Jamie Malone's late winner showed exactly why Clare have been a Division 2 team for the past seven seasons as Colm Collins' side came back from behind to snatch victory over Louth at Cusack Park in Ennis.
The fact Malone’s score was kicked a minute over the allotted six minutes of referee Shane Lonergan’s additional time annoyed Louth and indeed manager Mickey Harte hugely but having led from the beginning, the Division's new boys will really rue a golden opportunity to get an opening day win.
Louth have failed to win a round one National League game since 2017, but when Ciaran Downey found the net with a minute remaining in normal time, that stat looked set to change.
Instead, Clare dug deep into their resilience bank to strike four unanswered scores and seal a famous comeback victory.
Sam Mulroy and Conor Early had a brace a piece before Eoin Cleary opened Clare’s account in the 25th minute. The visitors were in control but did lose midfielder Ciarán Byrne to a nasty looking injury that could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.
Struggling to break Louth down, the Banner were frustrated and open to countless counter attacks. Louth then lost Liam Jackson to a black card and Clare talisman Keelan Sexton exploited the newly found pockets of space to make it a one- point game.
With 15 men back on the field Mulroy upped the ante, with two well taken points in the run into half time to make it double scores, 0-06 to 0-03 in Louth’s favour.
The influential Keelan Sexton was withdrawn with injury before the break but Emmett McMahon stepped up to the mantle with three second-half points. His first got Clare going and he really brought the home crowd into it with his second that levelled the game at 0-06 each on 50 minutes.
Dáire McConnon and full back Dermot Campbell finally settled Louth into the second period but Clare really penned Harte’s men in on their own kick out. That restart malaise got worse down the stretch and really unravelled when Darragh Bohannon entered the fray.
The strong midfielder helped dominate a sector the hosts were already enjoying the upper hand in.
Another substitute Gavin Cooney, also had a key impact kicking two scores in the frantic finale. Match winner Jamie Malone put the hosts ahead for the first time in the 66th minute but in the entertaining affair there were more twists to come.
In a rapid counter attack Ciaran Downey went all the way from the middle of the field and screwed home a wickedly deceiving shot past David Sexton. That looked to be the difference and the two points on offer all at once.
Mulroy extended Louth’s lead but cornerback Dan Corcoran’s goal chance was blocked down and Clare, buoyed by the lengthy stoppage time, knuckled down and made Louth pay. Moments after Daniel Walsh levelled, Malone strode forward to clinch the dramatic comeback.
Clare: David Sexton; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Cian O’Dea, Jamie Malone (0-02), Alan Sweeney; Cathal O’Connor, Darren O’Neill; Podge Collins, Eoin Cleary (0-02, 0-02f), Dermot Coughlan Jnr; Pearse Lillis; Keelan Sexton (0-02), Emmet McMahon (0-03, 0-02f).
Subs: Mark McInerney (0-01, 0-0145') for Sexton (34), Ciarán Downes for Coughlan (47), Darragh Bohannon for O’Connor (51), Daniel Walsh (0-01) for Sweeney (55), Gavin Cooney (0-02, 0-01m) for Collins (63).
Louth: Declan Byrne; Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell (0-01), Donal McKenny; Leonard Grey, Peter Lynch, Ciaran Murphy; Conor Early (0-02), Ciarán Byrne; Ciarán Downey (1-00), Sam Mulroy (0-05, 0-02f), Conall McKeever; Liam Jackson; Daire McConnon (0-01, 0-01f), Conor Grimes.
Subs: Tommy Durnin for C Byrne (13), Sharkey for Lynch (39), A Connor for McKenny (45), Tom Jackson for McKeever (47), Craig Lennon for L Jackson (47), Ryan Burns for Durnin (68).
Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary)
