The Banner will rue an afternoon of uncharacteristic accuracy where they racked up a total of 10 wides at Croke Park
The Ulster Champions on the other hand showed no mercy and punished Clare’s misfires at the posts with ruthless efficiency.
In a cagey start at headquarters Derry opened the scoring after six minutes via a Niall Loughlin Free.
Just three minutes later Tristan O’Callaghan’s short kick out was intercepted allowing Benny Heron his sides first goal chance and he made no mistake at the vital moment.
On 12 Minutes Derry Midfielder Conor Glass on his AFL return buried the ball in the net at the Davin End after a marauding run through the Clare defence to add the Oak Leaf County’s second leaving the scores at 2-01 to 0-0.
It was the 15th Minute when Clare finally opened their account through an Eoin Cleary free however this was immediately cancelled out by Derry’s chief talisman Shane McGuigan who claimed his first of eight points for the day.
On Twenty Two minutes Podge Collins showed sheer perseverance to create a goal chance shifting his way through the Derry defence only for Odhran lynch to make an excellent stop for his effort along the ground.
The resulting forty five failed to make its mark on the scoreboard and once again Derry wasted no time in capitalizing with scores from Shane McGuigan and Conor Glass pushing Derry’s advantage to ten points just five minutes from half time.
Jamie Malone then split the posts, followed by a one two from Pierce Lilis and Ciarán Russell which resulted in the former rattling the Derry net and a magnificent Eoin Clearly point reducing the deficit to six points and it appeared the Clare comeback was on.
However Paul Cassidy’s stoppage time goal on the break came as a knockout blow to Clare on the stroke of half time. The First Half ended Derry 3-06 to Clare’s 1-03
Derry entered the second period with the same momentum they ended the first and centre back Gareth McKinless’s goal on forty two minutes all but ended the game as a contest.
Just Five Minutes later Eoin Cleary gave the travelling Clare support a cheer when he raised our second green flag with a smart finish that caught the Derry defence napping.
However this is as good as it would good for the Banner County as in the 51st minute the ever dangerous McGuigan claimed a well deserved goal of his own leaving the score line at 5-09 to 2-03 as Derry simply found it far too easy to penetrate the Clare Walls
Shane McGuigan provided the remainder of Derry’s scores until the final whistle came whilst David Tubridy and Eoin Cleary together added more respectability to Clare’s tally.
It finished in Croke Park Derry 5-09 to Clare’s 2-07.