The Banner men pulled off a 1-16 to 1-13 victory with forwards Derek Quinn and Declan O'Rourke showing some promising form by hitting 1-4 and 0-4 respectively.

New players Kevin Dilleen and Daragh Shannon combined well in midfield, while defenders Cathal Dillon and Anthony Kilmartin and Cathal Lafferty and Brian Shally, in attack, did their reputations no harm on their first starts.

Wolfe Tones' wing back Barry Loughnane, the son of former Clare boss Ger, also got a run-out as a substitute.

Clare take on Kerry in next Sunday's quarter-finals at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

Meanwhile, Tipperary held firm for a 1-13 to 1-11 success over a tigerish UL side at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh.

Tipp set up a home date with Waterford IT in the last-eight as they progressed on the back of a strong first-half performance.

Babs Keating's men got off to the worst possible start however, when UL corner forward Alan Egan netted in the first-minute.

But Tipp bounced back with a goal of their own from full-forward Danny O'Hanlon, midway through the half, and they led by 1-10 to 1-6 at the break.

UL, with the aid of the breeze, managed to keep Tipp scoreless for 25 minutes of the second period but the hosts came good with Paul Kelly (0-5, 3f), O'Hanlon (1-1) and 2006 minor star Pa Bourke (0-4, 1f) finishing as their top scorers.

The game also saw the return of Micheal Webster to the county side. The strapping Loughmore-Castleiney forward, who was axed along with Ger 'Redser' O'Grady from the Tipp squad last June, came on as a substitute this afternoon after recently being reinstated.

Limerick IT will face Waterford next weekend after they dished out a 2-12 to 0-12 beating to Limerick, last year's champions, in Kilmallock.

The other quarter-final will see the 2006 All-Ireland runners-up Cork clashing with Cork IT at Páirc Uí Chaoímh.

WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP:

PRELIMINARY ROUND -

Clare 1-16 UCC 1-13, Meelick

Limerick 0-12 Limerick IT 2-12, Kilmallock

Tipperary 1-13 University of Limerick 1-11, Nenagh