Galway 2-24 Clare 3-17

Ger Farragher scored 1-11 as Galway overcame Clare in this entertaining Allianz NHL Division 1B clash at Pearse Stadium today. Clare's David Barrett was shown a straight red card in the third-minute for tussling with Ger Mahon and Galway used the extra man to create a 1-13 to 0-07 half-time lead. Aongus Callanan grabbed the hosts' first goal while Farragher also netted from a close range free. But the dismissals of Tony Óg Regan and John Lee left the Tribesmen short-handed and Mark Flaherty's glut of goals saw Clare finish strongly. Galway were forced into two late changes before the throw-in with Alan Gaynor and Adrian Cullinane coming in for Fergal Moore and Fergal Healy. Clare, who started with five league debutants, were first off the mark when centre-back Gerry Quinn fired over a free from 80 yards out. But the Banner's hopes were hit when their wing forward Barrett was red carded for striking Mahon off-the-ball. Clare recovered well, leaking just an Iarla Tannian point before Flaherty notched a brace of points. Clare moved 0-05 to 0-03 ahead when Flaherty and Declan O'Rourke replied to Farragher's first successful effort of the afternoon. But the Tribesmen then hit the next five points with Farragher accounting for four of them, including a superb 85-yard shot, and Tannian also weighed in with a point. Despite being down to 14 men, Clare were keeping in touch and missed a decent chance to edge closer to the hosts on the scoreboard when Tony Óg Regan fouled Niall Gilligan for a penalty. Flaherty, who has scored four of his side's points by that stage, had his effort blocked by Regan on the goal line and Galway remained in front by 0-09 to 0-06.In the 28th-minute, full-forward Tannian provided the assist for Callanan's goal. He got on the end of a breaking ball after a long ball in from Alan Kerins and passed for the corner forward to shoot home. Flaherty and Farragher exchanged points, but Galway had a plentiful supply of scorers with Niall Healy, Kevin Hynes, Tannian and Callanan all registering points during the latter stages of the first half. Ger Loughnane's side moved 2-14 to 0-07 ahead within the first three minutes of the second half. Farragher's drilled shot from a penalty rose over the crossbar but he was right on target when he netted from the '21' just a minute later, after Frank Lohan had been penalised. Regan then received his marching orders - earning a second yellow card for a dangerous pull - with Flaherty and Callanan soon swapping points. Clare midfielder Jonathan Clancy dashed forward to crack over two impressive points but with time running out, Clare needed goals and Galway net minder James Skehill was equal to a stinging shot from Gilligan. Galway kept ticking over with points from Tannian, Healy and Farragher but Clare dug deep to knock in three late goals. Flaherty notched the first when he followed up to score on the rebound after a Gilligan penalty was stopped on the line. With six minutes to go, Galway lost John Lee on a second bookable offence and while Flaherty netted from two 20-metre frees and O'Rourke tagged on another point, the Tribesmen never looked like being overhauled.

Galway: J Skehill; D Joyce, T Óg Regan, A Gaynor; G Mahon,
J Lee, A Keary; A Cullinane (0-02), K Hynes (0-01); A Kerins, D Forde, N Healy (0-03); G Farragher (1-11, 1-07f, 0-01 pen), I Tannian (0-05), A Callanan (1-02).

Subs used: C Dervan for Mahon (29 mins), K Wade for Kerins (56), F Coone for Healy (69).

Clare: P Brennan; T Keogh, F Lohan, C McMahon; D Clancy, G Quinn, B Bugler; B O'Connell, J Clancy (0-02); D Barrett, C Lafferty, D O'Rourke (0-03); M Flaherty (3-08, 2-08f), N Gilligan (0-03), G Arthur.

Subs used: P Donlon for Bugler (13 mins), F Lynch (0-01) for Lafferty (30), C Plunkett for McMahon (39), B Nugent for Arthur (63), M Murphy for Keogh (68).

Referee: Seamus Roche (Tipperary).