Clare 1-14 Longford 3-7: Clare overcame Longford by a single point at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday. The home side played into a strong wind in the opening half and deserved their 0-8 to 1-2 lead at the break.
Longford's goal came from a penalty after Clare goalkeeper Joe Hayes fouled Paul Barden in the ninth minute. Barden himself took the penalty and sent Hayes the wrong way.
Clare dominated right up until Frank O'Dea was sent to the line for striking Shane Mulligan in the 52nd minute. With Peter Foy as the extra man, Longford drew level and David Barden scored his side's second goal with nine minutes remaining.
As the game headed for injury-time Clare led by 0-14 to 2-7 before the Russell brothers from Kilkee, Denis and David, produced an opportunist's goal. Denis sent in a high dropping ball from the left side-line and David stretched high and fisted to the net.
Play went up to the other end of the park for Shane Mulligan to score a goal. But it wasn't enough to turn the game as the home team held out.
CLARE: J Hayes; D Carey, C Whelan, G Tubridy; G Kelly, K Dilleen, D Blake (0-1); P O'Dwyer (0-2), J Quinlan; F O'Dea (0-1), David Russell (1-1), D Hedigan; Denis Russell (0-7, four frees), C Malone, E Coughlan (0-2, one free). Subs: R Kane for Malone (58 mins), P Neylon for O'Dwyer (66 mins).
LONGFORD: G Evans; C McKeown, B Gilleran, E Ledwith; S Mulligan (1-0), D Masterson, P Foy; B McElavaney, A O'Connor; P Dowd, P Barden (1-5, 1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees), P Berry; B Kavanagh, K Mulligan, D Barden (1-0). Subs: D Sheridan for Evans (35 mins), C Confery for O'Connor (35 mins), J Martin (0-2, one free) for S Mulligan (35 mins), K Smith for Berry (59 mins).
Referee: V Neary (Mayo).
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