No problems for Clare against Down

Down 1-13 Clare 3-25

A physically stronger Clare side had it all too easy in their National League opener at Portaferry, with the Banner men running out 3-25 to 1-13 winners.

New manager Tony Considine watched his charges totally dominate, with Barry Nugent (2) and substitute Bernard Gaffney sharing out the goals.

Down rallied late on with Martin Coulter firing past Philip Brennan, who stepped in for Davy Fitzgerald as Clare's goalkeeper.

Nugent hammered home a fourth-minute goal and Gaffney, on for the injured Diarmuid McMahon, netted on 25 minutes for a 2-13 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Corner back Kevin Dilleen and Brendan Bugler, who played in midfield, made impressive league bows for Clare.

Starting with a wind advantage, Down struggled to gain a foothold in the game and were 1-5 to 0-2 behind inside the ten-minute mark.

Niall Gilligan, Alan Markham ('65') and Nugent rapped over early points for Clare before Gareth 'Magic' Johnson opened the scoring for the Mourne men in the fifth-minute.

Johnson, the teak-tough Ballygalget clubman, was Down's saving grace - he finished with seven points from frees.

Just moments earlier, a great catch and offload from Andrew Quinn teed up Nugent for his goal and Clare were well on their way to a rout.

Midfielder Andy Savage did weigh in with two good points, towards the end of the first half, but Clare were out of sight by then, leading by 13 points. It was effectively target practice for Considine's side as they used their skill and strength to grab notable points from Bugler, Fergal Lynch, who launched a brilliant shot over his shoulder, Markham, Nugent and Gaffney.

Poor defending from Down, who had three opportunities to clear the ball, allowed Newmarket-on-Fergus' Gaffney to goal in the 26th-minute.

Down did have some highpoints in the second period - Eoin McGuinness scurried away from Colm Forde to fling over a great point to open the half.

Fergal Lynch then increased his influence when he controlled a long range free from Tulla net minder Brennan and pointed, and he then set up Nugent for his second goal.

The sight of Tony Griffin, the county's only All-Star last year, pucking around at half-time buoyed Clare supporters present.

On a break from his studies in Canada, Griffin was introduced in the second half and scored a classy point in the closing stages.

Gilligan and Fergal Lynch took their tallies to 0-3 each and as Clare took their foot off the gas, Down added a touch of respectability to their score - Coulter netted from a close-in free and Eddie Trainor came off the bench to grab two well-taken points.