Clare 0-10 CIT 0-9:HAVING DEFEATED UCC a week ago at the same venue, Cooraclare, Clare met a much sterner test yesterday. They hit eight wides before half-time but can be thankful Cork IT had a similar problem in the second period.

Level on 0-4 at the break, Clare took the initiative. An Alan Clohessy free and a point by substitute David Tubridy left them two in front by the 47th minute before CIT levelled through Dónal Óg Hodnett and Andy O’Brien. Clare hit a purple patch with scores by Clohessy, Darren O’Neill and Rory Donnelly. O’Brien pulled one back before Tubridy had a crucial Clare score with five minutes left. Andy O’Brien converted two late frees for the visitors but Clare held on.

CLARE: Joe Hayes, N White, L Healy, M McMahon, Graham Kelly, Gordon Kelly (capt) John Hayes, G Brennan, C OConnor, D Daly, S McNeilis, D O’Brien (0-1), R Donnelly (0-2), T Ryan, A Clohessy (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: D Tubridy (0-3, 0-1 free) for G Brennan (13 mins), S Brennan for O’Brien (half-time), D O’Neill (0-1) for McNeilis (43 mins).

CIT: B Walsh; B McGuire, S O’Donoghue, R O’Dwyer; P Minihane, B Russell, C O’Driscoll; P Daly, S O’Hare; P O’Driscoll (0-1), BJ Walsh (0-2, 0-1 free), R Power (Cork); J Dinneen, H Curran, D Óg Hodnett (0-2, frees). Subs: A Walsh for Daly (8 mins), B O’Regan for McGuire (half-time), S Kelleher for P ODriscoll (40 mins), A O’Brien (0-4, 0-2 frees) for Dinneen (50 mins), W O’Mahony for Hodnett (56 mins).

Referee: K O'Brien (Tipperary).