21

McCarthy does well to score a free hugging the Cusack Stand sideline. One point game.

60mins: Kilkenny 2-16 Clare 0-20

Ian Galvin makes an impact after coming in off the bench, his first point of the day.

58mins: Kilkenny 2-16 Clare 0-19

Tony Kelly points after good work by Duggan.

58mins: Kilkenny 2-16 Clare 0-18

TJ Reid wins a free and makes no mistake with his placed ball effort.

56mins: Kilkenny 2-15 Clare 0-18

John Donnelly gets Kilkenny moving again at the other end.

55mins: Kilkenny 2-14 Clare 0-18

McCarthy makes no mistake with a close range free. Just two between the sides now. Game very much on.

53mins: Stunning save from Eoin Murphy. The Kilkenny goalkeeper makes a stunning diving save from a McCarthy shot.

53mins: Kilkenny 2-14 Clare 0-17

David Reidy replies with one for Clare. Up and down the field now.

52mins: Kilkenny 2-14 Clare 0-16

Great score by TJ Reid.

51mins: Kilkenny 2-13 Clare 0-16

Mark Rodgers reduces the gap to three points again. Clare have the benefit of the breeze.

51mins: Kilkenny 2-13 Clare 0-15

McCarthy with a free, which was won by Shane O’Donnell.

49mins: Kilkenny 2-13 Clare 0-14

John Donnelly with a good score from out under the Hogan Stand.

49mins: Kilkenny 2-12 Clare 0-14

McCarthy with a free. Good response to the Kilkenny goal.

47mins: Kilkenny 2-12 Clare 0-13

Tony Kelly with a point for Clare.

47mins: Kilkenny 2-12 Clare 0-12

GOAL Billy Ryan takes advantage of a mistake by Quilligan to score Kilkenny’s second goal. The Clare goalkeeper spilled the ball and Kilkenny pounced. Goal was against the run of play.

45mins: Kilkenny 1-12 Clare 0-12

TJ Reid sends over a sideline cut from under the Cusack Stand. Wonderful skill.

43mins: Kilkenny 1-11 Clare 0-12

David Fitzgerald responds with a point for Clare.

42mins: Kilkenny 1-11 Clare 0-11

Mikey Carey opens Kilkenny’s second-half account with a good score from distance.

40mins: Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 0-11

Shane O’Donnell scores as Clare open the second half with the first three points after the restart.

39mins: Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 0-10

Peter Duggan battles hard to shake off Kilkenny tackles before popping over a point for Clare. Good start to the second half by the Banner.

37mins: Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 0-9

We’re back. McCarthy scores a free for Clare.

Official attendance at Croke Park confirmed as 39,241.

It hasn’t been a classic contest by any metrics. Kilkenny are the better team and but for Quilligan making several top-class saves, Clare would be in real trouble going in at the break. As it is, the Banner are still in the mix but they will need to improve. Moment of the game so far was Cody’s one-handed smacked goal - borrowed directly from Centre Court in Wimbledon. Wonderful improvisation and skill execution.

This is Eoin Cody’s brilliant first-half goal.

HALF-TIME: Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 0-8

37mins: Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 0-8

Billy Ryan bursts through a forest of bodies to score the last point of the half.

34mins: Quilligan with another save, this time from a sideline cut by Eoin Cody which bounced dangerously in front of the goal.

32mins: Kilkenny 1-9 Clare 0-8

David Reidy points after a good fetch by Peter Duggan.

31mins: Kilkenny 1-9 Clare 0-7

TJ Reid pops over a free from close range.

30mins: Kilkenny 1-8 Clare 0-7

David Fitzgerald with a great point from long range. Clare needed that.

28mins: Kilkenny 1-8 Clare 0-6

McCarthy makes no mistake with a free from just outside the 45-metre line.

26mins: Kilkenny 1-8 Clare 0-5

Billy Ryan adds a point to extend Kilkenny’s early advantage.

24mins: Kilkenny 1-7 Clare 0-5

GOAL by Eoin Cody. Superb individual strike, one-handed over his head to the back of the net surrounded by four Clare players. Brilliant.

21mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Clare 0-5

Aidan McCarthy from play this time.

20mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Clare 0-4

TJ Reid pops over a free from inside the 45-metre line, out near the Hogan Stand sideline.

16mins: Kilkenny 0-6 Clare 0-4

David Reidy reduces the gap to two.

16mins: Kilkenny 0-6 Clare 0-3

McCarthy sends over a free. His third point, and Clare’s third, of the afternoon.

14mins: Kilkenny 0-6 Clare 0-2

TJ Reid converts the resulting 65.

13mins: Quilligan makes another outstanding save - this time from a one on one situation against Mikey Carey.

12mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Clare 0-2

David Blanchfield gets in on the act as Kilkenny pop over three points on the bounce.

11mins: Kilkenny 0-4 Clare 0-2

Paddy Deegan from downtown.

11mins: Kilkenny 0-3 Clare 0-2

Cian Kenny floats over his second of the day.

10mins: Eibhear Quilligan makes a good double save, especially the first of the two, to deny Kilkenny a goal. The scores remains level on 0-2 apiece.

9mins: Kilkenny 0-2 Clare 0-2

Mark Rodgers has a shot well saved by Eoin Murphy, but it was from an advantage and Aidan McCarthy makes no mistake with the close free to draw the sides level.

6mins: Kilkenny 0-2 Clare 0-1

Aidan McCarthy opens Clare’s account.

6mins: Great score by Cian Kenny. Kilkenny 0-2 Clare 0-0

4 mins: Clare have registered two early wides. Still waiting for their first score.

1min: Kilkenny 0-1 Clare 0-0

TJ Reid converts a free, after winning it himself. Kilkenny lead.

National anthem is playing. We are just moments away from the first All-Ireland SHC semi-final of 2024.

Both sides lining out as selected, it seems. Here’s a reminder of the teams:

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, John Donnelly; Martin Keoghan, Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody. Subs: Aidan Tallis, Conor Delaney, Shane Murphy, Jordan Molloy, Cillian Buckley, Conor Fogarty, Tom Phelan, Walter Walsh, Owen Wall, Conor Heary, Gearoid Dunne.

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy. Subs: Cian Broderick, Rory Hayes, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor, Ian Galvin, Aron Shanagher, Shane Meehan, Keith Smyth, Seán Rynne.

Joe Canning feels it is make or break for Clare today.

[ Joe Canning: Clare are in the last-chance saloon if this team is to win an All-IrelandOpens in new window ]

Clare wearing all blue today.

Seán Moran previews both semi-finals and makes his predictions on who he believes will advance to the decider.

[ All-Ireland hurling semi-final previewsOpens in new window ]

Some really interesting stuff here from the ever-engaging Shane O’Donnell, who chatted with Malachy Clerkin ahead of today’s semi-final.

[ Whether it’s explaining the art of the pick-up or outlining his problems with the GAA, the Clare full-forward is always one of the most interesting and singular figures in the gamOpens in new window ]

It hasn’t been a positive start to the day for Kilkenny at Croke Park. In the afternoon’s opening encounter, Dublin have beaten Kilkenny 1-13 to 0-12 in their All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final.

Read how Nicky English sees the weekend’s action playing out.

[ Clare need to make most of any period of supremacy while Cork seem to have lost Munster momentumOpens in new window ]

Good afternoon

Thank you for joining us on our live blog for today’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final between Kilkenny and Clare. It’s Gordon Manning here with you for the afternoon.

These sides have plenty of recent history – Kilkenny beat Clare at this stage of the championship in both 2022 and 2023. However, Clare have beaten the Cats twice already this season – first in the group stages of the National Hurling League and then also in the Division One league decider.

Clare’s last (and only) championship win over Kilkenny was in the 1997 All-Ireland semi-final. In fact, this will be the tenth senior championship meeting between the counties, with Kilkenny having won seven to the Banner’s solitary victory, while there was also one draw in the previous nine meetings.

Kilkenny remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s hurling championship.

There was a lot of rain overnight here in Dublin, but it has been dry and breezy most of the day so here’s hoping the weather holds for the next few hours.

Here are the teams as officially named this week:

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, John Donnelly; Martin Keoghan, Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody. Subs: Aidan Tallis, Conor Delaney, Shane Murphy, Jordan Molloy, Cillian Buckley, Conor Fogarty, Tom Phelan, Walter Walsh, Owen Wall, Conor Heary, Gearoid Dunne.

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy. Subs: Cian Broderick, Rory Hayes, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor, Ian Galvin, Aron Shanagher, Shane Meehan, Keith Smyth, Seán Rynne.