Mark Flaherty enhanced his reputation further at Scariff as his personal tally of 1-12 inspired Clare to a deserved NHL Division 1B victory over Laois.
The Killanena forward, who scored 3-08 last week against Galway, caught the eye again on the home pitch of Clare boss Mike McNamara.
Laois established an early lead but the Banner men outscored the visitors by 0-10 to 0-01 over a 19-minute spell in the first half to lead 0-14 to 0-07 at half-time.
Flaherty took his tally to 0-10 before he darted through the middle and sent a left-handed shot past Patrick Mullaney for Clare’s only goal. Laois top scorer James Young fired a close-range free to the net but the hosts were just too strong.
Flaherty, who only made his league debut seven days ago, is quickly bedding himself into the Clare set-up if this display is anything to go by.
The home side had to do without the services of Gerry Quinn, who reportedly made himself unavailable for selection, meaning a call-up for Pat Donnellan at wing back. Meanwhile, Barry Nugent was a notable inclusion in the half-forwards.
It was an even enough opening with a ‘65’ from Flaherty edging Clare into a 0-03 to 0-02 lead, after Fergal Lynch had cracked over two points and Joe Phelan and Willie Hyland replied for Laois.
Beaten by Limerick last week, the midlanders forced their way into a 0-06 to 0-05 lead with free-taker Young hitting three successive points before he swapped frees with Flaherty.
But with the pressure increasing, Clare upped the gears with Flaherty, Lynch, Tony Carmody and Niall Gilligan sharing out some excellent points. Laois’s only reply during that poor 19-minute spell was a point from Zane Keenan.
On the restart, Flaherty continued where he left off in the first half as he notched his ninth point.
Young's fifth score followed but Clare increased the pace with points from Carmody and Fergal Lynch being followed by Flaherty’s fourth goal of the league campaign.
The exciting corner forward, who scored 1-02 from play, displayed some blistering pace to scoot away from his marker and rasp his shot past Mullaney to put Clare 1-19 to 0-09 ahead.
Young blasted a close range free to the Clare net just minutes later, taking his personal haul to 1-06, and while John Brophy, Tommy Fitzgerald and Young tagged on late points, McNamara’s men ran out comfortable winners.
