A strong second half performance has given Clare a big victory over Longford in the National Football League, and moved the Banner closer to promotion to Division Two.
Colm Collins' side ran riot in the second half, outscoring their opponents by ten points, as they won 1-20 to 1-9.
It was a much closer affair in the first half when Longford played with the advantage of the wind, and went into an early advantage courtesy of a sixth-minute goal from Michael Quinn.
Clare respnded well though with Jamie Malone, Eoin Cleary and David Tubridy all pointing before Tubridy goaled following some good work by Gary Brennan – at this stage, with 17 minutes gone, Clare led 1-3 to 1-2.
The game stayed close thereafter, with no more than two points ever separating the sides.
Cathal O'Connor, Tubridy and Keelan Sexton all pointed before Jamie Malone scored the last point of the first-half to make it 1-7 to 1-6 at the break.
There was a blow for Clare though, with Martin McMahon receiving a black card shortly before half-time.
However, that mattered little in the second half when Clare dominated, holding their opponents scoreless until injury time while scoring a total of 13 points themselves.
David Tubridy extended his personal tally to 1-5, while Eoin Cleary, Jamie Malone, Garry Brennan, Keelan Sexton, Pearse Lillis and Shane McGrath all contributed, while Longford could only manage what were effectively consolation scores.
The result, coupled with wins for Sligo over Limerick and, crucially, Westmeath over Offaly, puts Clare on their own in second place in the table on eight points, with Longford, Offaly and Tipperary are all on six points.
Clare's final game is next weekend away to Kildare.
