Clare 3-25 Waterford IT 0-5:NEW CLARE manager Davy Fitzgerald witnessed his charges totally outclass Waterford Institute of Technology in a preliminary round game of the Waterford Crystal Cup at Sixmilebridge.

Fitzgerald returned to his native county and his home town for the first competitive outing of the year.

WIT were short up to 10 regulars on the day because of a vital upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup tie against Cork IT on Thursday next, while Clare were also missing many of their student contingent.

The hosts led by 0-6 to no score by the 10th minute and by half-time had cruised into a 2-14 to 0-3 lead. Aaron Cunningham and the in-form Daire Keane scored the two goals before the break while corner-forward Eoin Hayes added a third, 27 minutes into the second half.

Clare will now face Limerick next weekend in the next round.

CLARE: P Kelly, D O'Donovan, C Dillon, C Cooney (0-1); S Morey, E Barrett, J McInerney; N O'Connell (0-3), P Donnellan (0-2); C Chaplin, D Keane (1-7), F Lynch; E Hayes (1-0), C Ryan (0-7, 0-3 frees), A Cunningham (1-3, 0-1 free). Subs: J Clancy (0-2) for Ryan (inj, 26 mins), M Earley for Cooney (62), S O'Halloran for Morey (66).

WATERFORD IT: S O'Keeffe, M Power, P Nolan, J Cahill; S O'Keeffe, L O'Loughlin, D Murphy (0-2, frees); M Power, J O'Dwyer; C O'Meara (0-1, free), E Madigan, S Cleary; T Kavanagh, J Dillon (0-1), K Hammersley (0-1, free). Subs: B Burke for ODwyer (55 mins), N Conners for O'Keefe (55 mins).

Referee: D Kirwin (Cork).