Dublin Senior Hurlers narrowly beaten by Clare in the Division 1B Final

DUBLIN 3-20 

CLARE 2-26

A dominant first-half showing proved pivotal as Clare defeated a battling Dublin by three points in their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Sunday afternoon. 

The Banner enjoyed a healthy, albeit wind-assisted 2-15 to 2-5 lead at the break with goals from Shane O’Donnell and Shane Meehan only partially offset by green flags at the opposite end by John Hetherton and Cian O’Sullivan. 

A string of six unanswered points in as many minutes at the start of the second-half offered hope to Dublin but Clare tagged on points at crucial times to remain on the front foot despite a 63rd minute goal by Fergal Whitely.  

There was a slow to start to proceedings with both teams guilty of some fundamental errors before Clare opened the scoring in the 5th minute through a Mark Rodgers free. 

Dublin’s first chance arrived soon after as they were awarded a penalty following an attempted trip on O’Sullivan and with Rory Hayes black carded for the offence, Hetherton left Éibhear Quilligan rooted to the spot with a powerful shot into the bottom corner. 

The Dubs failed to build on that score as O’Donnell raced clear to fire past Seán Brennan in the 8th minute and with both teams settling into the contest, O’Sullivan restored parity within a minute. 

Clare were making inroads up front, as reflected in points by Rodgers and O’Donnell and while Darragh Power replied for Dublin, their opponents began to put further distance between the sides on the scoreboard. 

A Rodgers brace and a Meehan score pushed Clare four points ahead and the latter left Brennan helpless with a well-taken goal towards the end of the first quarter. 

Dublin were in need of some encouragement at this stage and it duly arrived in the 22ndminute as O’Sullivan reacted well to gather possession with his arrowed finish from ten yards reducing their deficit to five points. 

Another Rodgers brace from frees highlighted the pressure on the Dublin defence but their running game from deep gradually reaped dividends as Conor Donohoe popped over two points in quick succession. 

Remarkably, only two of Clare’s scores came outside their inside-forward line in the opening half, with Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor on target while late points from Meehan and Rodgers left the Banner ten points clear by the turnaround. 

Dublin were in need of a strong start to the second-half and it arrived through early points by Donohoe and Power before O’Sullivan tagged on two points from placed balls. 

Further scores arrived through Brian Hayes and O’Sullivan as the Dubs reduced their arrears to just four points but their growing momentum was stalled as the clinical Rodgers converted a trio of frees in quick succession by the 45th minute. 

Whitely and the influential Donohoe kept the Dublin scoreboard ticking over but Clare were doing likewise through Duggan and Ryan Taylor as we entered the final quarter. 

Diarmuid Ryan began to shine for Clare during those closing stages and while Whitely pulled to the net to offer fresh hope, Quilligan denied Dublin another goal soon after with a spectacular save to thwart O’Sullivan.  

That intervention was vital to Clare’s success, as were two insurance points from Ryan as Clare held on despite some late pressure on their goal.  

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Sullivan 1-10 (0-6f); F Whitely 1-1; C Donohoe 0-4; J Hetherton 1-0 (pen); D Power 0-2; D Ó Dúlaing (f), B Hayes, D Purcell 0-1 apiece. Clare: M Rodgers 0-12 (9f); S Meehan 1-3; S O’Donnell 1-1; P Duggan 0-4 (3f); D Ryan 0-3; R Taylor 0-2; I Galvin 0-1.  

Dublin: S Brennan; C Groarke, P Smyth, E O’Donnell; P Doyle, C Crummey, C McHugh; C Burke, C Donohoe; F Whitely, B Hayes, D Power; D Ó Dúlaing, J Hetherton, C O’Sullivan. Subs: R Hayes for Ó Dúlaing (half-time), J Bellew for Groarke (half-time), A Dunphy for Smyth (half-time), D Purcell for Power (56), 

Clare: É Quilligan; R Hayes, C Cleary, C Leen; D Ryan, N O’Farrell, C Malone; DarraghLohan, R Taylor; P Duggan, D Reidy, D Fitzgerald; S Meehan, S O’Donnell, M Rodgers. Subs: I Galvin for O’Donnell (half-time), J O’Neill for Fitzgerald (half-time), D Stritch for Rodgers (49), J Conlon for Lohan (56), Daithí Lohan for Leen (67). 

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).