Clare's bid to make an immediate return to Division 2 of the Allianz Football League gathered pace in Cusack Park, Ennis this afternoon after a commanding victory over a lacklustre Wicklow.
In front of 1,719, the home crowd were greeted to their biggest victory of the campaign to date against a confidence-ridden Wicklow who are yet to register a point in their new surroundings.
Indeed, two divisions separated the sides last year but with a sizeable turnover of twelve key players, a new-look Banner still had more than enough for Oisin McConville’s side who could only register a single point in 40 minutes in the middle half of the tie.
Wind-assisted Clare were rather slow to start themselves but sparked into life just before the break when a trio of Emmet McMcMahon frees were bolstered by a brace of Cormac Murray goals in as many minutes to soar seven clear by half-time at 2-05 to 0-04.
The only way was up for Wicklow but any murmurings of a revolt were quickly quelled on the restart as home midfielder Brian McNamara snatched the throw-in and raced through for a point before fielding the kick-out and initiating a move for Aaron Griffin to also split the posts.
The hosts actually kicked the first five points of the new half, three from Griffin to power twelve clear by the 47th minute and effectively put the game to bed.
It was that devastating flurry of first half goals that completely turned this tie though as first Alan Sweeney’s incisive through ball was collected and finished by Cormac Murray who celebrated his first start of the campaign with a second two minutes later following good work from Emmet McMahon and Ciaran Downes.
Up to that point, Wicklow had matched their below-par hosts but the goals produced a sea-change that the Leinster side would never recover from as Clare went on to control matters and also finish with four of the last five points including three from Ciaran Downes to ease up to their third victory in four matches.
Mark Fitzgerald’s side have a quick turnaround to face his former side Limerick in Rathkeale next Saturday (6pm) whereas it’s now must-win for Wicklow who take on fellow strugglers Offaly in a relegation four-pointer in Tullamore on Sunday at 2pm.
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Micheál Garry, Manus Doherty, Ronan Lanigan (0-01); Einne O’Connor, Alan Sweeney, Daniel Walsh; Gavin Murray, Brian McNamara (0-02); Ciaran Downes (0-03, 0-01f), Emmet McMahon (0-04, 0-04f), Ikem Ugwueru; Cormac Murray (2-01, 0-01 Mark), Aaron Griffin (0-03), Shane Griffin
Subs: Darren Nagle for O’Connor (34, inj), Joe McGann for S. Griffin (47), Diarmuid O’Donnell (0-01, 0-01f) for Murray (53), Josh Guyler for Walsh (61, inj), Darren O’Brien for McMahon (62), James Curran for Ugwueru (69)
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone, Tom Moran; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Kane, Eoin Murtagh; Craig Maguire, Jack Kirwan; Gearoid Murphy (0-02), Dean Healy, John Paul Nolan (0-01, 0-01f); Christopher O’Brien (0-01), Kevin Quinn (0-01, 0-01f), Eoin Darcy (0-01)
Subs: Cathal Baker for Prendergast (HT), Brian Nesbitt (0-02) for O’Brien (49), Cillian McDonald for Murtagh (49), Declan Doyle for Maguire (49), Oisin McGraynor for Darcy (49)
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)
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