Daly saves Clare with late goal

Clare pulled out all the stops to forge a second-half recovery which earned them a share of the points in a closely contested match at Newbridge.

Clare trailed for most of the game and at one stage were five points adrift, but a late goal from Martin Daly brought them back into the game at the 11th hour.

The result also ensured that they stay level on points with three other teams and their remaining fixtures, against Fermanagh and Sligo, are at home.

The home side got off to the better start when Cathal Sheridan converted a free. Ger Keane levelled for Clare and Peadar McMahon did likewise before two points from Sheridan put Kildare ahead. Kildare scored three points without reply before a listless Clare made an impact on the scoreboard through Ger Keane, who was one of their better forwards. Kildare took a commanding lead before the first half ended and a late point by Colm Reilly put them into a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage at half-time.

Despite being so far behind, Clare kept in touch. Substitute Ronan Slattery traded scores with Sheridan and a point by Keane had an instant reply from Colm Reilly.

Although Kildare were unable to shake off Clare convincingly, they still managed to look comfortable. A long-range free by Karl O'Dwyer found the target and with less than a quarter of an hour left to play Sheridan capped a good performance by converting a free.

Clare were by now five points behind and while Ciaran Considine kept their hopes alive with two frees they needed a goal to have any realistic chance of salvaging a draw.

It arrived through Martin Daly, whose exploits in the Clare jersey sent Cork crashing out of the Munster championship in 1997.

The corner forward got his foot to a ball lobbed into the goalmouth by Peadar McMahon and the shot beat Kildare goalkeeper Christy Byrne.

Kildare: C Byrne; B Lacey, R Quinn, K Doyle; D Hughes (0-1), G Ryan, M Wright; R Sweeney, D Hynan; C Reilly (0-2), K O'Dwyer (0-1), E McCor- mack (0-1); T Fennin (0-2), M Lynch, C Sheridan (0-6). Subs: D Maher for Wright, G Keane for Lynch, T Rossiter for McCormack.

Clare: J Hanrahan; P Gallagher, B Considine, C Whelan; H Keating, B Rouine, C Nagle; D O'Sullivan, D Russell; D O'Driscoll, G Quinlan, P McMahon (0-1); G Keane (0-4), C Considine (0- 4), M Daly (1-0). Subs: B McMahon for Russell, R Slattery (0-1) for Nagle, J Daly for O'Driscoll.

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).