BLUES SURVIVE A CLARE SCARE
1-12
Dublin 0-16 Clare PAUL KEANE
BY DESSIE FARRELL put on a brave face after watching his Dublin team snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Cormac Costello’s 75th-minute point secured a dramatic comeback win for the stuttering Dubs which saved their blushes at Croke Park.
They had trailed by six points approaching the hour as a gutsy Clare threatened to pull off one of their most memorable ever league wins.
But the Banner didn’t score again as Dublin reeled off the last seven points to secure the narrowest of wins.
Their fourth consecutive win in the division leaves them sitting pretty in the promotion race.
But they will have to be significantly better at Ulster champions Derry next weekend.
Dubs boss Farrell said: “I’m just happy to have got over the line and to have got the two points.
“I think the lads showed good character coming down the stretch. There are always going to be problems and stuff to sort out, this thing is never finished, you’re always making progress.
“You’re never on the one trajectory, it can often be one step forwards and two steps backwards and it’s in those steps backwards that you might pick up the most learning.”
Dublin’s big players, like Ciaran Kilkenny, James Mccarthy and the returning Jack Mccaffrey, all made vital plays during those closing minutes.
But Clare will kick themselves for letting another win slip through their fingers.
They led 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time having initially trailed by three points after a slow start.
Gavin Cooney’s 35th-minute goal, after catching a high ball in from Ciaran Russell, left Clare in the driving seat. Dublin brought on Costello at half-time and prodigal son Mccaffrey later but it was Clare that stretched their lead in the third quarter.
The excellent Emmett Mcmahon, Cooney and inspirational attacker Eoin Cleary all pointed for the Banner.
They looked to be heading towards a terrific win with a 1-12 to 0-9 lead but didn’t score from the 58th minute as Dublin rallied superbly.
Mccaffrey was at the hub of the fight-back, winning a free that was pointed and laying on the final pass for Costello’s crucial point.
Mccarthy was excellent too while Dean Rock finished the day with eight points and it was his point from a 45 in the 70th minute that levelled it. DUBLIN: D O’hanlon; D Newcombe, S Macmahon, L Gannon (0-1); J Small, D Byrne, L Gannon; J Mccarthy (0-1), B Fenton (0-1); C Kilkenny (0-1), R Mcgarry, T Lahiff; S Lowry (0-1), D Rock (0-8, 5f, 1 45), C O’callaghan (0-1). C Costello (0-1) for Mcgarry HT, N Scully for Lowry HT, J Mccaffrey for Lahiff 45, C Basquel (0-1) for Gannon 51, E Murchan for Murphy 61. CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, C Brennan, R Lanigan; C O’dea, P Lillis, A Sweeney; C Russell, D Bohannon; J Malone, E Cleary (0-4, 1f), D Coughlan (0-1); G Cooney (1-2), E Mcmahon (0-4, 1f), P Collins (0-1). Subs: A Griffin for Collins HT, B Rouine for Bohannon 64-66, blood, Rouine for Russell 67, K Sexton for Griffin 70. REFEREE: P Faloon (Down).