Three Premiership clubs bowed out at the first hurdle on a big night of BetMcLean Cup action, goals, shocks and drama.

Carrick Rangers, Portadown and Loughgall all exited to lower division opposition while Ballymena United only scraped through after penalties.

Portadown, last season’s losing finalists, perhaps harboured hopes of going one better this term but those ambitions were dashed at Shamrock Park as Aidan Steele’s 90th minute finish was enough to see Ards through.

Carrick Rangers might have looked to the cup to provide some relief from their torrid recent league form but that was very much not the case as Queen’s University came to Taylors Avenue and left with the win courtesy of Chris Middleton’s stunning finish from his own half with seven minutes remaining.

Loughgall surrendered a two-goal lead at Lakeview Park before going out to Armagh City.

The Villagers looked to be cruising when a goal early in each half from Conor McCloskey and Jay Boyd seemed to put them into a strong position, but the Eagles pulled one back through Dermot McCaffrey before a couple of strikes in the last ten minutes from Noeem Oladunjoye and Ugo Anny-Nzekwue saw Shea Campbell’s side through.

And high flying Ballymena United almost tripped up away to Rathfriland Rangers.

Ruari Fitzpatrick had given Rangers the edge at the break, but goals from Stephen O’Donnell and Noah Stewart early in the second half appeared to tip the balance in favour of the visitors.

However Fitzpatrick hit his second to level and take the game into extra-time. Ethan Devine restored Ballymena’s lead early on but Andrew Kilmartin then knocked home a penalty to ensure the game needed spot-kicks to settle it … with Jim Ervin’s men eventually squeezing through.

There were also relatively close calls on the road for Crusaders and Glenavon before they got past Ballyclare Comrades and Newington respectively, while a youthful Larne side had to come from behind to get the better of HW Welders at the Blanchflower Stadium.

Holders Linfield kicked off their defence of the trophy with a straightforward defeat of Dundela at Wilgar Park thanks to goals from Kirk Millar, Charlie Allen and Joel Cooper while Charlie Lindsay and David Fisher struck at either end of the game as Glentoran saw off Dergview at the BetMcLean Oval.

Dungannon Swifts were the biggest winners on the night, hitting five goals without reply past Portstewart at Stangmore Park with three of those coming via Andrew Mitchell.

Dollingstown also bagged a similar number as they defeated Newry City 5-1 at Planters Park, while Annagh United were taken to extra-time before accounting for Moyola Park at Mill Meadow.

Elsewhere, Coleraine travelled to Ferney Park to defeat Ballinamallard United 4-0, Bangor also hit four as they crushed Warrenpoint Town at Clandeboye Park, Taylor Steven and Destiny Ojo were on target for Cliftonville as they travelled to see off Limavady United and a Mikhail Kennedy free-kick was enough for Institute away to Ballymacash Rangers.