For the majority of the 73 minutes at Semple Stadium on Sunday, it was Conor McGrath on free taking duty for Clare. The Banner corner forward knocked over five frees for his side, scoring eight points in total.
When Colin Ryan stepped on to the field with just under half an hour remaining, he took over the dead ball duties from McGrath. Ryan would stick one over the bar and add another from play.
Late in the game though, Ryan missed what looked at the time to be a crucial free .
So, with two minutes of injury time elapsed - and Clare a point down - Davy Fitzgerald felt he had a decision to make. All game, Tony Kelly had been a major influence for Clare. He had scored the goal which got the Banner back into the game when they were six points in arrears.
Referee Diarmuid Kirwan awarded Clare a contentious free 65 metres from goal. Fitzgerald decided that it should be Kelly rather than Ryan who would attempt to level the game. It was Kelly's first free of the day.
Fitzgerald told GAA.ie after the game:
I'd have got killed if he didn't score that point from the free because I changed the free-taker myself. I felt he was on fire, I felt that that was one made for him and I asked him to hit it. I don't know would the other selectors have killed me if it went wide. It was a call, he did it, great man for the big occasion and fair play to him.
From the puck out, Clare half-back David Fitzgerald claimed the sliotar and laid it off to Tony Kelly. The Clare captain would again step up to the mark, this time putting his side ahead for the first time in the game.
They all played their part, like you look at Austin Gleeson and David Fitzgerald out there, I thought the exhibition of fielding out there today was absolutely incredible but David Fitzgerald caught the last one for us that counted and got it off to Tony Kelly, which was immense. Delighted, delighted with our guys. I know Derek (McGrath) can't be disappointed with his because they gave an unreal contribution out there.
Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE
