Offaly 2-13 Clare 1-18

Relegated Offaly suffered their fourth defeat in NHL Division 1B as Clare came from behind to take the spoils at O'Connor Park this afternoon.

Brian Carroll's 12th-minute goal and an injury-time strike from James Gorman had Offaly 2-08 to 1-09 ahead at half-time, with Mark Flaherty hitting Clare's goal from a free.

Although Alan Egan crashed a goal chance off the crossbar, Offaly kept in front through Joe Bergin, Carroll and David Franks before late points from substitutes Barry Nugent and Brendan Bugler saw Clare triumph.

This Tullamore clash was little more than a dead-rubber with Offaly already relegated and Clare out of the hunt for a place in the knockout stages.

In a late switch, Tony Carmody's place in the Clare team went to Cathal Lafferty, while Paul Cleary, one of the Birr players who played in last Monday's All-Ireland club final, started for Offaly and three of his club-mates were on the bench.

Mark Flaherty, Clare's top marksman throughout his maiden league campaign, got the visitors off to an impressive start.

His fourth-minute free from 22 metres out wormed its way into the Offaly net and, after a Conor Hernon effort, Flaherty fired over a brace of points for a 1-02 to 0-01 Clare lead.

But Brian Carroll then became the game's dominant player as he flashed over a quick point and then, in the 12th-minute, he was quickest to reach a lobbed free and smack home to the Clare net.

Niall Gilligan then responded with a point but three white flags in a row from the on-fire Carroll edged Offaly 1-05 to 1-03 ahead.

The Banner men were forced into a substitution midway through the half as midfielder Colin Lynch went off injured to be replaced by Brendan Bugler.

Clare kept ticking over with points from Declan O'Rourke (0-02) and Flaherty, but Offaly, who also had points from Joe Bergin and Carroll, mustered a goal in injury-time.

Ger Healion played a nice centre in for Gorman to bat home past Clare goalkeeper Philip Brennan.

Hunting for only their second league win, the Faithfuls almost grabbed a third goal just two minutes after the restart. Egan agonisingly shot off the crossbar when a goal looked on.

Clare took their cue and points from Flaherty (0-02), Niall Gilligan and O'Rourke had them purring.

Bergin (free) and Carroll, with a well-taken point from play, saw Offaly retake the lead.

The game took on a nip-and-tuck nature for the closing 20 minutes. David Franks had to level for Offaly on the hour mark and Bergin pointed two lengthy frees after O'Rourke and Flaherty had nudged Clare in front.

Nonetheless, Clare had the final say as Nugent and Bugler, both on as substitutes, both contributed late points as Mike McNamara's side ended the league on a winning note.