Clare preserved their flawless home record against Dublin but only after a late 1-01 blitz rescued their opening points in front of a healthy 7,553 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg.
In a compelling tie between the Division 1B favourites that was level as late at the final minute of normal time, a debut point for substitute Diarmuid Stritch nudged the hosts in front before Rory Hayes expertly fielded a Dublin sideline to deliver over the top for talisman Tony Kelly to sidestep the last defender and roof to the net at 3-18 to 1-20.
True to form, Dublin refused to yield, with key protagonists Donal Burke and Cian O’Sullivan raiding for the final two points. But, in truth, they required a goal to get a first ever result out of Ennis.
That said, Niall Ó Ceallacháin will be extremely pleased with the relentless battling qualities and resilience. Having led by as many as five points with the aid of the wind in the opening period, Dublin again found themselves three clear entering the final quarter.
However, they never put the home side away, with Éibhear Mulligan pulling off two excellent second-half saves, including an excellent stop to tip a Donal Burke penalty over the bar.
Instead, a relieved Clare got back on parity through freetaker Mark Rodgers and captain Tony Kelly before saving their best for last after Burke had deadlocked the sides for a sixth time late on.
Players from both teams tussle for possession
Burke was also a guiding light in Dublin’s unerring early rally that saw the visitors hit seven of the first nine points to soar 0-07 to 0-02 clear by the 14th minute. Dublin’s first wide only came in the 26th minute, by which time their frustrated hosts had chalked up nine wides.
However, while Rodgers’ frees kept the Banner in touch, it was their superior eye for goal that got them an unlikely first half reprieve. In the 29th minute, Darragh Lohan delivered to the left corner for David Reidy to cut inside and find the far corner of Seán Brennan’s net to level matters for the very first time at 0-10 to 1-07.
Six minutes later, David Fitzgerald blocked down a Dublin clearance for Shane Meehan to put Peter Duggan through on goal to double Clare’s bounty by the break at 2-08 to 0-11.
Rodgers extended the gap to four on the resumption but a defiant Dublin never took a step back and after Quilligan kept out a Cian O’Sullivan shot at full length, Brian Hayes managed to squeeze his 42nd-minute shot past the Feakle goalkeeper to slash the arrears to just one at 2-10 to 1-12.
Dublin exploited their new lease of life to turn the tide in their favour but Quilligan’s penalty save and a fresh impetus from the bench saw Brian Lohan’s side wrestle for supremacy before Kelly inevitably struck for glory with an injury-time winner.
Clare: Éibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan; Cathal Malone, Diarmuid Ryan, Cian Galvin; Darragh Lohan (0-01), Ryan Taylor; David Fitzgerald (0-01), Tony Kelly (1-03), Peter Duggan (1-00); David Reidy (1-00), Mark Rodgers (0-11, 9f), Shane Meehan (0-01).
Subs: Diarmuid Stritch (0-01) for Reidy (46), Jack O’Neill for Fitzgerald (56), Niall O’Farrell for Duggan (59), John Conneally for Galvin (59), Colm O’Meara for Lohan (70).
Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell; Conor Burke (0-01), Chris Crummey, Andy Dunphy (0-02); Conor Donohoe (0-2), Conor Groake; Brian Hayes (1-03), Cian O’Sullivan (0-02), Darragh Power; Donal Burke (0-11, Pen, 9f), Ronan Hayes, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing.
Subs: Davy Keogh for Power (33), Dara Purcell (0-01) for Ó Dúlaing (41), Conal Ó Riain for Keogh (57), David Lucey for C Burke (66).
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)