Costello the hero as Dublin battle back to beat Clare

Cormac Costello was Dublin's saviour with a dramatic 75th minute match-winning point at Croke Park, nudging them a step closer to a return to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League.

Trailing by six points with only 12 minutes remaining, Dessie Farrell's side looked in real danger of a humbling defeat to a Clare side fresh off back to back defeats.

But seven points in a row from that stage onwards helped rescue a vital win with Costello fisting over the winner in the dying moments of a memorable encounter.

Clare, who were beaten by Kildare in Round 3 having been in a similar position, will kick themselves for letting victory slip through their hands again.

They put themselves in a great position at the three quarter mark with Eoin Cleary, goalscorer Gavin Cooney and Sigerson Cup finalist Emmett McMahon all exceptional but just couldn't finish it off.

Three straight defeats leaves Clare badly needing a positive result from their Round 5 clash with Cork in Ennis next weekend while Dublin will head to Derry and Celtic Park.

Sean Lowry and David Byrne were late additions to the Dublin lineup in place of Costello and Niall Scully.

St Vincent's man Lowry, making his full National League debut after coming on against Limerick, looked a positive addition initially with a hand in a series of early attacks.

He won a free that Dean Rock, who finished with 0-8, converted for Dublin's opening score in the fourth minute and when Tom Lahiff won the subsequent kick-out, Lowry was played in again for a point.

Lowry had two shots that he blazed wide too, one of those a half chance for a goal as Dublin piled on the early pressure.

With 13 minutes on the clock, the hosts led 0-4 to 0-1 and everything seemed to be going to plan.

Con O'Callaghan