BANNER’S BELIEF A BREFF OF FRESH AIR

CLARE shredded the form book to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop to Division Three.

The basement boys beat table-toppers Cavan for the first time ever in the NFL.

The hosts were complicit in their own undoing with sloppy defensive work, a midfield that was outwitted and an attack that never quite looked right.

The visitors took advantage of powder puff tackling to score a 12th minute goal through Joe Mcgann.

Using the wind to good advantage, Clare remained on the front foot and a classy point by Cian O’dea made it a five-point game.

Amidst teeming hailstones, the game continued to be a nip and tuck affair but it was Clare’s to lose at the interval as they led by 1-8 to 0-5.

Cavan were jet-propelled on the restart and four points in as many minutes — including a gem from defender Stephen Murray — served to reduce Clare’s lead to two points. The Banner refused to reach for the panic button though and points from Cian O’dea and centre-back Pearse Lillis inside 80 seconds stopped the rot.

The game became a survival of the fittest, with Clare’s blanket defence testing their opponents’ patience and accuracy from long range but points from Oisín Pierson and Martin Reilly (63) offered renewed hope for the table-toppers.

The Breffni boys dominated possession in the final 15 minutes but with 14 men behind the ball, the Banner stubbornly refused to be lowered.

The announcement of six additional minutes was followed moments later by Cavan’s Pierson floating over a free (73) which left just the minimum between the sides.

Clare had a sting in their tail though, with David Tubridy’s 75th minute effort sealing the deal for the underdogs.