Banner in a flap as doughty Dubs refuse to throw in the towel

THERE were welcome signs of a Dublin hurling renaissance at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday, even though Humphrey Kelleher's charges narrowly failed to overhaul Clare in an entertaining Allianz NHL Division 1 A contest.

Clare 3-13 Dublin 2-13

Amazingly, Dublin have never won a competitive game on Clare soil and they certainly didn't look like altering that statistic when they fell nine points in arrears at the start of the second-half. But Dublin refused to throw in the towel and came agonisingly close to snatching a draw at the death.

Clare got off to an explosive start with a cracking goal from newly converted full-forward Frank Lohan after just four minutes. The former cornerback's third goal in two games looked like setting up Clare for a big win, but they almost paid the price for complacency.

With Daithí O'Connell and David Forde forming an impressive left flank of attack and Colin Lynch, busy as a bee at midfield, Clare held the upper hand in the first half. It was left to right half-forward David Curtin to almost single-handedly keep Dublin, minus dual star Conal Keaney, in contention.

The Ballyboden/St Enda's player scored all of Dublin's opening four points but when Alan Markham pounced to score a spectacular goal in the 16th minute, the Dubs' cause looked bleak.

Following Markham's brilliant strike, Forde and Lynch extended Clare's lead to eight points and

Dublin looked set for a hiding. However, this side has character and resilience and they they courageously came back to snap at Clare's heels. A goal from centre-forward Shane Martin left it 2-8 to 1-6 in Clare's favour at the interval, but with Dublin still there with a shout.

Dublin reduced the deficit to just four points immediately after the resumption, when corner-forward Kevin Flynn hit over. However, once again Clare struck back when Niall Gilligan soloed through before angling his drive to the corner of the net.

When Clare stretched their lead to nine points, it appeared Anthony Daly's side would win in a hack. But then Clare went completely off the boil as Dublin mounted a mighty recovery.

Dublin attacked relentlessly as Clare's scoring well dried up in the closing quarter. Dublin's confidence began to soar following a succession of points from chief marksman Curtin, Shane Martin and Ronan Fallon.

With Clare beginning to wilt, Dublin were right back in the hunt when Martin scored his second goal from close range seven minutes from time.

Now only two points separated them, and Clare were hard-put to stave off Dublin's determined offensive. However, Alan Markham saved Clare's bacon with two points one from a 65.

But Dublin will be heartened after making the home side sweat for victory.

Scorers: Clare A. Markham 1-5 (0-3 frees; 0-1 from 65), F. Lohan 1-1, N. Gilligan 1-0, D. Forde 0-3, C. Lynch 0-2, C. Plunkett, D. O'Connell 0-1 each. Dublin S. Martin 2-1, D. Curtin 0-8 (0-5 frees), T. Moore, K. Flynn, R. Fallon, L. Ryan 0-1 each.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; D. Clancy, B. O'Connell, G. O'Grady; C. Forde, J. Reddan, P. Vaughan; T. Griffin, C. Lynch; A. Markham, C. Plunkett, D. O'Connell; N. Gilligan, F. Lohan, D. Forde. Subs: B. Murphy for Gilligan, T. Holland for Vaughan, B. O'Connor for D. Forde, C. Harrison for C. Forde.

DUBLIN: B. McLoughlin; D. Spain, S. Perkins, C. Meehan; S. Hiney, K. Ryan, A. de Paor; D. Sweeney, R. Fallon; D. Curtin, S. Martin, L. Ryan; K. Flynn, M. Breathnach, T. Moore. Subs: A. Glennon for Moore, C. O'Brien for Meehan, J. McGuirk for Glennon.

Referee: G. Harrington (Cork).