Clare beat Cork after extra-time in classic final

An All-Ireland Hurling final for the ages went the way of Clare as they managed to squeeze over the line, edging Cork 3-29 to 1-34 after an extra-time epic at Croke Park.

It was simply a breathtaking afternoon with the teams level on no fewer than 16 occasions, but when it came to the crunch, perhaps it was the magic of Clare captain Tony Kelly that made the difference.

The Ballyea man finished with 1-4, but each of his scores were simply stunning as he helped the Banner County claim their fifth All-Ireland crown and first since 2013 when they also broke Cork hearts after a replay.

The Bannermen had to dig too as after finding themselves 1-7 to 0-3 behind after Robert Downey hit a sensational Cork goal as he fetched in his own half and galloped upfield to blast past Eibhear Quilligan.

Clare looked in real trouble at that stage but after an exchange of points, they rallied and it was the hard graft of Shane O'Donnell that eventually opened the door for Aidan McCarthy to blast to the net with 18 gone.

O'Donnell would add two points and David Fitzgerald another to reduce the arrears to one, but at the other end, the movement of the Cork forwards was giving the Clare full-back line fits with Conor Cleary and Adam Hogan cautioned for frees converted by Patrick Horgan that saw him go top of the all-time scoring list.

However, Clare were growing into it further as they got back to within one thanks to a well-worked score for Mark Rodgers and after McCarthy levelled, they were in front for the first time through David Reidy.

But it would be 1-12 apiece at the half as Darragh Fitzgibbon slung over right on the whistle.

It was a tit-for-tat start to the second period with Cork one ahead when Clare struck for their second goal on 40 minutes as Mark Rodgers attacked on the right, cut inside and sent a bullet of a shot to the roof of the net.

Cork replied to get level and that was the case on 51 minutes when Kelly - who had yet to score - produced a piece of utter genius as he weaved in and showing exquisite control before finishing past Collins.

Cork again replied to square it with Clare responding with three and led by as much with 69 on the clock only for Cork to again get themselves level in added time.

It seemed another piece of Kelly brilliance won it, pointing on the turn, only for Cork to get one last raid and a tug on a jersey from Aron Shanagher gave Horgan the chance to level, which he did, to send this final into extra-time with the score 3-21 to 1-27.

It was level again at the end of the first period of extra-time with the teams hitting four points apiece as Tony Kelly was first denied by Cork keeper Patrick Collins and David Fitzgerald then having the rebound bravely blocked by Ciaran Joyce.

The trend continued in the second period with the sides level for the 16th, but last time before Clare custodian Quilligan made a stunning stop of his own to deny Robbie O'Flynn.

As it seemed a replay was on the cards, enter Kelly once again as his wand of a hurley managed to intercept and make space to score himself, followed by points from Aidan McCarthy and Shane Meehan.

This final wasn't for petering out as two Horgan scores gave Cork hope as they had one last assault with Collins going long from free and although Robbie O'Flynn superbly fielded, he couldn't get off a clean shot as the ball went wide to confirm Clare as the champions.