By Eoghan Cormican, Cusack Park
Clare 0-20 Dublin 1-15
Clare took a massive step away from the relegation zone in Div 1A with this narrow victory over Dublin.
Clare played with the elements in the second-half and when David Reidy edged them into a 0-18 to 1-14 lead with five minutes remaining, it was the first time Clare held the inside lane since the 17th minute.
Chris Bennett brought the Dubs back on level terms, but a superb Aaron Cunningham point, followed as it was by a third from Ian Galvin – the latter was taken off early in the first-half and then reintroduced towards the finish – handed Clare the two points on offer.
The Banner's second win of the campaign lifts them to four points and joint-second in the table alongside Cork and Waterford.
The visitors had carved out a five-point advantage, 1-10 to 0-8, come the break and their scoreboard dominance had been born out of an 18th minute goal where Ryan O’Dwyer capitalised on a mix-up between Clare goalkeeper Patrick Kelly and full-back Cian Dillon.
The opening goal of the game moved Dublin 1-4 to 0-5 in front and while Podge Collins posted the Clare response, the subsequent two points were struck by men wearing blue.
Ger Cunningham’s side should have gone further clear after Rian McBride and Liam Rushe both shot wide having been gifted opportunities.
Donal Burke (free), Niall McMorrow, Chris Bennett and Ben Quinn did find the target, but the five-point lead wasn’t enough to hold out when Clare made their push in the second period.
Now rooted to the bottom of the table with just one win from four, Dublin will be hard-pressed to avoid the relegation playoff and even a victory against Kilkenny next time out might not be sufficient to prevent this eventuality.
Scorers for Clare: D Reidy (0-8, 0-7 frees); I Galvin (0-3); S Morey, J Shanahan (0-2 each); J McCarthy, P Collins, A Cunningham, C McInerney (0-1 each).
Scorers for Dublin: R O’Dwyer (1-0); C Bennett (0-2 frees, 0-1 ’65); N McMorrow (0-3); D Burke (0-2 frees), B Quinn, E Dillon (0-2 each); L Rushe, C Crummey, F Mac Gib (0-1 each).
Clare: P Kelly; D McInerney, C Dillon, S Morey; B Bugler, C Cleary, D Fitzgerald; J Shanahan, D Reidy; C Malone, P Collins, J Conlon; A Shanagher, P Duggan, I Galvin.
Subs: C McInerney for Galvin (25 mins); J McCarthy for Shanahan (50); A Cunningham for Duggan (55); I Galvin for Collins (61)
Dublin: C Dooley; J Madden, S Barrett, E O’Donnell; C Crummey, L Rushe, C Mac Gabhann; D Fox, B Quinn; F Mac Gib, N McMorrow, R McBride; E Dillon, R O’Dwyer, D Burke.
Subs: C Bennett for Burke (31 mins); C Conway for McBride (40); C O’Sullivan for Mac Gib (50); C Boland for O’Sullivan (64); F Ó Riain Broin for Madden (67, inj).
Referee: A Kelly (Galway).