A FUSION of character and courage took Clare to a deserved victory in yesterday's All Ireland football round one qualifier at Casement Park, Belfast.

The margin may have been narrow but the spirit shown by the visiting side meant they were worth their one-point victory.

The Banner county may have lived dangerously on more than one occasion but in a stirring finish their fullforward, Dennis Russell, struck a superb long-range point that secured the long journey north had been worthwhile.

Antrim had looked to be the more composed side in the third quarter after Michael Magill bagged their second goal of the afternoon, their first having come in the opening minute. It came about from Kevin Niblock with Clare responding almost immediately when Stephen Hickey's buried a penalty to the Antrim net.

But even after slipping into the lead midway through the second half Antrim were still unable to contain Ger Quinlan and Peter O'Dwyer in the Clare midfield and their workrate paved the way for points from O'Dwyer , Hickey and Quinlan that brought their side back on terms . Then it was Russell who stepped up to fire over the winning score.

CLARE D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, D Kelly; K Dilleen, B Considine, N Considine (01); G Quinlan (0-2), P O'Dwyer (0-3); R Slattery, D Russell, M O'Dwyer (0-1); E Coughlan, David Russell (0-4), Dennis Russell (0-4), S Hickey (1-2) Subs M O'Shea for David Russell, 48 mins; D Blake for Coughlan, 54 mins; F O'De for Hickey, 70 mins

ANTRIM J Finnucane; A McClean, P Doherty, C Brady; A Scullion, A Convery, S Kelly; M McCann (0-2), A Gallagher; M Duggan (0-1), K McGourty, T O'Neill; P Cunningham (0-2), K Niblock (1-1), M Magill (1-1) Subs O Doherty for O'Neill, 29 mins; J Quinn for Cunningham, h-t; C Close (0-2) for Cunning, 54 mins; K Brady for Gallagher, 56 mins; C McGourty for Magill, 65 mins Referee S McCormack (Meath)