During the third quarter of the match, a contentious call was made by the referee. They blew the whistle for a free-in after a foul on Peter Duggan instead of allowing play to continue. While the referee’s decision was based on the possession being claimed by Huw Lawlor, the Kilkenny full-back immediately lost the ball, leading to a goal for Mark Rodgers. Clare’s manager, Brian Lohan, acknowledged the referee’s decision but expressed frustration at the lack of favorable calls throughout the game.
When asked about the yellow card count, Lohan evasively stated that he couldn’t criticize referees due to a rule. Lohan also explained the reasoning behind Clare’s decision to play with seven defenders in the first half of the semi-final. They were determined not to be out of the game by halftime. However, this tactical gamble seemed to confuse and disorient Clare’s team, as Kilkenny took the lead by 0-15 to 0-10 at the end of the first half.
In the second half, Clare abandoned their defensive strategy, replacing sweeper Séadna Morey with corner-forward Ian Galvin. This change allowed Clare to take the lead by two points in the 54th minute. However, a turnover goal for Kilkenny shifted the momentum back in their favor, ultimately leading to their victory by 1-25 to 1-22. Lohan expressed disappointment at the end of another season that had promised so much.
Reflecting on last year’s defeat against Kilkenny, Lohan explained the decision to change the team’s tactics. They didn’t want to play the game on Kilkenny’s terms, with the opposing team having an extra defender and leaving space. The aim was to remain competitive and avoid conceding goals early on. Lohan praised his players for their performance in the second half but regretted their shortcomings in the first half.
Lohan also bemoaned the nature of Kilkenny’s 55th-minute goal, resulting from a mistake made by Rory Hayes. Despite their disappointment, Lohan recognized the toughness of the game and commended his players for giving their all. As the Clare manager enters his fourth year, he promised to analyze the game and work on improving.
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