Clare were fortunate to collect all the at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday.

It was Antrim who made most of the running and they would not have been flattered had they recorded their third win on the trot.

Clare led by five points at half-time, having played with the aid of the breeze, and they were clearly worried at this stage. This was reflected in their decision to introduce experienced regulars Frank Lohan and Fergal Hegarty for the second half.

The game sprang to life with seven minutes remaining when Antrim defender Seamus McMullan netted from a penalty, following a foul on impressive full forward John Carson. It was the signal for a storming finish by the visitors, who almost snatched a share of the spoils a minute into stoppage time.

However, Jim Connolly pointed with a goal at his mercy and Clare had been let off the hook.

CLARE: D Fitzgerald, M O'Halloran, B Lohan, B Scanlan, E Flannery, L Doyle, A Daly (0-3), C Lynch , J Reddan (0-1), F Tuohy (0-3), N Gilligan (0-1), G Considine (0-1), A Markham (1-2), R O'Hara (1-3), M Conlon. Subs: F Hegarty for Conlon, F Lohan for O'Halloran, S Sheedy for Doyle.

ANTRIM: S Elliott, C McCambridge, E McCloskey, O Colgan, S McMullan (1-0), G O'Kane, P McMullan, C McGuckian (0- 1), J Close, J Connolly (0-1), R Donnelly, M Dallas (1-0), L Richmond, J Carson, A Elliott (1-7). Subs: S Mullen for Colgan, M McCafferty for Donnelly.

Referee: G Harrington (Cork).