Clare 4-26
Carlow 2-13

Clare will be in the bowl for the next round of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers tomorrow morning after hammering Carlow in this Round 2B clash at Dr. Cullen Park today.

Dual star Podge Collins put the disappointment of Clare's All-Ireland SHC Qualifier replay defeat to Wexford behind him to score 1-2 as the Banner enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable victory. Collins, who was suspended for yesterday's hurling tie, received a standing ovation from the small
band of travelling supporters when he was replaced after 50 minutes.

The Collins brothers, Podge and Sean, along with David Tubridy and Rory Donnelly, were in fine scoring form for the visitors who were dominant throughout. They posted the first two points before Eoghan Ruth opened Carlow's account. Clare had opened up a 0-9 to 0-4 lead before Ciaran Moran revived the Barrowsiders with a 24th minute goal.

The home side's hopes were further boosted when Andy O'Brien saved a penalty, but goals from Donnelly and Shane Brennan in the 29th and 37th minutes handed the Banner an unassailable 2-15 to 1-6 half-time lead.

Podge Collins grabbed another goal shortly after the restart before David Bambrick replied with a similar score for Carlow in the 41st minute. But there was no respite for the hosts - who shipped seven goals in a humiliating Leinster SFC quarter-final loss to Meath last month - as substitute Podge McMahon added a fourth Clare goal late on.

You would certainly have got long odds on the Clare footballers being involved in the championship longer than their hurling counterparts at the start of the year!

Clare - J Hayes; S Hickey, K Hartnett, M McMahon; J Malone, G Kelly, C Russell; G Brennan (0-4, 1f, 0-1pen), S McGrath (0-3); S Collins (0-2), E Coughlan (0-4), S Brennan (1-1); P Collins (1-0), D Tubridy (0-4, 1f), R Donnelly (1-3). Subs: D Ryan for S Hickey, P McMahon (1-2, 0-1f) for D Tubridy, C O'Connor for S McGrath, E Cleary (0-3) for P Collins, S McNelis for C Russell, P De Loughrey for J Hayes.

Carlow - A O'Brien; R Mahon, C Lawlor, BJ Molloy; K Nolan, D St Ledger (0-2), B Kavanagh (0-1); E Ruth (0-1), H Gahan; M Meaney (0-1), C Moran (1-1), D Bambrick (1-0); S Kinsella (0-1f), D Foley, C Coughlan (0-2, 1f). Subs: G Power for C Lawlor, M Ware (0-1) for D Foley, P Broderick (0-2, 1f) for S Kinsella, W Minchin (0-1f) for M Meaney, J Lowry for K Nolan.

Referee - M Duffy. Tweet

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