'We just about deserved it' - Lohan on Clare victory

Clare manager Brian Lohan says he has a "great bunch" of players after watching his team come from behind to overcome Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

The Cats were aiming for a third straight semi-final win over Clare and they held a commanding five-point advantage at the break.

Clare clawed their way back into the game in the second half and ran out 0-24 to 2-16 winners after a dramatic 70 minutes.

"I'm really delighted for our lads - they toughed it out and played a great second half," said Lohan.

"That's after playing poorly in the first half and not doing what we said we were going to do."

Clare duo Rory Hayes and Ian Galvin embrace after the victory over Kilkenny

It was a sluggish opening half from the Bannermen with Eoin Cody netting for a dominant Kilkenny side.

"We were playing so poorly in the first half, there were a number of guys that could have been taken off, probably six or seven. But we just let them have it and sort it out themselves.

"We have a great bunch - I just felt that, win or lose, we had to produce a better performance than the first half."

And they did just that to avoid heartbreak again at the hands of Kilkenny at the semi-final stage.

"Everyone wants to win, it's a great game, everyone wants to be playing it, everyone wants to be involved with it.

"But it's only really great when you win, it's not great when you lose. So I'm really delighted for our supporters and I'm just very happy."