CLARE 3-18 DUBLIN 0-19
Cusack Park, Ennis, 2 Apr 2017

The Clare senior hurlers can look forward to Division 1A action in 2018 after defeating Dublin in a relegation playoff in Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Aron Shanagher, John Conlon and Tony Kelly proved decisive in a game of two halves for Clare who trailed by 0-13 to 1-8 at half-time.

Clare could have been further behind at the break if it were not for two excellent saves by Andrew Fahy, a well taken goal by Aron Shanagher and 7 wides by Dublin.

Clare came out in the second half a different side however, and went 2-12 to 0-13 clear by the 39th minute thanks in part to a goal by John Conlon.

A third goal from Tony Kelly who rifled to the back of the Dublin net from 35 yards helped Clare to secure an eight-point win and ensure top flight hurling next year.

For Dublin, their wait for a first competitive win against Clare in Cusack Park since 1927 goes on.

Clare's next competitive outing is against Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final in Semple Stadium, Thurles, on June 4th.

Joint Clare boss Gerry O'Connor says the two-month layoff will provide "a huge chance to get in some meaningful and worthwhile training."

He told SunSport: “That’s a positive in its own right, it will allow our guys to just refocus and completely target June 4."

“At Under-21 level you probably had three or four months to prepare for a game, then you’d play the game and wouldn’t have another one for a month. That gave you time to work in training."

“But with the National League the gap was a maximum of two weeks and that gave us very little time to do any meaningful training between games. The big difference with the league is the volume and the frequency of games in such a short period of time," he said.

Clare scorers: David Reidy 0-6 (0-5f); Tony Kelly 1-3; Aron Shanagher 1-2; John Conlon 1-1; Colm Galvin, Jason McCarthy 0-2 each; David Fitzgerald, Aaron Cunningham 0-1 each

Dublin scorers: David Treacy 0-7 (0-5f); Donal Burke, Eamon Dillon, Chris Crummey 0-3 each; Caolán Conway 0-2; Niall McMorrow 0-1

Clare
1. Andrew Fahey (Whitegate)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
2. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
5. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
26. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
15. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)
14. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
24. David Reidy (Éire Óg)

Subs
22. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Shanahan (20)
23. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for Morey (HT)
15. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for C. McInerney (49)
10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) for Cleary (59)
25. Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea) for Bugler (67)

Dublin
1. Conor Dooley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
4. Oisin Gough (Cuala)
5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
2. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
6. Liam Rushe (St Patrick’s Palmerstown)
8. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala)
9. Ben Quinn (Crumlin)
14. Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
26. Caolán Conway (Kilmacud Crokes)
12. David Treacy (Cuala)
24. Donal Burke (Na Fianna)
15. Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra)

Subs
20. Jake Malone (Cuala) for Quinn (35)
13. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh) for Conway (47)
22. Rian McBride (St Vincent’s) for O’Dwyer (49)
21. Fergal Whitley (Kilmacud Crokes) for McMorrow (63)
23. Sean Ó Riann (Setanta) for Treacy (67)

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)

CAPTION: Aron Shanagher celebrates his goal for Clare against Dublin. Source: Lorraine O'Sullivan/INPHO