Clare 3-17

Leitrim 0-17

Goals from Jamie Malone, captain Gary Brennan and Eimhin Courtney helped Clare to a comfortable victory over Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Colm Collins' men will be in the hat for Monday morning's All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round 3 draw after putting the hosts to the sword. Leitrim began the year by winning promotion from Division 4 of the Allianz League, but their championship campaign has been hugely disappointing. Their supporters had precious little to cheer about this evening, except for when their hurlers were paraded at half-time after winning the Lory Meagher Cup in Croke Park earlier in the day.

Building on their encouraging Munster SFC semi-final showing against Kerry, the Banner came flying out of the traps to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 thanks to points from Malone, Eoin Cleary and Brennan. Scores from Domhnaill Flynn and Dean McGovern left the minimum between the sides after 12 minutes, but then the visitors took over completely by scoring 2-5 without reply in a devastating nine-minute spell.

Eoin Cleary started the scoring sequence with a point before Conal Ó hAiniféin set up Malone for the opening goal. Brennan and David Tubridy (three) tagged on points before the former netted in the 21st minute to make it 2-8 to 0-2.

Two Domhnaill Flynn frees either side of another Cleary point narrowed the gap, but Clare finished the half strongly to lead by 2-12 to 0-6 at the break.

Evan Sweeney opened the second half for Terry Hyland's charges, only for Eoin Cleary and Jamie Malone to reply for the Division 2 outfit.

Shane Moran clawed back two more points for the hosts before their fate was well and truly sealed by a third Clare goal from substitute Courtney in the 54th minute.

To their credit, Leitrim didn't stop trying and were rewarded with points from Sweeney (two), McGovern and Mark Plunkett. Gary Brennan briefly broke their momentum before Jack Heslin and Sweeney had further scores for the hosts.

However, Cleary had the final say for the Munster men in stoppage-time.

Clare - S Ryan; G Kelly, C Brennan, D Ryan; S Collins, A Fitzgerald, C O hAinifein; G Brennan (1-3), C O’Connor; S O’Donoghue, E Cleary (0-7, 2f), J Malone (1-2); G Cooney, D Tubridy (0-5, 1f, 1'45), C O’Dea. Subs: K Malone for J Malone, E Courtney (1-0) for G Cooney, G O’Brien for C O’Dea, D Bohannon for C O’Connor, C Murray for D Tubridy, E O’Connor for G Kelly.

Leitrim - C McCrann; P Maguire, M McWeeney, A Flynn; C Reynolds, M Plunkett (0-2, 1'45), R Mulvey; O McCaffrey, S Moran (0-3); D Flynn (0-3, 2f), S McWeeney, S Quinn; D McGovern (0-3), P Dolan, R O’Rourke. Subs: E Sweeney (0-5, 3f) for R O’Rourke, O Madden for C Reynolds, J Heslin (0-1) for R Mulvey, J Gilheaney for O McCaffrey, G Plunkett for S McWeeney, N Brady for D Flynn.

Referee - N Cullen.

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