Eight senior hurling championship games are scheduled this weekend as the group stages come to a conclusion.
Team two and team three in each of the groups will be drawn for the preliminary quarter-finals after this weekend’s games and the winners from those eight teams will take on the top team from the four groups in the quarter-finals.
This weekend’s action kicks off with three games down for 5.30pm throw-ins on Saturday.
In Ballinasloe’s Duggan Park, Portumna and Athenry do battle in a Group A clash. At the same time in Killimor, Tommy Larkins take on Padraig Pearses.
In Ballindereen on Saturday, there is a Group B clash with table-toppers Carnmore in action against Ardrahan.
There are some attractive fixtures down for decision on Sunday with a real crowd-pulling double-header on in Pearse Stadium.
Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry take on Liam Mellows at 1pm and that tie is followed at 2.30pm by Castlegar and Clarinbridge in a Group C game. A defeat in that game for Castlegar would leave them with just one point and in the relegation play-offs.
The other outstanding Group C game sees Turloughmore and Sarsfields in action to reach the knock-out stages. That game is in Kenny Park at 2.30pm.
That enthralling clash is followed by a Group D game between Beagh and Loughrea at 4pm.
The other Group D game is a clash between Kinvara and Gort at Ardrahan at 4pm.
