Slane bounce back with win over Clonard

Despite a marked improvement in form from Clonard, Slane had too much firepower as they bounced back from their opening round loss to Cortown to score a 1-12 to 0-6 win over their hosts.

Both sides struggled to find their range early on with Matt Tully cancelling out an early Clonard free before the hosts took a 0-2 to 0-1 lead at the first water break. When play resumed Slane reshuffled and started to get on top with Shane Traynor inspiring them to a lead.

Goalkeeper Darren Berrill converted a long range free to stretch that advantage beforwe Tully was on the mark to make it 0-5 to 0-2 at the break.

Eanna Mooney stretched that advantage from a mark soon after the restart and as Slane continued to dominate the third quarter Eoin Feeley hit the crossbar before Sean Murray did find the net to help his side to a nine-point lead at the second water break.

A succession of Clonard '45's had Slane under pressure in the final quarter, but with Berrill making a couple of crucial saves and Eoin Gibbs and Aaron Lane also doing well the visitors held on for the deserved with with Luke Bailey marking his debut with the closing point.

Slane - Darren Berrill (0-1); Sean Martyn, Francie Marry, Aaron Lane; Sean Murray (1-0), Eoin Gibbs, Kevin Dunne; Matt Tully (0-6), Eanna Mooney (0-1); Peter Martyn, Daniel Forde (0-2), Eoin Feeley; Shane Traynor, Conor Forde (0-1), Daniel Carolan. Subs - Eoin McCann for Traynor, Luke Bailey (0-1) for Feeley, Gordon Finnegan.