Clare 3-18
Dublin 0-19
Eoin Brennan reports from Cusack Park, Ennis
FORTRESS CUSACK PARK proved effective once more as Clare maintained their 90 year home record over Dublin to consolidate their Allianz hurling league Division 1A status this afternoon.
1927 was the last and only time that Dublin claimed a competitive victory in Ennis as the hosts, backed by an attendance of 7,276 and goals from Aron Shanagher, John Conlon and Tony Kelly secured their top flight survival at the expense of their opponents.
Dublin had the better of the opening half but seven wides, two excellent saves from goalkeeper Andrew Fahey and an Aron Shanagher goal at the other end ensured that the visitors would only lead by 0-13 to 1-8 at the break.
Easing 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the 13th minute, tame goal misses from Donal Burke and Shanagher were traded before Fahey came to Clare’s rescue with a point blank stop from Eamon Dillon.
A relieved Clare gained confidence, with Shanagher fielding a high delivery to billow the net in the 20th minute and nudge his side clear for the first time at 1-5 to 0-5.
However, Dublin would respond positively with eight of the last eleven points of the half, three each from David Treacy and Burke, to edge two ahead by the midway point.
It was a totally different story on the restart though as a rejuvenated Clare emerged with a rally of 1-4 capped off by a Conlon goal to race 2-12 to 0-13 clear by only the 39th minute.
A brace of Treacy points did cut the deficit to three entering the final quarter, only for Kelly to produce some magic as he intercepted a short puck-out to fire a 35 metre shot to the net and effectively finish the tie as Clare pushed on for an eight point win.
Scorers for Clare: David Reidy 0-6 (0-5f); Tony Kelly 1-3; Aron Shanagher 1-2; John Conlon 1-1; Colm Galvin, Jason McCarthy 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Aaron Cunningham 0-1 each
Scorers for Dublin: David Treacy 0-7 (0-5f); Donal Burke, Eamon Dillon, Chris Crummey 0-3 each; Caolán Conway 0-2; Niall McMorrow 0-1
Clare
1. Andrew Fahey (Whitegate)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
2. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
5. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
26. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
15. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)
14. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
24. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs
22. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Shanahan (20)
23. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for Morey (HT)
15. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for C. McInerney (49)
10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) for Cleary (59)
25. Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea) for Bugler (67)
Dublin
1. Conor Dooley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
4. Oisin Gough (Cuala)
5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
2. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
6. Liam Rushe (St Patrick’s Palmerstown)
8. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala)
9. Ben Quinn (Crumlin)
14. Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
26. Caolán Conway (Kilmacud Crokes)
12. David Treacy (Cuala)
24. Donal Burke (Na Fianna)
15. Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra)
Subs
20. Jake Malone (Cuala) for Quinn (35)
13. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh) for Conway (47)
22. Rian McBride (St Vincent’s) for O’Dwyer (49)
21. Fergal Whitley (Kilmacud Crokes) for McMorrow (63)
23. Sean Ó Riann (Setanta) for Treacy (67)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
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