Criticise courage as president falls (5)

I believe the answer is:

snipe

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'criticise' is the definition.
(I know this)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for snipe that I've seen before include "Perhaps carp" , "The bird to shoot from cover" , "Pines for bog bird" , "Wading bird; shoot from concealment" , "Verbal criticism" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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