HL 1B: Banner take derby spoils 25 February 2012

Clare looked fresh as they defeated Limerick by 2-24 to 1-13 at the Gaelic Grounds.

The Banner men wrested control of the second quarter to storm into a 1-12 to 1-8 half-time lead, having trailed by 1-6 to 0-4. With 5,390 looking on, Conor McGrath helped himself to 1-10 for the victors.

Clare took an early lead when the unerring McGrath slotted a 30-metre free but Limerick's response was instant and effective - a goal from Niall Moran, who took full advantage of the free space through the heart of the visitors' defence.

James Ryan and Fergal Lynch traded the next two points as the Treaty County led by double scores, 1-1 to 0-2, seven minutes in. Clare stayed within two points thanks to another McGrath free but Shane Dowling's excellent point left the goal between them, 1-4 to 0-4, coming up to the end of the opening quarter.

Limerick added two more points but Davy Fitzgerald's men kept going and notched an unanswered 1-5 inside the next 15 minutes to lead by three, 1-9 to 1-6.

Newmarket's Colin McGrath fired Clare's first major in the 22nd minute, latching onto a super pass from Lynch.

Two frees from Conor McGrath (bringing his tally to 0-5), either side of a Nicky O'Connell score pushed the visitors ahead after they had tied things up at 1-6 apiece.

It was all Clare now and the run of consecutive scores rose to 1-8 as they marched further ahead, 1-12 to 1-6. But a couple of late Shane Dowling points (bringing his first-half tally to 0-5) had John Allen's men still in the equation at half time, 1-12 to 1-8.

Conor McGrath landed another excellent point as the Banner moved six ahead again within three minutes of the restart. Clare were looking fresh and fit and they led by eight points when Sean Collins provided their fourth successive score since the resumption.

There were nine points between the teams when wing back Conor Allis finally supplied Limerick's first second-half score at the three-quarters stage.

Conor McGrath bagged a second Clare goal in the 57th minute and pointed soon after to bring his personal tally to 1-9. The excellent John Conlon added a late point as the Banner cantered to a 14-point victory.