2013 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

This All-Ireland final was the 50th championship meeting of Cork and Clare; however, it was their first meeting in an All-Ireland decider. Cork held the balance of power in all previous meetings between the two, having recorded 34 championship victories to Clare's eleven. There had been four drawn games. Both sides last met in the 2013 Munster semi-final, when Cork recorded a 0-23 to 0-15 victory.[17] It was their seventh successive championship defeat of Clare, extending the record which stretches back to the 1998 Munster semi-final when Clare last defeated Cork. In total it was the fifth meeting between the counties in 2013, with Clare having won the first three before Cork prevailed in the Munster semi-final.[18]

Cork, who last played in the final in 2006 when they lost by three points to Kilkenny, were bidding to win the title for the first time since 2005 while Clare, who last reached the final in 2002, had won their last All-Ireland in 1997.[19]

Clare captain Pat Donnellan said that he was "delighted to have another day out, With ten or 15 seconds to go, we thought we were coming home with nothing. We're just delighted to have another day out and we'll look forward to it."[41]

Highlights of the final were shown on The Sunday Game programme which aired at 9:30pm that night on RTÉ Two and was presented by Des Cahill with analysis from Donal Óg Cusack, Ger Loughnane, and Ollie Moran. Also in that programme, Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy and captain Pa Cronin were interviewed by Michael Lyster from the Cork team hotel, the DT hotel in Dublin. Marty Morrissey who was at the Clare team hotel, the Clyde Court Hotel, interviewed Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald and captain Pat Donnellan.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald felt Clare were the better team over the two games saying " In my opinion over the two days we were the better team, I think Cork are a fantastic hurling team, but I really believe that we were the better team over the two days, We’re 2013 All-Ireland champions and it feels so good. I’m so proud of them young boys. They did it and fair play to them.”[61][62] Fitzgerald speaking the morning after the game said “I suppose it still has not sunk in, but it is one of immense satisfaction. I am still the same. I am still so thrilled for the lads."[63] Fitzgerald also said that it hurt that people did not trust him saying "My one objective was for Clare to win. I wasn't trying to do anything else, only to try and make sure Clare would win. It does hurt when people would cut your throat and knife you in the back. It isn't nice."[64] Seven members of Clare's All-Ireland winning side were picked in The Sunday Game hurling team of the year.[65] Man of the match Shane O'Donnell who got 3-3 said the county's win means “absolutely everything” revealing that he did not know he was starting until hours before the game.[66][67] O'Donnell was named by The Sunday Game as the man of the match for the replay on the night of the match. At the teams celebration banquet at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin, he received his award from GAA President Liam O'Neill and Michael Lyster. Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy acknowledged Clare's win saying "There is no disgrace in getting beaten by a team like Clare, you have to acknowledge they deserved their victory".[68] Former Waterford hurler, John Mullane writing in the Irish Independent praised Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald and said "starting with Shane O'Donnell was a masterstroke".[69] Jamesie O'Connor also writing in the Irish Independent believes that Clare have reached the summit earlier than expected saying "With the way Clare finished the year I think the consensus now is that the best team in the country came out on top, it's hard to believe that the hurling year gave us what it did, especially with the old order contesting the league final back in April. They will be back in 2014 but on a far more level playing pitch. Roll on 2014."[70]

Former Offaly All Ireland winner and hurling analyst Daithí Regan thinks that the Clare system was the key as best team of the summer won out, saying "The big question now is, how many can Clare win with this crop of young lads. I was talking to Jamesie O’Connor after the game about what we can expect from this side over the next few years. He made the point that it’s a high-octane, high-energy game that Clare play. And it takes its toll and makes demands on players. But they’re at such an age profile at the moment that they’ll want more. When the celebrations die down, they’ll go back at it and you know I think because of their age profile they’ll be hungry and burnout won’t be an issue."[71] Double All Ireland winning manager Ger Loughnane is confident that this is the start of a golden era for hurling in Clare, saying "“This has been a magical year – the best year I can remember for hurling, but you know we have the prospect that next year and the year after will be even better."[72] British newspaper The Guardian in its editorial section, hailed the 'ancient Irish' game of hurling as a beacon of sporting courage and commitment, Hopefully the Gaelic Athletic Association will do all sports fans everywhere a massive favour and produce DVD copies of this memorable game, where Clare emerged victorious."[73]

In 2017, after three years of under-performing, former Clare manager Ger Loughnane criticized the team that won the title saying "it was the greatest fluke of all time, they didn't beat either Tipperary or Kilkenny - the Litmus test in this era, until they show consistency and beat a big team in a big game, you'd have to say that this Clare team are over-rated.[74][75]

The Clare team arrived back in Ennis at 9.30pm on the day after the game on an open top bus. The team traveled by train from Heuston Station in Dublin to Limerick and then by bus to Ennis. En route they stopped at Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket on Fergus, and Clarecastle. There was a reception held at Tim Smyth Park in Ennis which was attended by 30,000 people. Both sets of players, the senior panel and the under 21 winning panel were introduced on stage by MC's Syl O'Connor of Clare FM and RTÉ's Marty Morrissey.[76][77][78] On 2 October, a Clare 'A' team played a Clare 'B' team in the annual GOAL challenge which was played in Sixmilebridge. The match was a 13 a side game with the 'A' team winning by 7-3 to 6-4.[79] A crowd of 6,000 fans attended the match where Shane O’Donnell required a Garda escort to get him to the team bus after the game.[80][81] On 4 October, Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald along with players Shane O'Donnell and Patrick Donnellan and the Liam MacCarthy Cup appeared as guests on The Late Late Show.[82]

The nominations for the 2013 GAA-GPA Hurling All-Stars were announced on 2 October with Clare receiving thirteen nominations with Cork receiving nine.[83][84] Cian Dillon and Patrick O’Connor were the only Clare players not nominated.[85] The final team selection was made on 6 November before the team were presented with their awards two days later at a banquet at Croke Park. Clare's won eight places on the All-Stars team with David McInerney, Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan, Colm Galvin, Conor Ryan, Tony Kelly, Pádraic Collins and Conor McGrath all winning awards. Cork won three awards with Anthony Nash, Séamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan being named on the team.[86][87][88][89] [90] The three nominations for the GPA Hurler of the Year were Tony Kelly and Pádraic Collins of Clare, and Anthony Nash of Cork. Also announced were the three nominations for the GPA Young Hurler of the Year which were Tony Kelly, Pádraic Collins, and David McInerney from Clare.[91][92][93]

Tony Kelly of Clare was named Young Hurler of the Year and Hurler of the Year for 2013 at the All Stars award ceremony on 8 November at Croke Park.[94][95]

• All-Ireland SHC replay in pictures at RTÉ Sport
• Full video of the Replay
• Captains speech and lap of honor
• Davy Fitzgerald Homecoming speech in Ennis from Official GAA Website
• In praise of … hurling: The courage and commitment of Cork and Clare were a shining example of sportsmanship - The Guardian editorial
• 2013 All-Ireland Final Replay at Hurling Stats