Portumna did not take long to get back into the winning groove in the county hurling championship last weekend when they defeated Clarinbridge by 0-18 to 0-10.
The usual suspects such as Damien Hayes, Joe Canning, Andy Smith and Niall Hayes were all on target as the Shannonsiders continued where they left off in last year’s county campaign.
Clarinbridge were overly dependent on the scoring power of former Galway star Mark Kerins and they never looked likely to stop the Portumna charge when it came.
Beagh, who were defeated by Kinvara last weekend by 2-13 to 2-10, are next up to face the champions this Saturday in Loughrea at 5.30pm.
Rory Gantley and Kevin Keehan were the goal scorers for Beagh in that clash with Kinvara and they will need to raise a few more green flags in Loughrea on Saturday if they are to get a famous victory.
That game is followed by Castlegar against Mullagh at 7pm.
Ger Farragher, recently announced as winner of the April Hurling Player of the Month, was in splendid scoring form for Castlegar against Carnmore, winning 1-21 to 1-09 in round two of the championship, and Mullagh will need to nullify his influence if they are to collect the points.
In the double header in Athenry on Saturday Tommy Larkins face Gort at 5.30pm and then at 7pm Kinvara take on Killimordaly.
The other senior hurling fixture for Saturday is the improving Sarsfields against Craughwell in Duggan Park at 7pm.
Former All-Ireland minor winner Joseph Cooney was in terrific form for the Bullaun men as they defeated Kiltormer 0-21 to 2-12 in an entertaining clash in round two.
On Sunday there is another double header in Athenry with Kiltormer taking on Loughrea at 5pm and St Thomas facing Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry at 6.30pm.
In the other games last weekend, Athenry, in their second successive defeat, lost out to Loughrea by 1-18 to 0-15 and Joe Rabbitte’s charges are now under pressure to avoid being drawn into a relegation dog-fight.
Mullagh drew with Liam Mellows, 2-10 to 1-13. Goals from Jeffrey Lynskey and Alan Clancy powered Mellows into an early lead, but Niall Cahalan clawed Mullagh back into the game and substitute Tony Clarke got a late goal to earn the Mullagh men a share of the spoils.
Gort defeated Turloughmore 1-19 to 2-13 with Richie Cummins goaling early for Gort. That game was level on seven occasions, but Gort did just enough for victory.
Unfortunately Turloughmore and Galway player Fergal Moore is still unavailable and he is a major injury doubt with ankle ligament damage for Galway’s first game against Wexford in three weeks time.
That game between Wexford and Galway in the Leinster championship has been fixed for 7pm on Saturday May 29 in Nowlan Park.
The game will be shown live on RTÉ .
