Clare defender Seadna Morey says his side are grateful to come away with just their second victory in the Allianz National Hurling League today.
A two-point victory over Dublin, sees them launch back up into second place on the table, with leaders Tipperary just three points in front. Crucially, the win today also takes them out of the drop zone for the moment, with one round of group games remaining before the quarter-finals begin.
Morey, who finished the game with two points from corner back, said that while it was by no means a glamorous win, it was important to grind out the victory.
Speaking to Off The Ball's Oisin Langan, he said:
"We didn't perform the way we could have. Looking at it, getting the win was the main thing, we mightn't have got the performance that we wanted but it's always a good sign of a team when they win, kind of, ugly.
Image: Seadna Morey and Eamon Dillon of Dublin
"We didn't perform in the second half as we should have with the wind. But we took the points when we needed to. We dug deep, especially in the last 10 minutes we stopped them. We did make, maybe, a few stupid fouls but in the end we dug deep and got away with the win which is the main thing.
"It was a weird game in that we took the points that were hard and missed the points that were easy. It was the bit of composure that will come through the year. The win is the main thing and we're delighted with that.
"We're only three months into our campaign so it's gonna take some time to get use to what the lads (Donal Moloney and Gerry O'Connor) are bringing through.
"We're adapting to a new style and I think at the moment, we're doing it very well, but there's still time to go. If we keep going at it, keep working week on week, it's only going to get better and better. Hopefully come championship, we'll be flying it."
Morey added that competing against teams in Division 1A is exactly where Clare want to be as they prepare to face into a new championship season.
"The teams in this division are top teams, so that’s who you want to be playing, that’s what you’re going to meeting in championship. No matter what way you go out and play, you’re gonna learn every week, how they play against ya. You’re gonna learn new things about your team and you’re gonna learn new things about the other team.
"The league this year is so unpredictable, teams are fairly going at it, it’s nearly like championship pace and you even saw that with Tipperary and Kilkenny last night."
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