Bloodless win as Banner blitz Down

CLARE had no problem at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday in dismissing the challenge of Down in the Allianz HL Division 2.

The Mourne men’s chances of causing an upset were effectively snuffed out as early as the 18th minute when wing back Kevin McGarry was sent off for a second yellow card offence by referee Tommy Ryan. To add to the visitors’ woes, a second dismissal, just after half-time, this time a straight red for full-forward Aidan Clarke, compounded their predicament.

It was a complete mismatch and the Clare management will not have learned much for the tie. Indeed Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin alluded to this shortly after the final whistle.