Clare maintained their 100% record in Division 1A of the Allianz NHL at Cusack Park with a 3-13 to 2-13 victory over Dublin this afternoon. The home side always looked winners in a tie played in great sunshine and in truth, they never really had to extend themselves.
Looking fit and very focussed, Clare played fast and direct, their striking and ball control made life very difficult for a Dublin team that looked slow and at times found it hard to do the very basics of the game. Clare led 2-08 to 1-06 at the break, Frank Lohan scoring the Banner men's opening goal after he pulled first time, while Alan Markham hit their second.
Dublin relied on some fine scores from David Curtin, five points from frees and play, but a goal just before half time from Shane Martin gave them hope. However, that hope seemed to be unfounded when Niall Gilligan goaled three minutes after the restart.
That could well have finished the game as a contest, but Dublin rallied with a second goal from Martin and points from Curtin and Ronan Fallon. Clare's Alan Markham added some fine scores late on to keep a cushion between the two and the home side's superior power and skill kept Dublin at bay as they ran out three-point winners.
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 1A
Clare 3-13 2-13 Dublin
Galway 0-18 1-12 Kilkenny
Waterford 0-25 3-11 Laois
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 1B
Cork 2-13 0-09 Wexford (Played Saturday)
Antrim 2-14 2-17 Offaly
Limerick 1-12 2-21 Tipperary
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 2A
Rocommon 1-13 2-05 Derry
Down 1-15 2-12 Westmeath
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 2B
Carlow 0-15 9-13 Kerry
Meath 2-09 2-14 Wicklow
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 3A
Armagh 1-13 3-12 Sligo
Leitrim 2-10 1-13 Longford
ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 3B
Cavan 1-11 1-12 Monaghan
Fermanagh 2-15 0-11 Louth
Filed by Shane Murray
