NHL DIVISION TWO Clare 1-9 Carlow 0-11:CARLOW HURLERS almost followed up their shock win over Wexford a week earlier with another surprise win in a thrilling tie before an attendance of 1,200 at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

Ger O’Loughlin’s men got the fright of their hurling lives as they were pushed to the limit by a hugely-impressive Carlow side who were denied a merited draw when a long-range free from full back Shane Kavanagh drifted narrowly wide.

Level four times over the course of the game, Carlow matched the Banner County in all aspects of the game. Clare were never allowed settle by a fiercely-determined Carlow team whose half-back line of Edward Coady, John Rogers and Richard Coady was rock-like.

But with full back Kavanagh emerging as his side’s top scorer with 0-5, four frees and one 65, Carlow’s inability to make best use of their scoring chances cost them another famous win.

Both sides shot 13 wides in an exciting game. Carlow led by an unflattering 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time but the game’s crucial score came 16 minutes into the second half when left-full forward Colin Ryan crashed the ball to the Carlow net from a close range free to put the visitors into a 1-6 to 0-8 lead.

But it still took two late points from play by John Conlon to secure Clare the points.

CLARE: D Tuohy; P Vaughan, C Dillon, G O'Grady; E Glynn, J McInerney, P Donnellan; B Bugler, C O'Donovan (0-1); S Collins (0-1), J Conlon (0-2), D McMahon; A Markham, B Nugent, C Ryan (1-3, all frees). Subs: J Clancy (0-2)for Flynn (26); M Murphy for Nugent (45); M Flaherty for Markham (56).

CARLOW: K Kehoe; A Corcoran, S Kavanagh (0-5, four frees, one 65), D Shaw; E Coady, J Rogers, R Coady; D Roberts (0-1), E Nolan; E Byrne, M Brennan, C Doyle (0-1); A Gaule (0-1), R Foley, P Kehoe (0-2, both frees). Subs: D Murphy (0-1, free)for Byrne (ht); R Dunbar for P Kehoe (54 mins); A Brennan for Gaule (61).

Referee: S Whelan(Wexford).