Substitute David Tubridy rescued a deserved draw for Clare to keep them in the promotion hunt at Dr. Hyde Park.

The Banner County looked to be in pole position at half time, trailing by only a point having played into the teeth of an extremely strong breeze.

Roscommon improved after the break, eking out a 0-09 to 0-06 lead with six minutes remaining. However, Clare kicked the last three points of the game, with substitute Tubridy on hand to land the equaliser in injury-time.

With Podge Collins drafted into the Clare line-up as a late replacement for Tubridy, the Munster side worked harder and generally frustrated their hosts during a turgid opening half.

Clare were content to play keep ball but, crucially, they were able to scythe their way through the heart of the Roscommon defence when the opportunities arose.

Collins' experience was pivotal as he handled the ball more than any other player in the first 35 minutes and, fittingly, he opened the scoring for his side in the fourth minute.

Cathal Heneghan, player of the match for NUIG during their Sigerson Cup triumph midweek, levelled matters before Roscommon captain Donie Smith opened his account from a free.

But rapid-fire scores from Aaron Griffin and Eoin Cleary, as a result of hard graft and a superior workrate, nudged the visitors back in front.

A brilliantly-worked move saw wing-back Alan Sweeney fist a point for Clare in the 20th minute to open up a 0-04 to 0-02 advantage for the visitors.

Enda Smith responded to narrow the gap in Roscommon’s next attack before frees from Donie Smith and Conor Cox edged their side back in front.

Another superbly worked Clare score, finished by Jamie Malone, looked to have deservedly salvaged parity for Clare before half-time but Conor Cox had the final say of the half from a free to leave the Rossies 0-06 to 0-05 at the break, but with a mountain of work to do in the second half.

But they started climbing the mountain with early points from Cox and Richard Hughes to stretch their lead to three points.

Podge Collins eroded the deficit before substitute Diarmuid Murtagh announced his revival with a point to leave Roscommon three points ahead and on course for victory.

To Clare’s credit, they never gave up and wing-back Cian O’Dea brought a good save out of Roscommon goalkeeper Colm Lavin following a rampaging run.

Clare had momentum now and when Keelan Sexton grabbed his first score of the afternoon from a '45, Eoin Cleary popped up to leave just a point in it.

As the game ticked into the five minute of injury time, it was left to Tubridy to step up to the mark to deservedly earn a share of the points for his side.

Roscommon: Colm Lavin; Mark Richardson, Brian Stack, Eoin McCormack; Dylan Ruane, Niall Daly, Richard Hughes (0-01); Ultan Harney, Eddie Nolan; Niall Kilroy, Enda Smith (0-01), Cathal Heneghan (0-01); Cian McKeon, Donie Smith (0-02, 0-02f), Conor Cox (0-03, 0-02f).

Subs: Niall Higgins for Richardson (half time), Ciaráin Murtagh for Ruane (57), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-01) for Heneghan (60), Ciarán Sugrue for Cox (61), Keith Doyle for McKeon (70).

Clare: Stephen Ryan; Marcus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine; Cian O’Dea, Eoghan Collins, Alan Sweeney (0-01); Cathal O’Connor, Darren O’Neill; Jamie Nolan (0-01), Eoin Cleary (0-02), Pearse Lillis; Aaron Griffin (0-01), Keelan Sexton (0-01, 0-01 ’45), Padraic Collins (0-02).

Subs: David Tubridy (0-01) for Malone (43), Daniel Walsh for Doherty (50), Emmett McMahon for E. Collins (67), Ciarán Downes for Griffin (70).

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford).