Clare 3-18 Dublin 0-19

A blistering start to the second half which yielded 1-4 without reply inside five minutes sent Clare on the way to a merited win over Dublin in this division 1 A hurling relegation play off before 7,276 spectators at Cusack Park in Ennis this afternoon

Winners of the league title for only the fourth time in their history just a year ago, Clare were clearly determined to hold on to a place in the top division and this was evident in their play in the second half

Dublin had taken a two point lead to the break and looked to be in a strong position but all that changed after the change over as Clare took control

Both sides made changes before the throw in, Clare introducing Colm Galvin in place of Cathal Malone while Dublin called in Donal Burke and Caolan Conway in place of Eoghan Conroy and Cian Boland.

A strong finish to the half which saw them outscore the home side, 0-7 to 0-2 helped Dublin to take a two point lead to half time when the score was 0-13 to 1-8.

Clare had opened the scoring with a point from Aron Shanagher after just twelve seconds but Dublin hit the next four to open a three point lead. At the end of the opening quarter it was 0-4 to 0-3 in Dublin’s favour.

Clare went back in front in the twenty first minute when Aron Shanagher won possession from a long range free taken by goalkeeper Andrew Fahy and he blasted to the net. David Reidy pointed from a close in free and Clare led by a goal.

Points fromTony Kelly, (2) David Reidy and Colm Galvin at the start of the second half were followed by a John Conlon goal and Clare had moved from being two points behind to five in front in as many minutes.

The winners then went twelve minutes without a score but then Tony Kelly struck for their third goal and this killed off the Dublin challenge. The visitors moved Liam Rushe to their attack in an effort to get back into contention but the Clare defence held the upperhand.

David McInerney, Cian Dillon, Andrew Fahy, Touy Kelly, John Conlon, David Reidy, Aron Shanagher and substitutes Jason McCarthy and Paul Flanagan did well for Clare

Clare; Andrew Fahy; Cian Dillon, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Conor Cleary, David Fitzgerald (0-1); Tony Kelly (1-3), Colm Galvin (0-2); John Conlon (1-1), Podge Collins, Jamie Shanahan; Cathal McInerney, Aron Shanagher (1-2), David Reidy (0-6)

Subs; Jason McCarthy (0-2) for Shanahan; Paul Flanagan for Morey, Aaron Cunningham (0-1) for Cathal McInerney; Cathal Malone for Cleary Gearoid O’Connell for Bugler

Dublin; C. Dooley; C.O’Callaghan, E. O’Donnell, O. Gough; C.Crummy (0-3), L. Rushe, S. Barrett; D. O’Connell, B. Quinn; D. Burke (0-3), N.Mc Morrow( 0-1), D.Treacy (0-7); C. Conway (0-2), R. O’Dwyer, E. Dillon (0-3)

Subs; J.Malone for Quinn; C,. Boland for Conway; R. McBride for O’Dwyer; F.Whitely for McMorrow; S.O’Riain for Treacy

Referee; Johnnie Ryan, Tipperary;

By Seamus Hayes