Clare scramble over the line

NHL DIVISION TWO Clare 2-14 Antrim 2-13:CLARE SURVIVED a tense finish at Casement Park yesterday to overcome Antrim.

It was a deserved win for Clare who played the last 19 minutes with 14 players, Jamie McInerney being sent off on a second yellow card.

The Banner boys had the wind at their back and after 11 minutes Conor McGrath scored their opening goal after his first effort was well blocked by ’keeper Chris O’Connell. This sent the visitors into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead and over the next 21 minutes they added 1-7 to their tally, Cathal McInerney grabbing the second goal on 19 minutes, as they confined Antrim to just two points. A goal by Neil McManus saw Antrim reduce the deficit to 2-9 to 1-5 at the break.

With wind advantage the home side hit 1-7 to Clare’s two points between the 38th and 58th minutes. That tied the game at 2-12 apiece, with Liam Kearns snatching the goal on 50 minutes.

Niall O’Connell sent Clare ahead from a free, Karl Stewart levelled, but in injury-time O’Connell snatched the winner from a free.

CLARE: D Tuohy; M Early, C Cooney, D O'Donovan; B Bugler, C Dillon, J McInerney; N O'Connell (0-7, 0-6 frees); P Vaughan (0-1); P O'Connor, J Conlon (0-2), D McMahon (0-1); D Honan (0-2), C McInerney (1-0), C McGrath (1-1). Subs: F Lynch for P O'Connell (half-time), J Clancy for C McInerney (half-time), C Ryan for McMahon (47 mins), S Collins for Clancy (68 mins).

ANTRIM: C O'Connell; N McAuley, C Donnelly, A Graffin; K McKeague; M Herron, C Herron; K McKeegan (0-1), K Stewart (0-4, three frees); L Kearns (1-0), M Armstrong, N McManus (1-4, 0-2 frees), D Hamill, C Carson (0-2), C McFall (0-1). Sub: S McNaughton (0-1) for Armstrong (38 mins).

Referee: E Hassen(Derry).