Major casualties

The opening weekend of the SHC was littered with shocks and it says something that three of the last four teams to lift the County Cup – St. Thomas’, Gort and Clarinbridge – now must win their next game to not only secure their place in the group stages, but to also avoid the ignominy of a relegation battle.

Undoubtedly, the surprise of the first round was Tommy Larkins’ ambush of 2013 All-Ireland club champions St. Thomas’. Winning on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-19, Michael O’Rourke’s outfit did the damage in the opening eight minutes when they raced into a 2-3 to 0-1 lead.

Eamonn Hayes and Stephen Page were the early goalscorers for the Woodford/Ballinakill outfit – 8/1 outsiders before the tie with the bookmakers – while county man Jason Flynn also played a key role in the victory, tallying 0-11, including seven frees, a sideline cut and a ’65.

With big guns Gort – who lost to Loughrea (1-15 to 0-12) – and Clarinbridge – ousted by Mullagh (0-19 to 1-18) – also set to be involved, the second round has become a minefield, particularly with the likes of 2013 quarter-finalists Castlegar, Turloughmore and Padraig Pearses, along with Kiltormer, Craughwell and Liam Mellows also in the mix.

Reigning county and All-Ireland champions Portumna though have no such worries, after accounting for Castlegar by 1-29 to 1-19 in the final SHC fixture of the weekend. While Castlegar always faced an uphill battle, their task was made even more arduous when Portumna raced into a 0-13 to 0-6 early lead.

In this time, Galway duo Damien Hayes and Joe Canning were in scintillating form while young full-forward Ronan O’Meara underlined his growing reputation with a commanding display in the inside line.

Cashel’s woes were further compounded when they had centre-half forward Dean Higgins red-carded for a loose pull on Canning before O’Meara breached the opposition’s defence to net his side’s only goal to put Portumna 1-18 to 0-8 to the good.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune