Clare rally to salvage a point

Clare, short six of their regulars, had to fight hard to gain a share of the spoils with Roscommon in a lively and entertaining National Football League first round game at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday. Roscommon were the more committed side in the opening half and had two points within three minutes from Fergal O'Donnell and Nigel Dineen. Although Clare responded through the sharp-shooting boots of Martin Daly, there were far too many missed chances.

However, with eight minutes left in the half, the game came alight with a marvellous Roscommon goal involving Derek Duggan, Francie Grahan and Lorcan Dowd, who passed the ball to Fergal O'Dowd to finish it off from close range. Francis Grahan added a point and Roscommon were ahead by 1-6 to 0-3 before points from Peadar McMahon and Daly reduced the lead to a goal at half-time.

Clare, who now had the assistance of a light wind, took the game to Roscommon and had reduced the gap to a single point within five minutes. Roscommon eased ahead again with points from Derek Duggan and Eddie Lohan and they could have killed off the Clare resurgence midway through the half when they were awarded a penalty but they opted to drive the ball over for a point.

With less than a quarter-of-an-hour left in the game, Clare fought back. Points from Daly reduced the gap to two and it was then that Clare came up with the best movement of the match. A long ball from Pat McMahon was broken down by Pat Foley and crashed into the goal by Martin Daly to give the Banner a one-point lead.

A quick Roscommon response saw centre back, Enon Gavin, pointing, but Clare seemed to have the winner when their corner back, Brendan Ruine, sent a long pass to Daly, who fisted the ball over the bar. However, Roscommon substitute, Tommy Grehan, came to the rescue with the equaliser in the dying seconds.