Clare moved clear at the top of Division 1A with an impressive 0-23 to 0-19 victory over Cork at Ennis.

The Banner County, who have won all three of their league outings to date, took the game to the Rebel County from the off and held on despite a spirited Cork revival in the second half.

With 4.904 in attendance, this all-Munster affair was done and dusted at the interval as the home team retired nursing a commanding eleven-point advantage, 0-16 to 0-5.

The Banner started brilliantly and led by nine points to four after 20 minutes, with top scorer Peter Duggan's five pointed frees the difference between the teams at that stage. Mike O'Malley marked his debut with the hosts' tenth score and the Rebels were clearly in trouble at this early juncture.

Two Duggan frees and scores from Seadna Morey and John Conlon had the Banner ahead by four points to one, Luke Meade contributing the Leesiders' opener. Patrick Horgan pointed twice either side of a David Reidy effort and his third point had the visitors back within the minimum by the eleventh minute only for Clare to take control with scores from Duggan (3), Tony Kelly and O'Malley.

Colm Galvin made it a seven-point game six minutes from the break and it was 0-12 to 0-4 when Conlon grabbed his second. Horgan replied but the rampant Banner reeled off the last four points of a one-sided first half via Podge Collins, Galvin, Niall Deasy and Duggan.

The Rebels outscored their opponents by eight points to three inside the first 15 minutes of the second half to close within three, 0-19 to 0-13. Reidy got the first score of the half but Horgan (2), Tim O'Mahony and Robbie O Floinn replied before Morey posted Clare's 18^th point. Michael O'Malley, Mark Ellis, Darren Browne, Bill Cooper and Horgan had the Rebels back in contention with 20 minutes to go.

But three points in as many minutes from Duggan, Kelly and Reidy put the game to bed; back came Cork again with scores from Horgan (3 - two frees and a '65') and Seamus Harnedy to trail by only five with as many minutes remaining. There was an exchange between Horgan and Duggan; the former fired over the last score of the game as Clare held on for a deserved victory.

Clare - D Tuohy; P O'Connor, C Cleary, J Browne; S Morey (0-2), D McInerney, M O'Malley (0-2); C Galvin (0-2), T Kelly (0-2); N Deasy (0-1), J Conlon (0-2), D Reidy (0-3); S O'Donnell, P Duggan (0-8, 6f, 2'65), P Collins (0-1). Subs: C Malone for J Conlon, C McGrath for P Collins, D Corry for N Deasy, D Fitzgerald for M O'Malley, J McCarthy for C Galvin.

Cork - A Nash; S O'Donoghue, E Cadogan, C Spillane; C Joyce, T O'Mahony (0-1), D Browne (0-1); M Ellis (0-1), D Kearney; R O'Flynn (0-1), S Harnedy (0-1), B Cooper (0-1); L Meade (0-1), P Horgan (0-12, 9f, 2'65), S Kingston. Subs: L McLoughlin for D Kearney, R O'Shea for S Kingston, J O'Connor for L Meade, B Lawton for R O'Flynn.

Referee - P O'Dwyer.

Tweet

Most Read Stories