Cork the latest to fall to might Clare

Clare 2-15 Cork 3-09

Clare added the scalp of All-Ireland champions Cork to their already impressive haul of league victories this afternoon in Ennis.

It was Tony Carmody's sweet point which doubled up the Banner side's second phase wins.

Anthony Daly's side - conquerors of Kilkenny, Waterford and Tipperary this spring - fended off Cork rallies early and late on to top the Division One section.

Clare - without a league title since 1978 - were one point to the good - 2-07 to 2-06 - at the interval. Andrew Quinn's fourth-minute goal sent them on their way.

Six minutes later, Ben O'Connor netted for the visitors for a 2-03 to 1-04 lead. In an end-to-end encounter, Vodafone player of the month Niall Gilligan drew the sides level at 2-05 with a second Clare goal.

He then pointed two frees for the Banner's interval buffer.

Clare pushed further in front as Sean McMahon landed a 70-yard free, and Carmody and Barry Nugent found their range for a 2-12 to 2-06 advantage by the 54th-minute.

The Rebels - who lost to Kilkenny last weekend - rallied through a Stephen O'Sullivan goal but Clare's superior point-taking ability saw them take the victory.

Nugent sent over the closing score after Daly's charges had lost McMahon to a yellow card.