Kilkenny needed an injury time point from Denise Gaule to deny Clare a famous victory at Nowlan Park where it finished 1-14 to 3-8 on Saturday.
The reigning player of the year held her nerve to convert from a free after Chloe Morey had landed a brace to edge the visitors in front.
It was a stunning effort by Trish O’Grady’s side, first-half goals from Áine O’Loughlin and Vera Loughnane giving them an early foothold but Kilkenny showed the mettle of champions with a couple of points from Gaule to go in level at the break 0-8 to 2-2.
When Julieann Malone goaled early in the second half, it seemed inevitable that the champions would kick on but O’Loughlin hand-passed her second major immediately and it was nip and tuck from there to the end.
