Clare and Galway sealed their place in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor hurling final at the weekend after two dramatic semi-finals.
On what was a massive weekend for the Banner hurling, Clare took on Kilkenny in the first mammoth semi-final and despite Kilkenny clinging on for much of the match Clare eventually won out 0-23 to 0-15. That was followed by a hurling masterclass from Aaron Niland inspired Galway to a resolute victory over Cork.
Galway v Cork - 3-18 to 1-10.
An absolutely classic hurling performance from the Galway Minors proved too much for a Cork side who simply couldn't live with the Tribesmen and if Galway fans will be paying tribute to anyone it's young Aaron Niland. Niland was phenomenal for Galway, every time Niland had his sliotar in the hand he looked like scoring, finishing the game with an astonishing 1-11 including this cracking goal.
#CORvGAL 24 nóim@OfficialCorkGAA 0-05@Galway_GAA 2-05
Cúl dochreidte tuillte ag Aaron Niland! 👊
Another wonderful goal for Galway! 😱#GAABEO | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/dxTIPpPNAU— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 20, 2023
To Cork's credit, the first twenty minutes saw both sides fight for every inch with every point matched with an opposite one, and even after Galway scored two goals in four minutes and went in at the break nine points up Cork remained defiant. Barry O'Flynn clawed back a goal for Cork early in the second half before narrowing the score down to just three points with twenty minutes to play.
#CORvGAL 38 nóim@OfficialCorkGAA 1-07@Galway_GAA 2-09
Cúl deas tuillte ag Corcaigh! 👊
Barry O'Flynn with a much needed goal for Cork! 👌#GAABEO | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/7HupGHjMff— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 20, 2023
Unfortunately for Cork, defiance wasn't enough and Galway's press on their defence put too much pressure on the Rebels. Combine that with Niland's masterclass and Jason Rabbitte's man-of-the-match performance and Cork were blown away with Galway's final quarter performance.
Clare v Kilkenny - 0-23 to 0-15.
Despite a red card reducing Kilkenny to 14 men after just eight minutes, Clare struggled to take advantage in the first half, with only a point separating the teams after a tense and tightly contested first half right before Kilkenny came out firing on all cylinders levelling up the score before taking the lead with a lovely point from Greg Kelly in the first two minutes of the second half.
#CLAvKIK 32 nóim@GaaClare 0-11@KilkennyCLG 0-12
Cúilín den scoth faighte ag Cill Chainnigh! 👊
Greg Kelly putting Kilkenny ahead! 👌#GAABEO | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/qtL4kTlHZy— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 20, 2023
However, Man of the Match James Hegarty took full advantage of Kilkenny's second-half indiscipline, expertly taking frees as they came. Similarly, Clare's puck-out dominance put serious pressure on 14-man Kilkenny's defence, who were forced to drop further and further back as the game went on, allowing Clare to comfortably take long-range points and pull away from a tiring Kilkenny.
With only minutes to play and Kilkenny trailing by seven, a host of shots reigned down on Clare's goal, however, keeper Mark Sheedy had all the answers saving two frees in the final minutes to maintain Clare's lead and see out the game with relative comfort.
#CLAvKIK 58 nóim@GaaClare 0-20@KilkennyCLG 0-14
Sábháil den chéad scoth déanta ag An Clár! 👍
What a save from Mark Sheedy! 👊#GAABEO | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/a0p5jTYps4— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 20, 2023
Ultimately the one-man advantage proved too much for Kilkenny to deal with as Clare just like Galway pulled away with the game in the final quarter winning by eight and setting themselves up for an All-Ireland final.
Galway and Clare will now meet in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final on the June bank holiday weekend. It will form part of a doubleheader on Sunday June 4 with the U20 hurling final and take place at Semple Stadium in Thurles.
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