Kerry and Clare squared up in Munster competition for the second time in four days, but unlike Clare’s win in football’s McGrath cup, there was no rare win in Sixmilebridge, as the 2013 All-Ireland SHC champions claimed a 2-27 to 0-08 victory.

Kerry ran Cork close when the sides met in Mallow last weekend, but the Kingdom failed to sparkle on a tough night weather-wise, as Davy Fitzgerald’s charges were never troubled in this game.

The hosts were 1-10 to 0-00 ahead when Peter Duggan netted a 18th-minute goal, after latching onto a high ball from midfielder David Reidy.

Kerry eventually broke their barren scoring spell with a 21st-minute Mikey Boyle point, and in cold and crisp conditions trailed by 1-14 to 0-01 late in the half.

The sides were evenly matched in the closing stages, with Colm Harty and Brendan O’Leary adding to Kerry’s tally, in response to two Clare scores, with Fitzgerald’s side claiming a 1-16 to 0-03 interval lead.

Kerry continued to work hard and outscored their opponents by three points to one inside 15 minutes of the restart.

However, Clare kicked on, with Kerry failing to score in the final 16 minutes, as Duggan netted a second goal in the 67th minute on the way to a 25-point win.