NHL DIVISION ONE B Clare 0-20 Antrim 0-12:CLARE recorded a second win from two outings as they proved to be too strong for Antrim at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday.

Though they only led by one point (0-8 to 0-7) at the break after an uneventful and disappointing opening half, Davy Fitzgerald’s men upped their second -half performance considerably, to register a merited eight point victory.

The visitors stood toe-to-toe with the home-side before the break. But a five-point blitz inside eight minutes of the second-half throw-in, meant Antrim were always on the back foot thereafter.

Nicky O’Connell’s pointed free from halfway, two frees by Conor McGrath and a further two points from play by Colin Ryan seemed to break Antrim’s spirit.

Even the sending off of Clare corner-back Domhnall O’Donovan in the 51st minute on a straight red card for a striking offence, could do little to help galvanise the visitors’ challenge.

Good scoring opportunities were capitalised on by the likes of McGrath, sub Caimin Morey and O’Connell as Antrim, though numerically stronger, failed to stem the strong Clare tide.

Antrim also finished with just 14 men as their most influential figure on day, midfielder Neil McManus, was shown a second yellow card by referee Brian Gavin with three minutes remaining.

CLARE: P Kelly, D O'Donovan, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, P O'Connor, E Barrett; N O'Connell (0-6, four frees), P Donnellan; J Conlon (0-1), D Keane (0-1), F Lynch, C McInerney (0-1), C McGrath (0-6, four frees), C Ryan (0-3). Subs: C Morey (0-2) for McInerney (59), J Clancy for Lynch (69), L Markham for O'Connell (69). .

ANTRIM: C O'Connell; A Griffin, C Donnelly, K McGourty; K B McShane, N McAuley, S McCrory; N McManus (0-4, one free), M Gettens; K Stewart (0-1), M Herron, C McFall (0-1); S McNaughton (0-5, frees), C McCann, PJ O'Connell (0-1). Subs: K Sheeran for McCann (half-time), D Lynch for McFall (46), D Hamill for O'Connell (67 mins).

Referee: B Gavin(Offaly).