Clare secured the points in their first league tie under new manager Cyril Lyons with some ease when they totally outclassed Meath at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.
Both teams will have learned little from this lacklustre affair in front of a paltry attendance of little over 300. The size of the crowd was surely an indicator of the Clare public's dissatisfaction with the GAA's decision to charge £7 for entrance to league ties.
The home supporters who attended saw Clare, led by corner forward Alan Markham who scored one goal and six points, continue their unbeaten competitive record under Lyons.
There was a welcome return for Liam Doyle, who has not played for the county since being substituted against Tipperary in the championship last June. He lined out at corner back.
Newly-promoted Meath had little time to adapt to the quicker pace after Clare full forward Conor Clancy scored their first goal within the first 60 seconds, after good work by Colin Lynch.
A Clare onslaught looked likely; however, after 20 minutes only one point separated the sides with Meath scoring four points, three from play.
However, a goal from Clare substitute Sean Ryan and points from Markham (two) and David Forde before half-time put the result beyond any remaining doubt.
The gap widened in the second half as Meath tired, though Meath manager John Davis will take consolation in the performances of full forward Fergus McMahon and centre forward Nicky Horan, who each scored six points.
However, Markham scored Clare's third goal in the 36th minute and three minutes later he found Ryan unmarked, and the substitute fired past goalkeeper Mark Gannon from 12 yards.
Gearoid Considine, Sean McMahon (free), Gordon Malone, David Forde (two) and Colin Lynch added points to Clare's tally to give them a 13-point win.
CLARE: C O'Connor; L Doyle, B Lohan, C Plunkett; R Woods, S McMahon (0-2, one free), B Forde; C Lynch (0-1), G Quinn; PJ O'Connell, D Forde (0-3), G Considine (0-1); B McMahon, C Clancy (1-0), A Markham (1-6, two points frees). Subs: S Ryan (2-0) for McMahon (15 mins); C Harrison (0-1) for Forde (30); G Malone (0-1) for Quinn (40); R O'Looney for Doyle (44); E Flannery for Markham (52).
MEATH: M Gannon; A O'Neill, J Horan, M Mullen; T Reilly, D Murray, C Keena; J Canty, D Reilly (0-1); D Dorran (0-1), N Horan (0-6, three frees), R Dorran; N Reilly, F McMahon (0-6, one free), G Cole. Subs: R Hogan for J Horan (22 mins); J Donoghue for Cole (30); D Donnelly for Murray (44).
Referee: M Carroll (Roscommon).
