Div One A/Clare ... 2-16 Galway ... 1-18: Clare kept their unbeaten run intact, but only just, at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday. The game lived up to its billing of match of the day, with the sides drawing level nine times. It took a fabulous point by Clare corner-back Frank Lohan from the middle of the field in injury time to decide the outcome.
Galway led by 0-4 to 0-3 by the 14th minute. Then in the 16th, wing-forward David Tierney outsmarted Clare defenders Brian Lohan and David Hoey and his low, well-drilled shot gave David Fitzgerald no chance. But Clare struck back moments later. Gilligan's 20 metre free close to the right touch line deceived Damien Howe and the ball slipped off the goalkeeper's hand into the net for a soft goal.
A Barry Murphy point levelled matters before Galway regained control with four unanswered points. Alan Markham reduced the deficit to three just before disaster struck again for Howe. He appeared to have caught a shot by Murphy but dropped it and Gilligan dispatched it to the net after a scramble. Gilligan and Gantley then exchanged frees to leave it all square, 2-6, 1-9, at the end of the half.
Galway manager Conor Hayes replaced Howe with Liam Donoghue at the beginning of the second half and six minutes in, the westerners took the lead as Cathal Moore landed a point.
When James O'Connor fired over a Clare point to level matters it signalled the start of Clare's dominance. Gilligan, Colin Lynch, Conor Plunkett and Murphy hit scores to leave Clare in a commanding position leading by 2-13 to 1-12 as the game entered the final quarter.
But, as so often in Clare v Galway clashes, the tide turned and Galway fought back and with four minutes of normal time to play an Ollie Fahy point brought them level once more.
Gilligan then missed the chance of the day when his shot came off the Galway crossbar but a point a minute later by substitute Fergal Lynch steadied Clare's nerves as the game headed towards injury time. In time added on, Frank Lohan got the insurance point with a massive strike from the centre of the field, and even though Galway replied through Moore at the death, Clare held on for an important victory.
Clare now play unbeaten Kilkenny at Nowlan Park next Sunday in a repeat of last season's All-Ireland final.
CLARE: D Fitzgerald; D Hoey, B Lohan, F Lohan (0-1); C Plunkett (0-1, 1 65), S McMahon (capt), G Quinn; C Lynch (0-1), J O'Connor (0-1); T Griffin (0-1), T Carmody, A Markham (0-1), N Gilligan (2-6, 1-6 frees), E Taaffe, B Murphy (0-3). Subs: C Harrison for Hoey (inj), F Lynch (0-1) for Carmody, D O'Connell for Taaffe, G Considine for Murphy.
GALWAY: D Howe; D Joyce, L Hodgins, O Canning (capt); T Óg Regan, D Cloonan, S Kavanagh; R Gantley (0-10, 6 frees, 2 65s), A Coen; R Murray (0-1), C Moore (0-3), D Tierney (1-0); A Kearns, O Fahy (0-2), K Broderick (0-2). Subs: L Donoghue for Howe, G Glynn for Murray (inj), J Conroy for Kavanagh, E Lynch for Coen, K Burke for Glynn.
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
