following a superb encounter. The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals, but their task became impossible twenty minutes from the end when they were reduced to fourteen men following Cyril Donnellan's dismissal. Championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance, claiming a 1-3 haul to announce his arrival on the senior stage in spectacular fashion. The 3–22 to 3-11 Kilkenny victory was a personal milestone for Henry Shefflin, who became the first player to win nine All-Ireland medals on the field of play, and he marked a special occasion with another special performance, contributing nine points to the Kilkenny cause. 2013 - The great levelling off championship 2013 — Clare emerge from the pack Prior to the start of the championship Kilkenny, Tipperary and Galway were the bookmakers favourites as potential All-Ireland champions. Few could have predicted that any other team would make the breakthrough. Former Offaly hurler Danny Owens was fearful for the future, stating that "Kilkenny, Cork and Tipperary will win every All-Ireland from now until Kingdom come". What subsequently unfolded led to claims of 2013 being the best championship of all-time. After an incredible championship, which saw the three favourites fail to even make the semi-final stage, Cork and Clare emerged at the top of the pile to contest the All-Ireland final. In front of a crowd of 81,651, Clare started brightly with early scores from Darach Honan and Colin Ryan. Clare led by 0–12 to 0–10 at the break, and they continued to bring a remarkable intensity to the contest, forcing the Rebels into errors, which they exploited with further scores from Tony Kelly and the unerring Ryan, who steered over his sixth free for a four-point lead. Cork were far from finished, however, and when Pa Cronin saw his chance, he picked his spot with an accurate finish to the net, and the sides were level going into the final five minutes. Patrick Horgan appeared to have won it for them with his tenth score in stoppage-time, but there was still time for Domhnall O'Donovan to pop up with a dramatic leveller in the 73rd minute. The replay just under three weeks later was the first time an All-Ireland hurling decider was played on a Saturday. Clare emerged as champions for the first time since 1997 after defeating Cork