Clare march to decider

Clare 4-19 Westmeath 3-15:CLARE PROGRESSED to the Division Two final on Saturday at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Unbeaten to date, Ger O’Loughlin’s charges enjoyed a 3-12 to 1-6 deserved interval lead, but Westmeath put up a spirited challenge during the second half.

The hosts scored their first goal after five minutes when Cormac O’Donovan fired home and Jonathan Clancy added another in the 25th minute, while Colin Ryan made it three on 31 minutes.

Westmeath hit back on the stroke of half-time, centre back Andrew Mitchell blasting home a 20-metre free. Clare maintained their lead, despite Westmeath reducing the deficit to six points through Paul Greville’s 57th-minute goal. Sub Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy scored Clare’s final goal before Mitchell hit another goal from a free in injury-time.

CLARE: D Tuohy; P Vaughan, C Dillon, G O’Grady; D O’Donovan, J McInerney, P Donnellan (0-1); J Clancy (1-3), B Bugler; S Collins, J Conlon (0-3), C O’Donovan (1-0); D McMahon (0-2), M Flaherty, C Ryan (1-9, eight frees). Subs: D Barrett (0-1) for Flaherty (ht), D Ryan for O’Grady (ht), M Murphy (1-0) for Bugler (46 mins), J Cusack for Collins (62), C Cooney for Vaughan (64).

WESTMEATH: B McLoughlin; C Jordan, A Price, P Greville (1-0); J Shaw, A Mitchell (2-5, 2-4 frees, one 65), D McCormack; E Price, L Smyth; J Clarke, D McNicholas (0-1). A Dowdall (0-1); C Curley, B Murtagh (0-5, one free), D Carthy (0-3). Subs: N Flanagan for Clarke (ht), G Gavin for Curley (46 mins), R Jackson for Shaw (65).

Referee: T Ryan (Tipperary).