Clare 1-13 Leitrim 0-9: Leitrim went away empty-handed from Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday.

Though dominant for much of the first half, an inept attack, apart from corner forward Michael Foley, saw the Connacht side succumb to a hungrier Clare outfit in the second period.

Clare trailed 0-6 to 0-2 by the 23rd minute but an improved performance before the break saw the margin cut to just one point as Leitrim's dependency on Foley's scoring ability began to take its toll. Clare hit three unanswered points in a short spell before the interval, signalling their intent to move off the foot of the table.

Soon after the restart the teams were level on seven points after Clare's Enda Coughlan pointed from a free. Foley regained Leitrim's advantage twice soon after, but Clare stayed in touch and eventually took the lead through a Denis Russell free in the 58th minute. By this stage, Leitrim's inadequacies were beginning to emerge, and when Russell goaled just before the 60th minute, the show was over for the visitors. Clare tagged on three points in a final 10-minute spell.

There were some fine displays for Clare, notably form the Russell brothers, Denis and David.

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, D Blake; P Smith (0-1), B Considine (0-1), N Griffin; J Moody (0-1), D O'Sullivan; Denis Russell (1-6, four frees), David Russell (0-1, capt), E Coughlan (0-2); O O'Dwyer (0-1), G Quinlan, K Considine. Subs: B Harte for Quinlan, M O'Dwyer for Harte.

LEITRIM: G Phelan; M McGuinness, J McKeon, D Reynolds; B Prior, N Gilbane, C Regan; C Carroll (capt), S Canning; N Doonan, P Farrell, B Brennan, M Foley (0-8, five frees), S Quinn, J Guckian. Subs: J McGuinness (0-1) for McGuckian (inj), D Lynch for M McGuinness, F Holohan for Farrell, P McGarry for Doonan.

Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).