Friday evening’s intriguing clash between near neighbours Clarinbridge and Craughwell in Kenny Park kicks off a bumper weekend of round two action in both the Senior A and B hurling championships, with twelve group fixtures to be decided which will quickly bring the contenders for the knockout stages into sharp focus.
There are five games where plenty is at stake already for clubs who have both lost their opening assignment. Killimordaly’s Group 3 clash with Gort in Duggan Park on Friday evening is arguably the highest profile of these, with both clubs eager to maintain their ambitions of progressing to the business end of the championship.
The other game in this group sees All-Ireland champions St. Thomas’ take on Tommy Larkins on Sunday evening. Eanna Burke was in sparkling form in the champions’ opening round win over Killimordaly while Tommy Larkins will be eager to push the kingpins all the way and show that their win over Gort was no fluke.
Castlegar’s sixteen point win over Oranmore/Maree in Group 4 was perhaps the most eye-catching result from the opening weekend and Mattie Murphy’s charges now face Sarsfields on Saturday evening with their eyes on topping the group and avoiding the preliminary quarter-finals.
Ardrahan’s one-point loss to Sarsfields was a chance missed considering the winners were missing quite a few regular starters, but they will probably fancy getting the better of Oranmore/Maree on Sunday afternoon.
Loughrea look poised for another significant tilt for honours this year after they saw off Craughwell relatively comfortably in their opening game despite missing a host of regulars, they play Maigh Cuilinn on Sunday and should rack up their second win, while Clarinbridge’s Evan Niland hit a whopping 1-16 on their first day out but Craughwell will surely keep a tighter rein on the Galway star.
In Group 1, Mullagh and Kilconieron face a make-or-break encounter on Sunday afternoon with Kilconieron tipped to bag a first victory. Turloughmore put up a facile win over Mullagh in round one, they will learn more about their potential prospects when they take on a feisty Cappataggle side on Saturday afternoon.
Ahascragh-Fohenagh were surely contemplating what more they had to do to get the better of Portumna in wake of their Senior B Group 2 opener, having registered 2-26 without the presence of Cathal Mannion in a three-point defeat. They now face a chastened Liam Mellows side who were caught cold by Athenry, who will hope to build on their first round win when they take on Joe Canning and company.
Ballinderreen looked impressive in their opening Group 1 fixture and will look to build on the momentum from their intermediate championship win last year when they face a well-balanced Kilnadeema-Leitrim side. Beagh and Padraig Pearses lock horns in what already looks like a relegation eliminator.
From the opening twelve games some impressive scores were tallied, but only four of the ties ended up with margins of three points or less, while the average margin of victory ending up at just over nine points in what is thought to be a highly competitive championship. Perhaps more drama is in store this weekend.
