National Hurling League: Defeats to Antrim and Down

Mark Rodgers top-scored with 13 points in a man-of-the-match display for Clare, while goals from Shane Meehan and David Fitzgerald helped Brian Lohan’s side to a 14-point win.

Seaan Elliott’s 10 points from free passes provided the bulk of Antrim’s goals with Conal Canning scoring well and the returning Keelan Molloy scoring points when introduced, but the Saffrons were second throughout as they suffered their second defeat of the season.

Rodgers and Elliott traded early before Rodgers started another five-point run for Clare on the course.

Antrim improved slightly with three of the next four as Sean Mackay grabbed his first goal of play and Joe Maskey touched down from distance, but Clare began to take control around the middle and Antrim goalkeeper Cormac McFadden was called into action to deny David Reedy from close range.

The gap was four when McFadden saved again, this time from David Fitzgerald, but the goal Clare were threatening arrived in the 29th minute when Fitzgerald made a break and although he appeared to overstep his hand pass, Shane Meehan gathered himself and showed his composure to hold on and drill home.

Clare’s shots were an issue as their wide tally reached double figures before half-time, but they had a flow before half-time as Rodgers took their half-time tally to eight between play and free, with Meehan and Fitzgerald also landing.

Sean Elliott ended a barren 12 minutes for Antrim with a free attack, while Sean Duffin crossed the ball before half-time, but Clare maintained a 1-13 to 0-7 half-time lead.

It was a long road back for the hosts, who made little effort to start the second half before Meehan found his goal at the other end.

Aside from Ryan McCambridge’s point from play, Antrim were reliant on Elliott’s free passes early in the second half with Clare’s better spread as Rodgers increased his tally while Tony Kelly, Diarmuid Ryan and Darragh Lohan also contributed.

Clare’s second goal arrived in the 55th minute when Fitzgerald cut in from the right and slotted the ball home but Antrim rallied slightly and Canning raced away to score a goal of his own soon after.

Antrim substitutes Jack McCluskey and Kellan Molloy found the results, but Clare finished well with Shane O’Donnell back on target alongside Dylan McMahon and Sinan Dunford as they maintained their winning start.