Clare 2-22
Dublin 2-20

14-MAN CLARE PRODUCED a rousing late recovery to edge past Dublin and take their first points of the league in Cusack Park this afternoon.

Having not won a league or Championship match in almost a year as well as losing Brendan Bugler to a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident right on the stroke of half-time, Clare somehow reeled in a five point deficit in the final 20 minutes to break their seven match hoodoo in front of only 2,753 supporters.

1-1 from Tony Kelly entering the final five minutes finally edged Clare in front with an inspirational David McInerney point from his own half sealing what could yet prove a valuable two points for the Banner County.

On the flip side, Dublin will be disappointed to have lost their way in the final quarter, having led for 57 minutes thanks in the main to an impressive display from Liam Rushe who ended with 1-5.

Indeed, it was his sixth minute goal that got Dublin motoring early on, with David O’Callaghan and Paul Ryan also prominent on the scoreboard to give their side a six point cushion at 1-10 to 0-07 by the 24th minute.

Clare finished the half strongly, with a fortunate John Conlon goal cutting the deficit to just three, only for Bugler’s dismissal to dampen the home spirits by the break at 1-12 to 1-10.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

David O’Callaghan’s 40th minute strike deflected off two defenders before scrambling over the line to restore a five point advantage for the visitors, a score that seemed to be another killer blow for the Banner.

However, with midfield pair Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly digging deep, the hosts hit seven points without reply in a 12 minute spell to turn this tie on its head.

Kelly’s 65th minute goal finally instilled some belief and it was enough to withstand a late Dublin backlash before the relief of the final whistle.

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly (7f) 1-9, John Conlon (2f) 1-4, Conor McGrath 0-5, Aaron Cunningham, Patrick Donnellan, David Reidy, David McInerney 0-1 each

Scorers for Dublin: Liam Rushe 1-5, David O’Callaghan 1-3, Paul Ryan (5f) 0-5, Mark Schutte 0-3, Shane Barrett, Chris Crummy, Danny Sutcliffe, Ben Quinn 0-1 each

Clare

1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)

2. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. David McInerney (Tulla)

5. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
6. Conor Ryan (Cratloe)
7. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)

8. Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
9. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)

10. John Conlon (Clonlara)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)

13. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)
15. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)

Subs

David Reidy (Éire Óg) for Golden (42)
Jack Browne (Ballyea) for O’Connor (51)
Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara) for Flanagan (65)
Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) for Cunningham (70)

Dublin

1. Alan Nolan (St Brigid’s)

2. Paul Schutte (Cuala)
3. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
4. Michael Carton (O’Toole’s)

5. Chris Crummy (Lucan Sarsfields)
6. Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields)
7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)

8. Colm Cronin (Cuala)
9. Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

10. Danny Sutcliffe (St Jude’s)
11. Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Mark Schutte (Cuala)

13. David O’Callaghan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. Liam Rushe (St Patrick’s Palmerstown)
15. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunketts

Subs

Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes) for Carton (28)
Ben Quinn (Crumlin) for Cronin (55)
Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Corcoran (59)
Eamonn Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra) for Sutcliffe (64)

- This article was first published on 14 March at 5.43pm

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