Match report: Clare record easy win over Laois

Clare 3-18

Laois 1-11

Niall Gilligan led the line in superb fashion as Clare cruised to an opening day NHL Div 1A victory over Laois at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Indeed, Gilligan had the game all but sealed by half-time with 1-6 for the opening 35 minutes and 1-8 for the game.

Gilligan's 35th minute goal for the All-Ireland finalists was the score of the day when he ghosted in along the endline and hammered high into John Lyons' net.

Leading 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time Clare rung the changes but it didn't weaken their hold on the game and Daithi O'Connell's 2-1 for the second-half killed off Laois whose best performer was centre-forward David Cuddy, 0-6 for the game.