Better display from Clare in entertaining clash

NHL DIVISION 2:

Clare 4-19 Westmeath 3-15, Cusack Park

There were scores aplenty as Clare and Westmeath played out an entertaining Allianz NHL Division 2 encounter in Ennis this afternoon, with the Banner men emerging as 4-19 to 3-15 victors.

After struggling to beat Carlow last weekend, Clare put in a much improved display in the opening half against Westmeath as goals from Cormac O'Donovan, Jonathan Clancy and Colin Ryan helped them to a 3-12 to 1-6 half-time lead.

Despite his side's unbeaten run in Division 2, Clare manager Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin has been less than impressed with their form. Indeed, he said that the display against Carlow was 'nothing short of scandalous' and that they were 'depending on luck' to get through matches.

Those words has the desired effect today at Cusack Park as John Conlon pointed the hosts into the lead after just 12 seconds.

With the breeze behind them, Clare played at an increased tempo and O'Donovan's fifth minute goal, which saw him run in from the terrace side and blast past goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin, settled them further.

Points from Diarmuid McMahon, Ryan (0-2) and Clancy pushed O'Loughlin's charges into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead, before Westmeath, who beat Antrim last time out, recovered with efforts from Brendan Murtagh, Portumna captain Leo Smith and Andrew Mitchell.

Ryan kept Clare ticking over with points and Clancy's 25th-minute goal strengthened their advantage at 2-9 to 0-4.

Ryan cracked home Clare's third goal on the half hour mark, but that score was cancelled out four minutes later when Westmeath's influential centre-back Andrew Mitchell launched a 21-metre free into the back of the Clare net.

Conlon had the final say, ending the first half's scoring with a crisply-struck point, to leave 12 points between the sides at the break.

The second half was a much more even affair as the Lakesiders halved Clare's lead. Derek McNicholas, Murtagh, Paul Greville, Dan Carty and Alan Dowdall all added points for Kevin Martin's hard-working side.

When the Clare rearguard, including goalkeeper Donal Tuohy, failed to deal with a high delivery in towards the squad, dual star Greville was on hand to boot the ball to the net and close the gap to 3-15 to 2-12, with 14 minutes remaining.

Ryan and Murtagh swapped points, with the former taking his tally to 1-9, before Clare settled the issue with a late goal. McMahon and Conlon combined to set up substitute Martin Ogie Murphy for the home side's fourth goal.

Mitchell replied for Westmeath again, netting from another well-hit 21-metre free, but Clare were too far in front as they extended their unbeaten run in hurling's second tier to six matches.