A sixth consecutive home league victory ensured that Clare can now concentrate on trying to reel in leaders Kildare and Offaly as the race to escape from Division 3 intensifies.
Peter Keane’s side had to roll with the punches but essentially kept their cool at vital moments of a tough wrestle for supremacy to just edge the points.
‘Just’ being the operative word as selector Eoin Curtin outlined immediately afterwards, having to watch through his fingers as Fermanagh captain Declan McCusker’s last gasp two point attempt at an equaliser came off two posts before staying out.
“A lick of the paint job really so we delighted to come out with a win.
“It was a massive result for us as this was a big game for both teams. We came into it in the same positions as both ourselves and Fermanagh had won a game and lost one so the result was critical today. They [Fermanagh] are a strong physical side, they’ve a couple of great players but I think we just worked that little bit harder to eventually earn the result in the end.”
It needed a relentless work-rate to shade matters as despite a perfect start with the aid of the conditions to soar five points clear, Clare had to scramble for a half-time lead after falling a point behind nearing the break.
“We showed savage heart and desire to get ourselves back into the game. I know we were ahead at half-time but we weren’t overly happy and the wind here is deceptively strong on the ground so all credit to the lads, they were brilliant and really worked their socks off.
“I think that’s the key, work-rate and doing the simple things well. Look, we know we’ve a lot to improve upon but big things can happen when you want to work hard and the boys worked in spades…