Clara 0-14 Rathvilly 1-8:CLARA HAD to survive another major test of character when they eliminated Rathvilly in Tullamore yesterday afternoon

Reduced to 14 men before half-time when midfielder Ross Brady received a straight red card, Clara were up to their necks in bother when Rathvilly quickly over-turned a 0-8 to 0-2 interval deficit to pull level with 15 minutes left.

When substitute David Nolan nipped in for a goal after poor goalkeeping by John Buckley to level it up, the momentum was very much with the Carlow champions as they had the slight wind at their backs.

It was in the face of such adversity, however, that Clara showed their true mettle.

With Thomas Deehan running riot and players rising to the challenge throughout the field, the Offaly champions pulled clear again and ended up holding on comfortably to seal a semi-final place against Portlaoise.

CLARA: J Buckley; A Cronin, M Rosney, D Kelly; D Baggott, M Mitchell, L Hiney; S Brady (0-1), R Brady (0-1, free); T Dalton, J O’Hara (0-2), G Guilfoyle; E Brady, J Reynolds, T Deehan (0-10, five frees). Subs: P Mitchell for M Rosney (38 mins), K Meehan for J Buckley (45 mins), S Deehan for E Brady (53 mins), P Deehan for A Cronin (56 mins).

RATHVILLY: D Kehoe; BJ Molloy, T Bolger, K Byrne; J O’Donoghue, S Kavanagh, J Kehoe; K Doyle, Brendan Murphy; Brian Murphy (0-3), A Kelly, E Finnegan; D Molloy, JJ Smith (0-4, frees), G Dempsey. Subs: D O’Brien for E Finnegan (Half time), D Nolan (1-1) for G Dempsey (Half time), L Farrell for D Molloy (50 mins), S Murphy for J Kehoe (56 mins).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).