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DUBLIN 2-17
CLARE 3-17
A trio of second-half goals proved decisive as Clare edged a battling Dublin by three points in their Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship preliminary quarter-final inFBD Semple Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The sides met at the corresponding stage last year with Clare progressing comfortably ontheir way to the All-Ireland decider but this clash went right down to the wire before the Banner held on to progress to the last six.
A Derry Ware goal in the 1st minute was the pivotal score of a typically tense first-half, one in which Dublin enjoyed a deserved 1-8 to 0-10 interval lead, given the control they enjoyed for the large part.
Ben Talty’s rocket and a brace of goals by the influential Gearóid Madden allowed Clare to regain the initiative after the break with a penalty from the inspired Richie Hession arriving too late to spare Dublin their fate.
Despite falling behind to a Madden point within twenty seconds, the Dubs replied in the best possible manner as Ware burst through from forty metres out to fire clinically past Patrick Murphy in the Clare goal.
The Banner’s Talty and Dublin’s Hession traded frees soon after before Clare pounced for four points inside two minutes with Talty (free), Madden, Cian Mullins and Max Sheehan all on target.
A Tom O’Dea score in the 9th minute stretched the Clare lead to three points but with the Dubs tightening up at the back, they grew in confidence and ended a barren period of eleven minutes through Corey Kelly’s fine strike from distance.
Hession’s second free and a fine solo score from Paul Batten brought the sides level by the 19th minute with the Dubs edging in front soon after as Brian Farrell landed a beauty from under the stand.
Clare ended their own scoreless period thanks to a Sean Connellan score in the 23rd minute but Kelly replied with a sublime effort as the Dubs continued to enjoy the upper hand.
Their lead was extended to three points thanks to another placed ball by Hession but Clare finished the half strongly through points by Talty and Colm Daly to trail by the bare minimum at half-time.
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