Kilkenny will face Limerick in the All-Ireland Hurling Final on July 23 after beating Clare 1-25 to 1-22 in a thrilling semi-final in Croke Park.
The Cats deservedly led by 0-15 to 0-10 at the break but Clare produced a great effort to lead by 0-19 to 0-17.
Eoin Cody punished a Clare error to restore Kilkenny’s lead as he only scored for Shane O’Donnell to equalize with a superb goal.
But Kilkenny went three ahead again and held on despite a frantic finish.
The Cats were grateful to goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, who made a sensational stop in injury time to deflect a Peter Duggan shot onto the crossbar as the 36-time champions secured another meeting with four in a row in search of Limerick. which will be a repeat of last year’s decider won by Treaty County.
TJ Reid finished with 12 points for Kilkenny, which came from placed balls, which included a cut-back, but his team-mate Cody was named man of the match after hitting 1-5 from play.
More to follow.
Kilkenny: And Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, R Reid, P Deegan; C Fogarty, A Mullen; T Phelan, M Keoghan, J Donnelly; B Ryan, TJ Reid, Cody.
Subs: D Brennan, C Delaney, C Buckley, P Walsh, D Corcoran, A Murphy, C Kenny, T Clifford, W Walsh, R Hogan, B Drennan.
Claire: E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, R Hayes; D Ryan, J Conlon, D McInerney; C Malone, D Fitzgerald; P Duggan, T Kelly, R Taylor; S Morey, S O’Donnell, M Rodgers.
Subs: E Foudy, A Shanagher, C Galvin, C Nolan, D Lohan, D Reidy, P Crotty, I Galvin, R Mounsey, P Flanagan, S Meehan.
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
