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Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald sinks to his knees to celebrate yesterday's win in the Division 1B final. ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
On the up

Perfect Fitz: Davy's Clare leave it late to beat Limerick

Clare snatched promotion to Division 1A with a thrilling two-point win against Limerick.

Limerick 1-16 Clare 0-21

A PAIR OF stoppage time points settled a thrilling National Hurling League Division 1B final in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday as Clare mounted a second-half comeback to topple Limerick and clinch promotion to the top flight.

Limerick, and Shane Dowling in particular, dominated the first half yet only found themselves three points in front at the interval, 0-11 to 0-8.

A Dowling penalty stretched that lead not long after the restart and, trailing by 1-14 to 0-9 with a little over 25 minutes to play, Clare’s 100% record in the league looked set to end at the most inopportune moment.

As promotion slipped through their fingers, Clare awoke and responded with seven unanswered points, four of which came from the hurl of the outstanding Conor McGrath who finished the day with a total of 12.

Another McGrath score gave Clare the lead with four minutes to play, and although Seanie O’Brien looked to have forced extra-time with a late equaliser for Limerick, Nicky O’Connell and McGrath killed off the Treatymen’s challenge and condemned them to another season in 1B.

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