Clare overcome battling Kildare to maintain perfect start in Division 1B

Kildare’s Dan O’Meara and Conor Boran with Tony Kelly. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

Clare 0-27 Kildare 3-14

Clare overcame the elements and an improving Kildare side to secure an important win in the hurling league Division 1B at Cedral St Conleth's Park on Saturday.

The 2024 All-Ireland winners defeated Down by 29 points last time out but early goals by Cathal McCabe and Jack Sheridan, who later grabbed a second, ensured the Lilywhites were going to be a tougher proposition.

But a number of impressive scores from Tony Kelly and Mark Rodgers helped the Banner make it four wins out of four.

Scorers for Clare: T Kelly (0-8), M Rodgers (0-7, 6f), S Dunford, R Taylor (0-3 each), D Stritch, C Malone (0-2 each), S Meehan and J O’Neill (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kildare: J Sheridan (2-4, 1-4f), C McCabe (1-0), D Qualter, G Keegan (0-3 each), P Dolan, C Dowling, S Leacy, M Curtin (0-1 each).

Clare: E Foudy; D McMahon, C Cleary, C Leen; D Ryan, J Conlon, N O’Farrell; D Stritch, R Taylor; C O’Meara, T Kelly, S Dunford, S Meehan, M Rodgers, D Fitzgerald.

Subs: D McInerney for Fitzgerald (h/t); C Malone for Conlon (h/t); J O’Neill for O’Meara (45); R Hayes for Leen (49); I Galvin for Dunford (64).

Kildare: P McKenna; S Leacy, R Boran, L O’Reilly; P Dolan, C Boran, D O’Meara; D Guerin, C McCabe; C Boran, G Keegan, J Sheridan, D Qualter, C Dowling, M Curtin.

Subs: J Dolan for Curtin (17–38); A Goss for Guerin (48); C Kehoe for Dowling (60); R Hogan for Keegan (68).

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).