Ballyea got the defence of their Clare and Munster titles off to a winning start at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday. The All-Ireland club runners-up saw off the challenge of Wolfe Tones na Sionna and came out 1-16 to 0-12 winners in the end, having lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Mary Immaculate College 2-25 GMIT 0-10: Mary Immaculate manager Eamon Cregan left with a heavy win in the bag, but he was fuming with his side’s second-half efforts as they picked apart a poor GMIT side to reach the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals.