Clare 1-17 Waterford 0-12:CLARE GOT their division four campaign off to a winning start at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday. Waterford finished with 12 players while the hosts ended up with 14. The sendings-off were for second bookable offences after the break.

Clare led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the break, Waterford goalkeeper Kieran Cotter keeping his side in the hunt with two good first-half saves. He denied David Tubridy with a point-blank save and another from Shane Brennan.

But the game was over as a contest early in the second period. Waterford’s Shane Ahearne was first to be sent off on 41 minutes and then Rory Donnelly goaled for Clare on 52 minutes for a 1-13 to 0-9 lead. Clare’s Gordon Kelly plus Waterford’s Gary Hurney and Joey Veale received their marching orders in a one-sided second half.

CLARE: Joe Hayes; B Hartnett, S McNeilis, L Healy; M McMahon, G Kelly, John Hayes; G Brennan (0-1), G Quinlan (0-1); N Browne, S McGrath (0-2), S Brennan; R Donnelly (1-2), D Tubridy (0-7, 0-1 free), A Clohessy (0-4). Subs: D Russell for Browne (53 mins), J Dowling for Donnelly (63 mins), S Tierney for McGrath (67 mins), M Foran for S Brennan (69 mins), T Ryan for Healy (69 mins).

WATERFORD: K Cotter; K Connery, C Phelan, A Doyle; S Briggs, T Grey, W Hennessy; S Ahearne (0-1), S O’Hare (0-1); C McGrath (0-2), S Dempsey, P Hurney (0-2); G Hurney (0-4, 0-3 frees), L Ó Lonain, S Fleming (0-2). Subs: C O’Keeffe for OLonain (46 mins), R Ahearne for Hennessy (58 mins), J Veale for McGrath (58 mins).

Referee: F Flynn (Leitrim).