Reduced TO 14 men just before the half-time whistle and facing into a stiff breeze for the second half, Clare's prospect of winning against Offaly at Cusack park in Ennis on Saturday evening, looked slim. However, inspired by the brilliant Sean McMahon at centre-back, the All Ireland champions turned in a great second-half display to deservedly come out on top and move a step closer to a place in the semi-finals.

Defences dominated in the opening quarter, at the end of which the teams were tied at two points each. Then a tremendous spell by Niall Gilligan saw Clare move into a three-point lead before being hauled back by a superb goal from Offaly's John Ryan. Again Clare moved in front and with the aid of the breeze added points from David Forde (2) and Fergus Tuohy to open a three-point gap. Then disaster struck when Tuohy was dismissed following a tackle on Colm Cassidy, leaving Clare to face the second half a man short.

Clare made an excellent start to the second half, with Colm Lynch pointing in the opening minute before Barry Murphy broke through for a goal two minutes later to open a seven-point margin. The accuracy of Johnny Dooley saw Offaly rally and with six minutes remaining they had cut the deficit to the minimum. However, they were unable to get on terms and Clare finished strongly with a brace of points from Jamesie O'Connor to secure a merited win.

Clare: D Fitzgerald; M O'Halloran, B Lohan, B Quinn; L Doyle, S McMahon (0-1), F Lohan; O Baker (0-1), C Lynch (0-1); F Tuohy (0-1), C Clancy J O'Connor (0-3); N Gilligan (0-3), B Mur- phy (1-0), D Ford (0-3). Subs: A Daly for Quinn, P J O'Connell for Lynch, C Chaplin for Doyle.

Offaly: S Byrne; Barry Whelehan, K Kinihan, M Hanany; C Cassidy, Brian Whelehan, N Claffey; H Rigney, N Murphy (0-1); Johnny Dooley (0-6), K Martin (0-1), M Duignan; J Troy (0-2), J Ryan (1-0), Joe Dooley (0-1). Subs: G Oakley for Cassidy, M Hand for Oakley.

Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary).