The weather was atrocious in Páirc Esler on Saturday but Down got the better of Clare in their Allianz National League Division 3 opener, coming back from a five-point half-time deficit to win by five.
Clare were on form with their two-pointers and a couple of first-half goals helped their cause immensely.
It took a long time for Conor Laverty's men to make their dominance count on the scoreboard, but an excellent finish saw them through in the end.
The visitors had the strong wind at their back in the opening half, but it was Daniel Guinness who fisted the first point of the evening over the bar for Down in the second minute.
After a couple of Clare wides, Shane Annett, well set up by Pat Havern and Adam Crimmins, doubled the Mourne advantage before Mark McInerney pointed the first for the Banner County.
A brace from Ceilum Doherty kept Down in front with an 0-04 to 0-01 lead, but that was narrowed to one when McInerney nailed the first two-pointer of the game.
Crimmins replied at the other end but with Clare using the wind to their full advantage, Aaron Griffin levelled proceedings at 0-05 apiece with a second orange flag.
Doherty nudged Down in front again but a mis-kicked point effort by Griffin on 23 minutes fell sweetly to Cillian Brennan who stuck the ball in the net.
That put Paul Madden’s side into the lead for the first time but there was more to come before the break.
Down were the better side and kept the scoreboard ticking over as best they could against the wind, with Odhran Murdock and Pat Havern getting on the scoresheet to square the match 0-08 to 1-05, but two minutes before the 35 was up, with the sides level again 0-10 to 1-07, Brian McNamara scored another two-pointer and McInerney finished the half with a second Clare goal to give them a 2-09 to 0-10 lead.
Bohannon put the ball over the bar for Clare seconds after the re-start but Havern had a go from a free outside the arc, despite the wind having dropped somewhat and while his effort dropped short, the ball came off the post for John McGeough who goaled.
Daniel Guinness tagged on a point and McGeough added another and with that Down were back in the game just a point behind, 1-12 to 2-10.
The Mournemen had squared proceedings 15 minutes into the half and Havern edged them in front with his fifth point of the night and they remained a point to the good with traded points to make it 1-16 to 2-12 with eight minutes left on the clock.
Clare keeper Stephen Ryan came down the field and drilled a two-point free over the bar to give the Munster men a narrow advantage once more, but the home side went straight down the field where Odhran Murdock buried the ball in the net to a huge cheer from the home supporters.
It was game over for Clare when Ryan kicked another free effort short and they were punished further with Daniel Guinness raising an orange flag in reply and Murdock pointing with the last kick of the game for a 2-19 to 2-14 victory.
Down: R Burns; P Fegan, P Laverty, F Murdock; P McPolin, R Magill, P McCarthy; O Murdock (1-02), R McEvoy; D Guinness (0-05, 1tp), C Doherty (0-03), S Annett (0-01); A Crimmins (0-01), P Havern (0-06, 03f J McGeough (1-01)
Subs: T Close for Crimmins (46), M Rooney for Magill (57), R Scullion for McCarthy (57), B O'Hagan for McGeough (64), P Brooks for Annett (68),
Clare: S Ryan (0-02, 01tpf); A Sweeney, R Lanigan, M Doherty; C Brennan (1-00), I Ugwueru, F Kelleher; B McNamara (0-02, 1tp), D Bohannon (0-02); B Rouine, D Coughlan (0-02), A Griffin (0-02, 01tp); E Cleary, M McInerney (1-03, 1tp), C Murray (0-01)
Subs: C O’Dea for McInerney (42), G Murray for Brennan (54), J Rafferty for Murray (58), E Cahill for Griffin (68)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
