Portumna hurlers get handy group draw

REIGNING All-Ireland and county champion hurlers Portumna, will be confident of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Salthill Hotel 2014 Galway Senior Championship after being drawn in a ‘manageable’ group.

Portumna were pitted against Athenry, Ardrahan and Carnmore in Group D and will be favourites to top it, with the other three clubs in an almighty battle to secure the second remaining quarter-final spot.

The toughest quartet that was drawn together on Tuesday evening appears to be Group C, where Turloughmore, Beagh, Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry and the winners of backdoor tie, Craughwell versus St Thomas – to be played this Saturday – are competing for the two quarter-final berths.

Group A has an East Galway minefield look about it, with neighbouring clubs Sarsfields, Loughrea, Mullagh and Killimordaly crossing swords. The 2011 and 2010 county champions, Gort and Clarinbridge, have been drawn together in an intriguing Group B, along with Tommy Larkins and Kilnadeema/Leitrim.

The first round of the groups stages – round three of the championship – is scheduled to go ahead on the weekend of May 25. It’s hard to believe that we’re only in May, and already six teams – over 100 players – are out of the race for the senior championship, which will no doubt spark debate come convention later in the year.

The two senior relegation groups see the two city clubs kept apart. Castlegar, beaten by St Thomas’ at the weekend, are grouped with Kiltormer and 2007 finalists Kinvara. Liam Mellows, agonisingly defeated by Gort on Saturday, are pitted against Pádraig Pearses and the losers of the last remaining senior fixture to be played before round three, St Thomas’ against Craughwell.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune