Full-forward Mark Rodgers scored 11 points as Clare strolled to a comfortable victory over Carlow in Division 1B at Netwatch Cullen Park.
The Banner made their mark in the opening exchanges, surging into a 1-04 to 0-00 lead. The only three-pointer of the game came in the second minute when Carlow failed to deal with a long delivery and Shane Meehan found the net from close range.
Carlow didn't score until the 10th minute and that came from a Chris Nolan free.
Yet the home side didn’t capitulate. They dug in and going into the second quarter only trailed by four points.
The visitors were able to rely on Rodgers to convert the chances which came his way, while David Reidy also scored three points in the opening half.
Nolan was Carlow’s go-to man but brother Jon also scored two points from play, while Fiachra Fitzpatrick fired over a late first-half point to leave the visitors leading 1-15 to 0-08 at the break.
Clare started the second half as they did the first, scoring four points on the trot.
In that second half, David Fitzgerald scored three points, bringing roars of approval from the large crowd which had travelled to the Barrowside venue.
With just over a quarter of the game to go, Carlow were facing a rout but once again they found something extra.
Substitute Colm Beck scored an excellent home point and from there they possibly edged the final quarter.
Clare could afford to relax. The league pace-setters are going about their business nicely, while Carlow’s next challenge against Kildare could well define their league season.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Dylan McMahon, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Cathal Malone, David McInerney, Jamie Moylan; Diarmuid Stritch (0-4), Ryan Taylor (0-1); Jack O’Neill (0-2), Jack Kirwan, David Fitzgerald (0-3); Shane Meehan (1-3), Mark Rodgers (0-11 9fs), David Reidy (0-3).
Subs: Ronan Kilroy for McInerney (6), Ian Galvin for Reidy (46), Sean Rynne (0-1) for Kirwan (50), Aidan Fawl for Moylan (54), John Conneally for Leen (60)
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Lorcan Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Kevin Kavanagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick (0-1); Jon Nolan (0-3), Donagh Murphy, Eric English; Ted Joyce, Jack Treacy (0-2), Chris Nolan (0-11 8fs) .
Subs: Richard Coady for O’Shea (h/t), Tadgh O’Neill for L Doyle (h/t), John Doyle for Joyce (43), Colm Beck (0-1) for Kavanagh (50), Marty Kavanagh for English (59).
Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
