Clare 0-17 Carlow 1-9:Páidí Ó Sé's Clare side got off to a winning start when a flurry of late, unanswered points saw them take victory over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.
Clare looked the better team and held a 0-10 to 0-5 lead at half-time. Carlow got back in the game when Derek Hayden scored a goal in the 41st minute.
They stayed in contention until the final 12 minutes. But having drawn level the home effort wilted as Clare finished much the stronger side.
CLARE: J Hayes; L Healy, C Whelan, D Kelly; N Hogan, G Kelly, N Considine (0-1); D Russell (0-1), M O'Shea (0-3, one free); S Monaghan (0-1), S Hickey (0-2), E Coughlan (0-4, one free); D Molohan (0-1, free), G Brennan, R Donnelly (0-2). Subs: S Daniels (0-1) for Molohan (30 mins); M O'Dwyer (0-1) for Donnelly (40 mins); G Lyons for D Kelly (51 mins); J Hayes for Daniels (66 mins).
CARLOW: J Clarke, P Cashin, B Leonard, M Nolan (0-2), J Ryan, W Power, A Murphy (0-1), R McGrath, G Morrissey (0-1), JJ Smith, P Hickey, D Hayden (1-1), S Rea, M Carpenter, B Kelly (0-4, frees). Subs: C Bolger for Power (half-time); M Brennan for Hickey (half-time); B Carbery for Morrissey (53 mins); J Roche for Cashin (57 mins); N Conway for Hayden (65 mins).
Referee: T Quigley (Dublin).
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