All-Ireland champions Sarsfields opened their Galway title defence with a comfortable victory over Craughwell at the weekend, while there were also wins for last year’s county finalists Oranmore Maree and Ardrahan in the Windows and Rooflights Ltd Senior A Championship.
In testing conditions for the opening round of the championship, it was all to play for at half-time between Sarsfields and Craughwell with five between the sides. However, goals from Shannon Corcoran (2 ), Siobhán McGrath and Cliona Cahalan proved decisive as Sarsfields ran out 4-15 to 0-7 winners.
Oranmore Maree showed intent in their opening game against Davitts. Chloe Farragher opened the scoring for Davitts, but in the sixth minute, Niamh Hanniffy raised her first green flag of the day when she broke through to get her side's opening score. Rachael Hanniffy followed up with two from play for Oranmore Maree to give them a nice lead.
Although Allanah Kenny and Catherine Hanley replied with two points to reduce the deficit to two, Rebecca Grealish, who replaced Ailish O’Reilly at the beginning of the game, hit the back of the Davitts' net to increase their lead to five.
Catherine Hanley replied with a free two minutes later, but Eimear O’Donovan and Niamh Hanniffy raised white flags to extend their lead to six, and after Ciara Hickey and Aisling Finn exchanged scores before Hanley replied with a free on the 30th minute, Oranmore Maree led 2-5 to 0-6.
O’Donovan and Hanley exchanged scores at the beginning of the second half, before O’Donovan added her third point in the 39th minute. Then a well-worked team score involveing Christina Brennan, Róisín Black and Sacra Mannion ended in the hands of Niamh Hanniffy who raised her second green flag of the day.
Although Hickey replied with a point to try to settle her side, Oranmore kicked into gear scoring 1-7 without reply in a nine-minute spell with points from Niamh Hanniffy (5 ), Clodagh Power (2 ) and a goal from O’Donovan.
Hanley ended the scoring spree in the 56th minute with a free and a point from play, but it was Oranmore who had the final say with a point from Finn and a third goal from Niamh Hanniffy to leave it Oranmore Maree 5-14 Davitts 0-10.
It was a much closer affair between Mullagh and Ardrahan after Ava Lynskey, Alisha Quinn and Dearbhaile Walsh opened the scoring for Ardrahan with a point each inside the opening five minutes.
Rachel Monaghan, who was Mullagh’s top scorer on the day, scored her team's opening score in the sixth minute before Helena Tarpey and Caoimhe Lynskey added two frees to Ardrahan’s tally, leaving five between the sides with nine minutes remaining. Aoife Connaughton scored her side's second score of the day on the 24th minute. but directly after the score, Helena Tarpey replied with her side's only major.
It looked like Ardrahan were in the driving seat before Amy King responded with a Mullagh point. Walsh and Caoimhe Lynskey replied , but in the 31st minute, Mullagh ensured a much-needed lift before heading into break when Monaghan hit the net for her side's only goal of the game.
Caoimhe Lynskey had the final say of the half with a point from a free to leave it 1-9 to 1-3, and was quick to add another on the resumption.
Connaughton and King replied with two quick-fire points for Mullagh, but Caoimhe Lynskey added her second point of the half, before Monaghan through a free and Ava Lynskey from play exchanged points on the 36th minute.
Monaghan added another free on the 40th minute, but it looked like Ardrahan were pushing ahead again with scores from Ava Lynskey, Galway Senior Camogie captain Shauna Healy, and a Caoimhe Lynskey free.
Mullagh, however, did their best and finished the strongest, scoring five points without reply through Monaghan, King, Pearl Finnerty and Tegan Canning, but it was too late as Ardrahan ran out 1-15 to 1-12 winners.
In the Windows and Rooflights LTD Senior B Championship, there was victories for Clarinbridge, Salthill Knocknacarra and St Thomas, and in the Duanes Hardware Intermediate Championship, Mountbellew Moylough, Shamrocks, Ahascragh Caltra and Killimor were winners. In the C2 Security Junior A Championship, there were wins for Liam Mellows, Kiltormer, and Portumna, while the game between Kiltuallgh Killimordaly and Kilconieron was abandoned due to weather.
