Clare 0-13 Offaly 2-5:Clare captured two vital league points when they got the better of Offaly in Tullamore yesterday.
Trailing by a point with 11 minutes left after a superb goal from Brian Darby had given Offaly an undeserved lead, Clare kicked four of the last five points to give them a win that was more comprehensive than the final scoreline suggests.
Clare were the better side in most departments as an off-form Offaly struggled to find their A game and they could have won with more to spare.
With the wind at their backs, Clare led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 21 minutes but were rocked when a fine Niall McNamee goal left it all square. They finished strongly, however, by kicking three points on without reply to go in 0-8 to 1-2 ahead at the break.
Clare remained in the driving seat for much of the second half with Gary Brennan and man of the match, David Turbidy, doing most harm.
CLARE:J Hayes; M McMahon, S McNelis, E Coughlan (0-1); D Callinan, G Kelly, S Haugh; G Brennan (0-1), C O'Connor; A Clohessy (0-1), S McGrath (0-2), C Dunning (0-1); M McCarthy, R Donnelly, D Turbidy (0-6, 0-1 free, 0-1 45). Subs: P McMahon for Donnelly (52 mins), S Ryan (0-1) for Clohessy (55 mins). OFFALY:A Mulhall (0-1, free); B Darby (1-0), P McConway, E Rigney; G Guilfoyle, J Moloney, M Brazil; R Brady (0-1, free), A McNamee; M Mitchell, B Connor (0-1), E Carroll; B Allen, N McNamee (1-1), P Cunningham. Subs: S Pender for Rigney (24 mins), P McPadden for Cunningham (28 mins), D Kelly for Mitchell (33 mins), R Dalton (0-1) for Allen (half-time), M Young for A McNamee (63 mins). Referee: B O'Shea (Dublin).
