How the players rated in Clare’s stunning victory over Kilkenny

CLARE Part of the Banner's two-man resistance before the break, with four goal-saving interventions including one double save. Turned over for the second goal, but still had a huge game.

​ADAM HOGAN 8

Even though he leaked a wonder goal to Eoin Cody, he won this pivotal and predictably spiky duel. Magnificent after the break, winning several key tussles.

CONOR CLEARY 7

Followed TJ Reid and kept the Kilkenny talisman relatively quiet in open play.

CONOR LEEN 7

His direct opponent, Martin Keoghan, didn't score and was eventually replaced, although Leen had his hands full at times.

DIARMUID RYAN 6

Shot a wide in each half but battled like a dervish under the Hogan Stand during that second half. His rugby tackle at the death, cynical as it was, ultimately paid off.

JOHN CONLON 7

Had a few panicked first-half moments in possession, but grew into the game and emerged with a vital ruck ball in the preamble to Tony Kelly's winner.

DAVID McINERNEY 9

When Clare were shipping water in the first half, McInerney was keeping them afloat outfield, hurling up a storm against Adrian Mullen. Duly kept up that level, winning vital aerial ball late on.

DAVID FITZGERALD 7

Started in his usual wing-forward role but struggled to make any initial impact, Came strong either side of half-time with a couple of points. Second Clare man off.

CATHAL MALONE 5

Played second fiddle to Kilkenny's dominant midfield in the first half, and was called ashore after 49 minutes.

TONY KELLY 7

As expected, he started at midfield but was so anonymous before the interval that he could, conceivably, have been taken off. Cometh the hour ... he nailed three vital points, including the most important one.

MARK RODGERS 7

Another who wasn't mapped for long periods; but he upped his game after Kilkenny's second goal, winning a pointed free and chipping in with 0-2.

​PETER DUGGAN 7

A fine catch led to a David Reidy point — one of his few meaningful first-half contributions. Much improved on the restart, reflected in his 39th-minute point.

AIDAN McCARTHY 8

So much for all debate about the Banner's wobbly free-taking. McCarthy nailed nine from nine, including a couple of high-pressure touchline efforts. Two from play in the first half, but could have regretted his goal chance saved by Eoin Murphy.

SHANE O'DONNELL 8

Struggled to deliver his usual high-octane game for 35 minutes. He was like a new man — or the old O'Donnell — on the restart. 'Only' 0-1 but so many trademark assists.

​DAVID REIDY 7

Brian Lohan couldn't have asked for much more, shooting 0-3 from play, and buzzed around to good effect for an hour before his day was done.

Ryan Taylor 7 for Malone (49), Ian Galvin 7 for Fitzgerald (57), Aron Shanagher for Reidy (61), Darragh Lohan for Duggan (73).

EOIN MURPHY 7

A quieter afternoon than his opposite number but, when he was called upon, produced a spectacular save to deny Aidan McCarthy.

MIKEY BUTLER 7

Derek Lyng resisted the temptation to send him in pursuit of Tony Kelly. Ended up marking a variety of Clare forwards, and defended his patch well for the most part.

HUW LAWLOR 6

A relatively calm first half gave way to an unusually pressurised second. Rare to see the full-back powerhouse in such bother.

TOMMY WALSH 6

Followed David Reidy for long spells, and ultimately lost that duel. His push in the back of the lively Ian Galvin led to a Clare free, reducing Kilkenny's lead to just one.

DAVID BLANCHFIELD 7

Won a 12th-minute puck-out and duly burst up the right flank to score one of his trademark points. Far less prominent during Clare's second-half charge.

RICHIE REID 6

His raking delivery up the left wing created the opening for Eoin Cody's spectacular goal. Like all his team-mates, found the second-half going far tougher. His lobbed free at the death failed to create the goal they craved.

MIKEY CAREY 7

Initially marked Shane O'Donnell before the latter roamed elsewhere. Tidy early assist and cut open Clare defence with his pace, only to be denied a goal by Quilligan before shooting a wasteful wide. Made amends with a fine 42nd-minute score.

CIAN KENNY 7

A livewire start, with 0-2 and a goal chance saved inside the first ten minutes. Less prominent once the game got tight and Clare's midfield raised the tempo over the last 25 minutes.

PADDY DEEGAN 6

Matched up at the start with Tony Kelly, who wasn't mapped before the break. Deegan landed a huge point from inside his half.

ADRIAN MULLEN 5

Not his finest hour in the suffocating company of David McInerney. A sniff at goal on the rebound was parried; hit a wide, dropped one effort short and, unusually, he was blocked down several times.

TJ REID 7

All kinds of everything from the maestro. One sublime sideline cut and another from play, and brought his tally to 0-7 after winning his own free. But the pressure told late on, with two missed frees, one from 55 metres on the Hogan touchline.

JOHN DONNELLY 6

After a very impressive campaign, he actually left little imprint during Kilkenny's dominance but then landed 0-2 when they were struggling, including one beautifully arrowed touchline effort.

MARTIN KEOGHAN 6

Threatened a few times in the first half to break through, then his hassled goalkeeper Quilligan into a turnover that set up Billy Ryan for his goal. But he departed, scoreless, after 57 minutes.

BILLY RYAN 8

Kilkenny's best forward. Started on the wing and came strong late in the first half, sniping two impressive points. When he pounced for that bullet finish of a goal on 46 minutes, they led by six. Replaced late on.

EOIN CODY 6

Went from the periphery to 'Centre Court' with that audacious flick-up and ace for Kilkenny's first goal. Had a free reversed after a brilliant catch, having retaliated on Adam Hogan. His pest of a marker totally subdued him thereafter.

Walter Walsh 5 for Keoghan (57). Tom Phelan 6 for Mullen (63). Conor Fogarty for Ryan (67).