Allianz Football League Division Two

CLARE 2-11 DOWN 0-11

By Eoin Brennan in Cusack Park, Ennis

Newcomers Clare maintained their unbeaten start to Division 2 this afternoon with a relatively comfortable victory over Down in front of 1,749 hardy souls in chilly Cusack Park.

Two Divisions separated the counties last year, but after Clare captured the Division 3 title and the Ulster side were relegated from the top tier, that form would be upheld into the new season as the home side subjected Down to a ninth consecutive league defeat.

With the wind at their backs, the hosts created eight goal chances but did crucially take two of them, one at either end of the half to establish a 10 point interval cushion.

David Tubridy was denied twice in the opening minutes as was Eoin Cleary before Keelan Sexton finally billowed the net to give Clare the perfect start.

And despite Clare goalkeeper Joe Hayes having to be alert for a curling Barry O’Hagan effort, further home points from Sexton, Tubridy and Jamie Malone would hand their side a 1-3 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the opening quarter.

In a surprisingly open contest, the chances would continue to come but after additional points from Malone, Sean Collins and Tubridy, the latter would pass up a glorious goal opportunity only to make immediate amends when finding the net in the next passage of play to ensure a 2-7 to 0-3 half-time cushion.

Despite facing into the conditions, the Banner would extend their advantage to 13 by the 39th minutes, two from Eoin Cleary.

The only way was up for Down and they did admirably chip away at the arrears for the remainder by outscoring their hosts by 0-8 to 0-1, three from Cathal Magee and two each from O’Hagan and substitute Ryan Johnston while also kicking six wides. However, by that stage, Clare had emptied their bench, with All Star nominee Gary Brennan, top scorer Tubridy and Jamie Malone all rested as they secured their first victory in the second tier in 15 years.

Scorers for Clare: David Tubridy 1-3, Keelan Sexton 1-1, Eoin Cleary 0-3 (1f), Jamie Malone 0-3, Sean Collins 0-1.

**Scorers for Down: Cathal Magee 0-3 (2f), Barry O’Hagan 0-2 (1f), Ryan Johnston 0-2, **Pat Havern 0-1, Shay Millar 0-1, Aidan Carr 0-1, Darren O’Hagan 0-1.

CLARE: Joe Hayes; Dean Ryan, Kevin Harnett, Martin McMahon; Liam Markham, Gordon Kelly, John Hayes; Gary Brennan, Ciaran Russell; Sean Collins, Keelan Sexton, Shane Brennan; Eoin Cleary, David Tubridy, Jamie Malone. 

Subs: Cathal O’Connor for Gary Brennan (43), Darren Nagle for John Hayes (48), Cian O’Dea for David Tubridy (53), Pearse Lillis for Dean Ryan (59), David Egan for Jamie Malone (64), Gearoid O’Brien for Sean Collins (67).

DOWN: Marc Reid; Ryan McAleenan, Gerard McGovern, Darren O’Hagan; Conaill McGovern, Niall Donnelly, Caolan Mooney; Aidan Carr, Jonathan Flynn; Joe Murphy, Cathal Magee, Shay Millar; Alan Davidson, Pat Havern, Barry O’Hagan. 

Subs: Darragh O’Hanlon for Conaill McGovern (35), Conor Maginn for Alan Davidson (35), Kevin McKernan for Pat Havern (43), Ryan Johnston for Gerard McGovern (53), Jerome Johnston for Barry O’Hagan (61), Peter Turley for Jonathan Flynn (63).

**REFEREE: **Noel Mooney (Cavan).