Monaghan ... 1-19 Clare ... 2-10: Monaghan came away from Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday with a deserved six-point victory over home-side Clare.

It was all the more pleasing for Monaghan manager, former Meath star Colm Coyle, as his charges got off to a disastrous start, conceding two goals inside the opening 10 minutes.

Clare's Rory Donnelly was on hand on both occasions to fire past Glenn Murphy, before the visitors regained their composure and fought back to lead by a solitary point at the break.

The double blow early on did not appear to ruffle a well-drilled Monaghan side who nosed in front for the first time in the 22nd minute with an opportunistic point by ace marksman Paul Finlay.

Monaghan's only goal came in the 33rd minute when Rory Woods struck a penalty past Dermot O'Brien. This score put them in front by 1-8 to 2-4 at the break.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half saw Clare regain the lead twice, but the Ulster side upped their performance.

Monaghan kicked five points without reply between the 46th and 56th minutes and, in the end, it was all too easy for the home side.

MONAGHAN: G Murphy; J McKernan, D McKenna, P McKenna; D McArdle, J Coyle, D Clerkin; E Lennon, C Ronaghan; P Finlay (0-9, 6 frees), D Smyth (0-1), D Freeman (0-1); R Woods (1-4, 1-0 pen), R Ronaghan, A Callan (0-2). Subs: A Rooney (0-1) for C Ronaghan; JP Mone for McArdle; R Traynor for P McKenna; D McDermott for Clerkin; V Corey (0-1) for Callan.

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, C Whelan, K Nugent; D Hedigan, D O'Sullivan, N Griffin; G Quinlan (0-1), P Cosgrove; M O'Dwyer (0-5, 4 frees), P Hehir, R Donnelly (2-0); J Enright (0-1), D Russell (0-1), S Hickey (0-2). Subs: A Malone for Nugent; D Blake for Gallagher; M Daly for Hehir; A Clohessy for Enright; P McMahon for Donnelly.

Referee: M Lynch (Limerick).