Really close friend that is found after defeat (6)

I believe the answer is:

bestie

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'really close friend' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'that is found after defeat' is the wordplay.
'that is' becomes 'ie' (short for Latin 'id est', 'that is').
'found after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'defeat' becomes 'best' (besting is a kind of defeating).
'ie' after 'best' is 'BESTIE'.

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I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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