Clare 3-26 Offaly 0-15

Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare posted notice of their summer intentions by inflicting a 20-point defeat on Offaly at Cusack Park.

All the home side’s starting attackers and midfielders got on the scoresheet as a limited Offaly were dismantled.

Fitzgerald was keen to emphasise how important this win was to him and his side following a string of recent losses.

“We’re delighted to get that victory. It will give us a lot of confidence, which is very important,” he said.

“It’s been a great camp even when we weren’t getting the breaks. The lads have always been loyal and always worked extremely hard. We’re absolutely thrilled.”

Having suffered a one-point defeat to Limerick in the opening round of the Munster championship, this was the display needed from the Banner to get back on track.

Conor McGrath was back in fine scoring form after missing the Limerick game through injury and defender Brendan Bugler also returned, after sitting out the last day because of suspension.

Fitzgerald didn’t believe Clare’s poor run was a reflection of their overall form.

“We’ve been very close all year to a win. We’ve played seven competitive games. We’ve lost four by a point. The only match we were out of all year was the Cork game. Other than that, we were there or thereabouts.”

High ball Clare's opening goal arrived in the seventh minute when Darach Honan trapped a high ball and fed the in-form Conor McGrath.

With a trademark burst of pace he set off for the Offaly goal and rifled to the net from the right flank to put his side 1-4 to 0-1 ahead and establish a pattern that was to remain unbroken. At the half-time whistle, Clare found themselves 1-13 to 0-9 in front and full value for their lead.

Séan Cleary grabbed the opening score of the second half, an Offaly point inside 25 seconds, to give a glimmer of hope to the travelling fans.

But that hope was shortlived. Clare’s John Conlon immediately raced through their defence and planted a low shot in the back of James Dempsey’s net. The game was now over as a contest.

In the 43rd minute, All-Ireland final hero Shane O’Donnell netted Clare’s third goal. The brilliant Tony Kelly passed from the right and on the second attempt O’Donnell pulled the trigger.

Kelly tormented Offaly’s defence throughout and eight points, six of them from play, was an impressive return by the Ballyea club man.

Offaly manager Brian Whelehan was disappointed.“I felt we came out and started well at the start of the second half. We got the first couple of scores and straight from that Clare get a very, very soft goal. I suppose that knocked any wind out of our sails.”

Clare: P Kelly, D McInerney, C Dillon (C), B Bugler, S Morey, Conor Ryan 0-3 0-3f , J Browne, P O'Connor 0-1, Colin Ryan 0-3, J Conlon 1-2, T Kelly 0-8, 0-2f, S Golden 0-2, C McGrath 1-4, S O'Donnell 1-0, D Honan 0-3.

Subs: A Cuningham for O Donnell (52) D Reidy for Conlon (52), P Flanagan for Dillon (59), D O'Donovan for Browne (59), C Galvin for Honan (64).

Offaly: J Dempsey, N Wynne, D Shortt, D King, E Murphy, C Egan, G Coneelley, E Nonal, S Kinsella 0-4, J Mulrooney 0-1, D Currams (C), P Murphy 0-1, S Dooley 0-6 0-6f, J Bergin 0-1, B Carroll.

Subs: S Cleary 0-2 for Nolan (h/t), S Ryan for Connelley (41), P Camon for Shortt (51), S Wynne for Currams (58), D Mooney for Murphy (62).

Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).