Lohan impressed as Banner take giant step to rebound
Shane Meehan of Clare in action against John Bellew of Dublin during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match between Clare and Dublin at Zimmer Biomet Páirc ChĂosĂłg in Ennis, Clare. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
It was only the first step on the path to top-flight redemption but still felt significant as Clare snatched a first home league victory in almost two years in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg on Sunday afternoon.
All-Ireland and National League double champions as recently as two seasons ago, the Banner had a point to prove to themselves and their supporters on Sunday following an underwhelming 2025, with captain Tony Kelly leading the way with an injury-time winning goal to finally hold off an obstinate Dublin.
“I thought we showed great resolve so we’re delighted to get the win,” said Clare manager Brian Lohan.
“We’re under a lot of pressure I suppose especially after how we performed last year. There was a big crowd here today as it was a big test for us so to win that was important for the players as well as the supporters. They were a little but frustrated with us last year and we understand that so it was good for us to respond as well as we did and it gives us a good early boost.”Â
The home side had to utilise all of their vast experience to keep a determined Dublin at bay. With the wind at their backs, the Leinster side would only hit their first wide after 26 minutes, by which time Clare had chalked up nine wides.
That home frustration would be heightened by Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s side firing seven of the first nine points to power five clear by the 14th minute, with freetaker Donal Burke to the fore wit four of that tally.
Mark Rodgers kept the Banner in touch with frees until finally warming up the crowd with a scorching two goal finish to the opening period to remarkably hit the front. In the 29th minute, Darragh Lohan gathered an Eibhear Quiliigan puck-out to deliver to the left corner where David Reidy evaded his marker on his way to firing past Sean Brennan to the bottom far right corner at 0-10 to 1-07.
Then just before the break, Clare completed a rousing finish to the half when David Fitzgerald blocked down a clearance for Shane Meehan to tee up Peter Duggan for a second major on their way to a 2-08 to 0-11 interval lead.
Now welcoming the conditions, Clare initiated extended the margin to four, thanks to Rodgers. Dublin refused to adhere to the script though and after Cian O’Sullivan brought the best out of home goalkeeper Quilligan with a full length stop, substitute Dara Purcell would tee up Brian Hayes to squeeze a shot into the right corner and slash the arrears to the minimum at 2-10 to 1-12.
It would prove a valuable lifeline as the visitors moved swiftly through the gears but could only muster up a three point lead after Quilligan again produced heroics to somehow turn a Donal Burke 50th minute penalty over the bar.
Not willing to accept their perceived fate, a relieved Clare unearthed a four point unanswered blitz through braces for Rodgers and Kelly to wrestle back the ascendancy for the first time in 17 minutes at 2-17 to 1-19, only for Burke to inevitably level matters for a sixth time.
The sides were still deadlocked when home substitute Diarmuid Stritch marked his league debut with a leading point before Rory Hayes fielded a Dublin lineball to unleash captain Kelly to beat the last defender and emphatically finish a 71st minute goal past the despairing Brennan.
Donal Burke and Cian O’Sullivan did grab the last two points but it wouldn’t be sufficient to knock the Banner off the perch ahead of a reunion with Davy Fitzgerald in Antrim next Sunday.
“It’s hard to win hurling matches regardless of what grade you’re in," reflected Lohan. "There are an awful lot of teams pushing hard near the top so we’re delighted to come through a really tough game.
“We made loads of mistakes obviously being the first day out but we were dangerous the whole time so we hope to improve as the games develop."
M Rodgers 0-11 (9f); T Kelly 1-3; D Reidy, P Duggan 1-0 each; D Lohan, D Fitzgerald, S Meehan, D Stritch 0-1 eachÂ
D Burke 0-11 (Pen, 9f); B Hayes 1-3; A Dunphy, C Donohue, C O’Sullivan 0-2 each; C Burke, D Purcell 0-1 eachÂ
E Quilligan; R Hayes, C Cleary, A Hogan; C Malone, D Ryan, C Galvin; D Lohan, R Taylor; D Fitzgerald, T Kelly, P Duggan; D Reidy, M Rodgers, S MeehanÂ
Subs: D Stritch for Reidy (46), J O’Neill for Fitzgerald (56), N O’Farrell for Duggan (59), J Conneally for Galvin (59), C O’Meara for Lohan (70)Â
S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, E O’Donnell; C Burke, C Crummey, A Dunphy; C Donohoe, C Groake; B Hayes, C O’Sullivan, D Power; D Burke, R Hayes, D Ă“ DĂşlaingÂ
Subs: D Keogh for Power (33), D Purcell for Ă“ DĂşlaing (41), C Ă“ Riain for Keogh (57), D Lucey for C. Burke (66)Â
S Hynes (Galway)
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