Clare were made battle all the way for a 2-12 to 1-11 Division Two victory over Laois at Portlaoise.

The result leaves the Banner County joint-top of the table, with two wins from two, but Niall Rigney's team gave a good account of themselves and will feel unlucky not to have left O'Moore Park with at least a point.

The hosts were missing a number of key men, but still matched Ger O'Loughlin's charges all the way and actually edged ahead on the hour, 1-11 to 1-10. But substitute Alan Markham's 62nd-minute goal tipped the balance decisively in Clare's favour.

Laois captain Brian Campion opened the scoring with a spectacular eighth-minute point and the centre back finished the day with 0-3 to his credit.

All-Ireland U21 medallist Colin Ryan scored a fine solo goal to give the winners a 1-3 to 0-3 advantage with half time approaching but the O'Moore men replied with three points from Campion, Willie Hyland and John Rowney.

A free from Ryan left the favourites ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval.

After corner back Nicky O'Connell had edged Clare further ahead with a brace of frees, Laois rallied with a penalty goal from top-scorer Hyland (1-5) followed by minors from Hyland and sub Shane Dollard.

But the Banner sealed victory in a tense finish thanks to Markham's intervention and late points from Patrick Dpnnellan and John Conlon. Tweet

Most Read Stories