The bus journey home from Newry this evening will be an enjoyable one for Clare after they picked up the two points on offer thanks a 1-12 to 1-10 win over Down.

Eoin Cleary was the star of the show for Colm Collins' side as the centre-forward found the target with seven points (six frees) while Sean O'Donoghue netted their goal inside the opening minute.

The Banner County made the most of the majority of scoring opportunities that came their way whereas the Mourne County were left to count the cost of 15 wides.

Eamonn Burns side also had to settle for a point from a penalty early in the second-half after Darragh O'Hanlon blasted over following a foul by Ciaran Russell on David McKibbin.

Caolan Mooney got Down's goal in the 19th minute but Clare enjoyed a 1-9 to 1-5 cushion at the halfway stage.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men with 15 minutes to go after Russell saw red for a late tackle but they benefitted from the hosts' profligacy in front of the posts.

Clare - K Roche; C O'Dea (0-1), C Brennan, E Collins (0-1); C Russell, A Fitzgerald, P Lillis; G Brennan, C O'Connor; K Malone (0-1), E Cleary (0-7, 6f), G O'Brien; S O'Donoghue (1-0), K Sexton (0-1), D Tubridy (0-1). Subs: A Sweeney for G O'Brien, C Finucane for A Sweeney, D Bohannon for K Malone, E Courtney for K Sexton.

Down - M Reid; C Flanagan, B McArdle, A Doherty (0-2, 1f, 1'45); D O'Hagan, N McParland, C Mooney (0-1); D McKibbin, N Donnelly; D O'Hanlon (0-1), C Maginn, S Millar (0-1); B O'Hagan, D O'Hare (1-4, 0-3f), R Johnston. Subs: K McKernan for D McKibbin (BC), A Morgan (0-1) for R Johnston, C Poland for C Maginn, R Wells for D O'Hanlon, S Dornan for B O'Hagan.

Referee - J Molloy.

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