Banner take the points in high scoring affair

Westmeath 2-17 Clare 1-27

The Clare hurlers took the spoils after a high-scoring Division 2 clash with Westmeath in Mullingar this afternoon.

The Banner men led by 0-07 to 0-02 by the midpoint of the first half, with Nicky O'Connell, John Conlon, Colin Ryan and Darach Honan all on target.

Brendan Murtagh and Derek McNicholas got the hosts back in touch and Clare needed a Jonathan Clancy point to keep them ahead for half-time (0-10 to 0-09).

Ger O'Loughlin's men added some cushion to their lead, early in the second half, with a Ryan point and a well-struck goal from Honan.

Murtagh responded in impressive fashion for the Lake County side, slamming home a goal from a free and adding another point from a placed ball.

Points from Honan, O'Connell and Ryan steadied Clare at 1-17 to 1-10. A goalbound shot from Fergal Lynch might have killed off the game but it struck the post and Ryan missed the rebound.

Late points from Clancy, Lynch and the excellent Honan stretched Clare's advantage out to 1-27 to 1-17 before an injury-time goal finished out the scoring for Westmeath.

The seven-point victory leaves Clare fourth in the table, two points behind leaders Limerick. Westmeath, who travel to Kerry next weekend, remain bottom of the pile.