Carnmore, Turloughmore and Craughwell hurling clubs kick off their championships on Sunday
Following last weekend’s flurry of games in the Salthill Hotel Senior Hurling Championship, there are only two senior games down for decision this Sunday.
Loughrea, who were easy 1-13 to 0-9 winners over Liam Mellows last weekend, will face Craughwell at 3pm in Kenny Park.
That game is followed at the same venue by the rescheduled tie between Turloughmore and Carnmore at 4.30pm.
Craughwell will be without the injured Niall Healy, and he will be a big loss to Stephen Glennon’s side. However they will have some young blood on board from last year’s u-21 championship success and they will be keen to produce a good performance and put up a strong challenge.
Loughrea are under the new management this season of Enda McDonnell and they looked in fine fettle as they gave Mellows a good trimming out in Gort last Saturday evening.
Galway star Johnny Coen excelled when he was moved to midfield in the second half and he had good support from the likes of Tom Regan, Damien McClearn, Gavin Keary, Kenneth Colleran and Johnny Maher, who shot 0-7 (4fs, 2 65s ) from full-forward.
Loughrea were in yet another county final last year, and based on their display against Mellows, they intend having a cut at the county cup this season too.
The game between Carnmore and Turlough is a local derby and should bring a good following to Kenny Park.
Hopefully Fergal Moore and Daithí Burke, who may feature in the All-Ireland u-21football final on Saturday, will be able to take their places for Michael Donoghue’s side. Either way, they will look to big displays from Cian Burke, Ronan Badger, Darren Shaughnessy, Ronan Burke and Matthew Keating.
Carnmore will be looking to the hugely experienced Declan O’Brien, and TJ Hynes at the back and, up front, Domhnaill Fox, JP O’Connell, Barry Hanley and Martin Kelly, to provide the scores needed for a win.
Mulholland’s had this game priced up as Turloughmore 2/7 and Carnmore 5/2, with the draw at 10/1 for last weekend.
