NHL DIVISION TWO: Clare 1-27 Westmeath 2-17:CLARE WERE far from impressive despite defeating Westmeath by seven points at Cusack Park yesterday, where a total of 47 scores masked some poor play by both sides.

The home side started brightly and were 0-9 to 0-0 ahead with Colin Ryan prominent. However, a spirited comeback had Kevin Martin’s charges back to within a point at the break (0-10 to 0-9).

Darach Honan goaled at the start of the second period as Clare pulled away again, but a Brendan Murphy goal and some fine points saw Westmeath trail by just four points with 10 minutes remaining (1-19 to 1-15). However, Clare’s superior class showed in the closing stages and a volley of points sealed victory before Derek McNicholas scored a late goal for the home side.

CLARE:D Touhy; P Vaughan, C Cooney, D O'Donovan; B Bugler, C Dillon, J McInerney; N O'Connell (0-3, 0-2 frees), J Clancy (0-2); P Donnellan, J Conlon (0-3), F Lynch (0-2); D Honan (1-4), C McInerney (0-1), C Ryan (0-9, 0-4 frees). Subs:C Morey (0-2) for C McInerney (half-time), P O'Connor (0-1) for Donnellan (half-time), S Collins for O'Connell (63 mins).

WESTMEATH:P Burke; R Whelan, P Greville, E Price (0-1); P Gilsenan, A Mitchell (0-1, 65), J Shaw (0-1); J Clarke, N Flanagan; B Smyth (0-2), B Murtagh (1-4, 1-3 frees); C Flanagan (0-1); C Curley (0-1), D McNicholas (1-5, 0-1 lineball), D Carty. Subs:A Devine (0-1) for Carty (48 mins), A McGrath for Curley (58 mins).

Referee:G Duffy (Antrim).