Clare Seal Division 1B Promotion With Perfect Six From Six – Division 1B Final Preview April 2026

There was never any real doubt. From the moment Tony Kelly rifled a last-gasp goal past Dublin in Round 1 at Cusack Park, this was Clare’s league to lose. They never came close to losing it.

Six games. Six wins. Twelve points. Top of Division 1B by a distance. Promotion confirmed with a round to spare. Brian Lohan’s Banner are heading back to Division 1A where they belong – and they have done it with a swagger that should worry every team in the top flight.

But behind the perfect record lies a campaign that was anything but straightforward. Clare trailed Dublin by five points in the first half of the opener. They were four down to Kildare at half-time in Newbridge. Wexford closed to within a single point in the 60th minute at Cusack Park last Sunday. Each time the Banner found a way. Each time someone stood up when it mattered.

That someone was usually Tony Kelly. Or Peter Duggan. Or Mark Rodgers. Or one of the exciting new faces that Lohan has blooded during this campaign – Diarmuid Stritch, Senan Dunford, Ronan Kilroy. Clare have found depth they did not know they had and it bodes well for what comes next.

If you enjoy sports betting, trust reputable bookmakers and get the best bonuses:

How Clare Won Every Round – The Full Division 1B Campaign

The six results tell a story of a team that started nervous and finished ruthless.

Round 1 vs Dublin (Home, Jan 25) – Clare 3-18 Dublin 1-22. The headline game. Dublin led by five and looked dangerous. David Reidy and Peter Duggan goals before half-time turned the tide. Then Kelly sealed it with an injury-time goal that will live long in the memory of the 7,553 who were there. Mark Rodgers hit 0-11.

Round 2 vs Antrim (Away, Feb 1) – Clare won in Dunloy. A tricky trip to Corrigan Park where Antrim had been competitive all season. Clare controlled the second half to win without drama. A professional away performance.

Round 3 vs Down (Home, Feb 8) – Clare dominated. Three goals in the final quarter from Rodgers, David Fitzgerald and Duggan turned a comfortable win into a demolition. Twelve different scorers. Senan Dunford announced himself with five points on his debut. 4,960 in Cusack Park saw the future of Clare hurling alongside the present.

Round 4 vs Kildare (Away, Feb 21) – Clare survived a scare. Newbridge under lights was hostile territory. Kildare had beaten Antrim and were growing in confidence. Clare trailed by four early in the second half before Kelly took over with eight points to drag the Banner home. The tightest game of the campaign.

Round 5 vs Carlow (Away, Feb 28) – Clare 1-28 Carlow 0-18. Clinical. Rodgers hit 11 points. Shane Meehan found the net early. Clare were never troubled after the first quarter. Lohan used the game to rotate and give minutes to fringe players.

Round 6 vs Wexford (Home, Mar 8) – Clare 0-26 Wexford 1-20. The most dramatic afternoon of the campaign. A top-of-the-table clash where Wexford needed to win to keep their promotion hopes alive. Clare led by eight twice but a Simon Roche goal sparked a Wexford fightback that brought the margin to one. Duggan and the outstanding Ian Galvin (two stunning points from the left corner) answered with five unanswered points to close the door. First home win over Wexford in seven years in front of 6,575.

What Comes Next – The Division 1B Final

Clare will face either Dublin or Wexford in the Division 1B Final on the weekend of April 4-5. Dublin hold the advantage in score difference heading into the final round. Both Clare and their opponents are already promoted – the final is for silverware and momentum heading into the championship.

For Lohan the final represents something else entirely. It is a chance to stress-test his championship team under pressure. Expect the big guns – Kelly, O’Donnell (if fit), Duggan, Rodgers – to start. Expect intensity. Clare do not do meaningless matches.

Why This Promotion Matters for Clare Hurling

Clare were relegated from Division 1A in 2025 after a dismal league campaign where they won just one of six matches. For the All-Ireland champions of 2024 to drop was embarrassing. The response has been emphatic.

Playing in Division 1A next season means Clare will face Limerick, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford in spring 2027. That is the level of preparation a team needs heading into a Munster Championship where the margins are razor-thin.

Lohan himself said after the Wexford win that getting back to the top tier “as soon as possible” was the priority. Mission accomplished.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Clare promoted from Division 1B in 2026? Yes. Clare sealed promotion to Division 1A with a perfect six wins from six in Division 1B of the 2026 Allianz Hurling League.

When is the Division 1B hurling final 2026? The Division 1B Final is scheduled for the weekend of April 4-5 2026. Clare will play either Dublin or Wexford.

How many points did Clare score in Division 1B 2026? Clare scored heavily across all six rounds including 3-18 vs Dublin, 1-28 vs Carlow and 0-26 vs Wexford. Peter Duggan and Mark Rodgers were the leading scorers.