Only the width of the crossbar separated Clare and Fermanagh in what was a pivotal Division 3 promotion clash in front of just 1,113 in Cusack Park, Ennis.
With both sides coming off the back of a first victory a fortnight ago, a second win was almost a prerequisite to keep on Division 3 tabletoppers Kildare and Offaly's coat-tails.
Leading for two-thirds of the contest, the hosts arguably merited victory, especially thanks to a ten point haul from Emmet McMahon that repeatedly kept the Ulster side at arm’s length.
Indeed, It was McMahon’s final point in the 70th minute that looked to have clinched victory but true to form, Fermanagh were not about to accept their fate without a fight and following a Sean Cassidy point, up stepped Declan McCusker to unleash what initially seemed a spectacular last gasp two-point equaliser.
However, a combination of post and crossbar agonisingly denied the Fermanagh captain as the ball fell perfectly for Ikem Ugwueru to clear the danger and finally cement all the points.
Clare’s biggest advantage was carved out after only six minutes of the throw-in when Alan Sweeney’s second successive home goal was flanked by a brace of Emmet McMahon points to soar 1-02 to 0-00 clear.
While Declan McCusker came closest to answering with a deflected shot for a goal, it took Fermanagh a full eleven minutes to finally open their account as a fisted Josh Largo Elis point was quickly followed by scores for Fionan O’Brien and Garvan Jones.
It wasn’t until the second quarter that Kieran Donnelly’s side fully reeled in their hosts though, with some excellent work from Ronan McCaffrey keeping the ball in at the back post for Joe McDade to find the net from close range at 1-03 apiece.
Backed by a strong breeze, Clare were grateful to scorers-in-chief Emmet McMahon and Eoin Cleary for popping up with back-to-back two-point frees just before the break and secure a 1-9 to 1-6 interval edge.
It only took Fermanagh seven minutes of the new half to turn the tables with Josh Largo Elis’ inspirational two-pointer handing the wind-assisted visitors at 1-11 to 1-10 lead.
It was to be the final time that the Ulster side would be in the ascendency though as while points from McMahon and Cleary were equalled by a Darragh McGurn leveller in the 50th minute, Clare would lead for the entire final quarter as McMahon (2), Ciaran Downes (2) and excellent midfielder Brian McNamara put three between the sides by the end of normal time.
Fermanagh inevitably rallied but fortune finally favoured the home side at the death as their posts lived a charmed life to keep their promotion bid on track.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Clare: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine; Cillian McGroary, Sean McAllister, Alan Sweeney (1-00); Ikem Ugwueru, Brian McNamara (0-01); Daniel Walsh, Eoin Cleary (0-04, 1tpf, 1f), Ciaran Downes (0-02); Emmet McMahon (0-10, 1tpf, 2f), Aaron Griffin, Keelan Sexton
Subs: Connor Meaney for Walsh (HT), Evan Cahill for McGroary (49), Cormac Murray for Sexton (65), D Burns for Griffin (71)
Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Ronan McCaffrey (0-01); Fionan O’Brien (0-02, 1f), Paul Breen (0-01), Jonathan Cassidy; Joe McDade (1-00), Darragh McGurn (0-01); Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker, Josh Largo Elis (0-03, 1tp); Ryan Lyons (0-01), Garvan Jones (0-04, 0-02f), Conor Love (0-01)
Subs: Diarmuid King for McCaffrey (26-32, BS), Sean Cassidy (0-01) for Lyons (57)
Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)
