Goals in either half from John Conlon and Podge Collins laid the foundations for a minimum margin victory for Clare at Kilkenny's expense in Nowlan Park today.

Despite lining out minus the services of the suspended Tony Kelly, the Banner County bounced back from the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat to Tipperary with a 2-20 to 1-22 win.

Colm Galvin – who replaced Kelly in the starting 15 – produced a ‘man-of-the-match’ performance in the midfield engine room.

The Clonlara clubman raised three white flags and was also involved in the build-up to both of this team’s goals.

Conlon’s three-pointer helped establish a 1-8 to 0-10 interval lead for the visitors and Galvin then extended their lead with the first score of the second-half.

The midfielder subsequently teed Collins up for the second goal in the 48th minute.

Collins made no mistake from an acute angle and that strike parachuted the visitors into a 2-13 to 0-13 lead.

Kevin Kelly – who finished with 1-11 to his name - pulled a goal back for the Cats but referee Paud O’Dwyer sounded his final whistle shortly after.

Clare - D Tuohy; R Hayes, D McInerney, J Browne; C Malone, C Cleary, D Fitzgerald; S Golden (0-2), C Galvin (0-3); P Duggan (0-6, 4f, 1'65), P Collins (1-0), D Ryan (0-3); C Guilfoyle (0-1), J Conlon (1-1), I Galvin (0-2). Subs: G Cooney (0-1) for C Guilfoyle, R Taylor for I Galvin, J McCarthy for R Hayes, N Deasy (0-1f) for P Duggan, M O'Malley for C Galvin.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; P Murphy, H Lawlor, T Walsh; C Delaney (0-1), P Deegan, E Morrissey; J Maher (0-2), C Fogarty (0-1); J Donnelly (0-1), G Aylward (0-3), M Keoghan; B Ryan (0-2), K Kelly (1-11, 1-11f), R Leahy. Subs: C Browne for J Maher, P Walsh (0-1) for E Morrissey, L Blanchfield for R Leahy, G Malone for M Keoghan.

Referee - P O'Dwyer.

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