Division Two A/ Offaly 0-16 Clare 1-10:Offaly pulled themselves back from the brink of disaster when five late points gave them a dramatic three-point victory over Clare in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, yesterday.
A clinically-taken Rory Donnelly goal from a harshly awarded penalty with just six minutes left gave Clare a 1-10 to 0-11 lead and put them on the verge of a memorable win.
A defeat would have left Offaly in the bottom four and facing Division Four football next season but, as he has done so often in the past, Niall McNamee provided a one-man rescue act.
The Rhode man ran riot when moved to centre-half forward and he kicked the closing five points to earn Offaly a reprieve.
Clare, who were good value for their interval lead of 0-8 to 0-6, will be bitterly disappointed at not getting something out of this game and they looked set for at least a share of the spoils when Donnelly fired home the penalty goal.
OFFALY: K Meehan; G Rafferty, J Quinn, J Keane; P McConway, S Sullivan, K Slattery (0-2); A McNamee, N Smith; J Coughlan (0-1), P Kellaghan (0-1), S Brady; PJ Ward (0-2), N Coughlan (0-2), N McNamee (0-7, four frees). Subs: T Deehan (0-1)for P Kellaghan (41 mins), K Hogan for N Smith (41 mins), T Coughlan for J Coughlan (43 mins), C McManus for S Brady (49 mins), J Reynolds for N Coughlan (61 mins).
CLARE: Joe Hayes; L Healy, C Whelan, G Kelly; John Hayes, D Kelly (0-1), N Considine; K O'Dea, G Brennan; M O'Shea (0-1), S Hickey (0-1), E Coughlan (0-1); M O'Dwyer (0-1), G Quinlan, R Donnelly (1-4, goal from penalty, two frees). Subs: D Molohan (0-1)for G Quinlan (12 mins), G Quinlan for F O'Dea inj (37 mins), G Lyons for D Kelly, M Ogie Murphy for E Coughlan (59 mins).
Referee: M Daly(Mayo).
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