Munster Cup SH/Clare 0-20 University of Limerick 1-13:Clare hurlers got manager Mike McNamara's tenure off to a winning start at Meelick yesterday when his experimental selection defeated the University of Limerick in the first round of the Waterford Crystal Cup.

The students started well but the home side settled and led by 0-11 to 0-8 at the half-time break. Newcomers David Barrett, Michael Madden and Mark Flaherty were particularly impressive in that first half for Clare.

University of Limerick were back in the game early in the second half when Matt Ruth caught a long clearance out of defence, turned and rattled the roof of Philip Brennan's net.

Brian Carroll added a point to level before Clare pulled away once more with four scores in a row from Flaherty, Brian Lynch, substitute Colin Lynch and Niall Gilligan, points that turned out to be the cornerstone of a merited victory.

CLARE: P Brennan; T Keogh, C McMahon, M Hawes; P Vaughan, D Clancy, P Donnellan; K Dilleen (0-1), B Lynch (0-2); M Murphy, D Barrett (0-4), T Griffin (0-1); M Flaherty (0-6, four frees), N Gilligan (0-2), M Madden (0-2). Subs:C Plunkett for Hawes (30 mins), C Lynch (0-1)for Dilleen (30 mins), B Nugent (0-1)for Griffin (44 mins), D Quinn for Murphy (49 mins).

UL:T Flynn; K Joyce, J Heffernan, M Verney; B Bugler, T Stapleton, JB McCarthy; B Dowling (0-6, four frees, 1 65),S Ryan; M Walsh, M Whelan (0-3),E Ryan; B Carroll (0-2),P O'Brien, M Ruth (1-1). Subs:J Ryan for E Ryan (29 mins), M Gleason for O'Brien (29 mins), N Ó Mhurchu for McCarthy (37 mins), J Green for Stapleton (inj, 43 mins), J Broderick (0-1) for Carroll (46 mins).

Referee: M Meade(Limerick).