Clara secured a significant victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks in the latest round of the St. Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling League.
The match ended with Clara prevailing 4-17 to 2-17, a result that sent shockwaves through the league as they defeated one of Kilkenny’s most formidable sides.
Joe Connolly, who was named man of the match, played a pivotal role in Clara’s victory. Speaking after the game, Connolly emphasized the team’s mindset going into the clash against the Shamrocks, acknowledging the challenge of facing such a renowned opponent.
“You’re always set for the Shamrocks; they’re never a bet. You know they will always come back at you, and even until the final whistle, they’re still going for goals, they’re still coming back at us,” Connolly said. “We were prepared for them, and we just went for it, did our best, and saw it over the line to the finish.”
Connolly also highlighted the significance of the win, recognizing Ballyhale Shamrocks as the standard-bearers of Kilkenny hurling. “The Shamrocks are always the benchmark of Kilkenny hurling, so to come out and get two points against them is a nice one to win. Obviously, we have two more tough games coming up in the next couple of weeks, so it’s nice to have two points going into them, and we can drive on from the good performances there.”
Looking ahead, Connolly noted the importance of staying focused and maintaining their momentum. “We’ll have to go back now and train during the weekend, get ready to go again, and stay going.”
Clara’s victory has certainly made waves, and fans will be eager to see if Connolly’s performance earns him a spot on this week’s KCLR Team of the Week. For more in-depth analysis and discussion, be sure to tune in to the KCLR Hurling Podcast.
