Clare keep Division 1B winning run going with comfortable victory over Carlow

Mark Rodgers of Clare in action. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Division 1B: Clare 1-28 Carlow 0-18 

Clare made it five wins out of five as they proved too good for Carlow in this National Hurling League Division 1B tie at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

The visitors got off to a great start, surging into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after only eight minutes. The goal came in the second minute when the Carlow defence failed to deal with the dropping ball and Shane Meehan deftly nudged the sliotar to the net from close range. 

Also on the mark was Diarmuid Stritch, who scored two points on the trot, which underlined the Clare dominance.

One feared for the home side at that stage. Thoughts of the poor performance against Antrim only six days earlier came to mind.

Slowly they managed to come to terms with the challenge at hand and a Chris Nolan free got them off the mark. The pacey Clare unit still kept the scoreboard ticking over with five of the starting forwards picking off some great scores from play in the first half.

Chris Nolan was the home side’s leading scorer while Jon Nolan and Fiachra Fitzpatrick also raised white flags. Coming up to half-time a Carlow attack down the left almost brought a goal but keeper Eibhear Quilligan saved brilliantly to deny Murphy. 

At the break, Clare led 1-15 to 0-8.

The visitors continued to turn the screw in the second half where Mark Rodgers was deadly accurate from placed balls. 

David Fitzgerald scored three excellent points from play for the league leaders but Jon Nolan also landed three for Carlow before picking up a second yellow late on.

Mindful that they have a crucial match against Kildare next week which could decide their fate in this division, Carlow played well in the final 15 minutes and did a lot of things right. 

They will need to do so again, while Clare are looking at a place in the knock-out stages with a bit to spare.

Scorers for Clare: M Rodgers 0-11 (9fs), S Meehan 1-3, D Stritch 0-4, D Fitzgerald, D Reidy 0-3 each, J O’Neill 0-2, R Taylor, S Rynne 0-1 each.

Scorers for Carlow: C Nolan 0-11 (8fs), J Nolan 0-3, J Treacy 0-2, F Fitzpatrick, C Beck 0-1 each.

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Dylan McMahon, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Cathal Malone, David McInerney, Jamie Moylan; Diarmuid Stritch, Ryan Taylor; Jack O’Neill, Jack Kirwan, David Fitzgerald; Shane Meehan, Mark Rodgers, David Reidy.

Subs: Ronan Kilroy for McInerney (6), Ian Galvin for Reidy (46), Sean Rynne for Kirwan (50), Aidan Fawl for Moylan (54), John Conneally for Leen (60).

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Lorcan Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Kevin Kavanagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Donagh Murphy, Eric English; Ted Joyce, Jack Treacy, Chris Nolan.

Subs: Richard Coady for O’Shea (h/t), Tadgh O’Neill for L Doyle (h/t), John Doyle for Joyce (43), Colm Beck for Kavanagh (50), Marty Kavanagh for English (59).

Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).