Source: Clare.fm

Reigning champions Cratloe will have to do it the hard way if they are to retain the Canon Hamilton.

Joe McGraths's side were beaten by Ballyea in the opening round by 0-13 to 0-11.

Ballyea raced out of the blocks and led by 0-4 to 0-0 inside the opening ten minutes.

Podge Collins opened the Cratloe scoring before having to go off injured midway through the half.

The champions hit the last three points of the half to leave the scoreboard at the break 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of Ballyea.

The second half was a tight affair, as county teamates Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath swapped points at will, with McGrath ending with a personal tally of 0-6, and Kelly accounting for 0-9 of his sides total.

Conor Ryan cut the gap to two with time almost up, but it was as close as Cratloe got, and Ballyea held on for a deserved win.

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Sixmilebridge are also into the winners round after they beat Eire Óg 2-19 to 1-10.

This game was decided in the space of ten second half minutes, as recent county debutante Shane Golden struck two goals for the Bridge that put the tie to bed.

At half time they led 0-11 to 1-6, with Thomas Downes goaling for the Townies.

Just the minimum seperated the sides for much of the second half, but after Goldens goals, the Bridge pulled away to win comfortably.

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Crusheen were first to book their spot in the winners round with a comprehensive 3-18 to 0-15 win over Inagh/Kilnamona.

Last years beaten finalists were always in control, and Conor O'Donnells well taken goal saw them lead 1-10 to 0-5 at the break with the breeze still to come.

To their credit, the combo tried valiantly to rescue the game, but Cian Dillons goal ended any faint hopes of a comeback, with a mixup in defence granting John Carmodys side their third goal of the contest.

Paddy Vaughan was to fore from dead balls, with Ciaran O'Doherty also helping to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

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Clarecastle and Clonlara will have to do it all over again in their Round One clash after they finished level after extra time.

Clonlara looked to have done enough to take the win in normal time, and a Cathal O'Connell goal saw them lead 1-10 to 0-8 at the break, with the advantage of a strong wind to come in the second half.

Clarecastle refused to give in, with Pat Kellys goal reducing the gap to three with ten minutes to play, and a late strike from sub Patrick Tuohy saw it finish Clarecastle 2-17 Clonlara 1-20.

The sides continued to trade scores throughout the extra time, but a full time score of 2-22 to 1-25 means it will take another day out to sort this one.

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Newmarket have a late Colin Ryan goal to thank for getting them over the line in 2-13 to 1-13 win over newly promoted Feakle.

Newmarket led 0-10 to 1-5 at half time, with Ryan accounting for 0-8 of his sides total, while the Feakle goal came from a Shane McGrath penalty.

The Blues were slow into their stride in the second period, and Feakle led by the minimum with ten minutes to play.

This seemed to spur Newmarket into life, and a goal from James Liddy edged them in front, before Ryan pounced for the crucial score in injury time.

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The second of that double header in the Bridge saw Kilmaley ease past Whitegate.

The sides were level at 0-8 each with Kilmaley having the breeze to come in the second half.

They used it to perfection to run out winners by 1-22 to 1-10, John Clohessey with goal for the winners.

Each of the Kilmaley forwards got on the scoresheet, with Cian Moloney getting 0-6, and 0-4 each for Mikey O'Malley and Ken Kennedy.