Twelve teams will come under starters for the County Senior Hurling Championships which will kick-off within the next few weeks at three venues. Preliminary round games have already been played so the scene is set for a series which everyone hopes will provide new talent for the county senior side. All the big names will be bidding for the trophy again and with the exception of Castlegar and Ardrahan all will be certs to go on to the second round.
Current kingpins Liam Mellowes will meet either Moycullen or Loughrea who must meet in a fortnight's time in a preliminary round game at Salthill's Pearse Stadium. Faced with much more difficult task are last year's beaten finalists - Killimordaly will meet the always dangerous and one time invincible Ardrahan. Champions of two years, Castlegar undoubtedly face the toughest task of all and will meet semi-finalist of 1970, Turloughmore in what promises to be the best opening round game. The other semi-finalists of the last year, Gort, will have a relatively easy task and their game against either Ballindereen or Ballinasloe should only be a formality. Other favorites to continue their interest in the championship after the first round are Carnmore, Oran/Maree, Tommie Larkin's and Fohenagh who shocked Mellowes before going out last year.
IMPACT
Best favored to make a lasting impact from the above named is Tommie Larkin's who won the Reeves Cup with a very impressive display against Maree-Oranmore recently. During the week one of the most respected behind the scenes men in the county told the paper:" 'They could be the team that everyone will be talking about before long". Last year the same source warned of the potential of Killimordaly and then saw them have a great championship which culminated in them reaching the County final. This year they can do well but they may find in the later rounds that some of last years bad teams have improved considerably in the past few months.
SHOCK
For example Castlegar now have John Connolly back in their side. Last year he went to America during the series and his side, then the defending champions, went out in the first round. Yes that really was the shock for fans in early June and it was the hope of seeing another one like it that kept excitement at a high pitch for many months. This season too the series could do with the same sensational start and the side most likely, we feel, to put the cat among the pigeons is the revitalized Castlegar. At the end of the opening rounds we predict Mellowes, Castlegar, Tommie Larkin's and Killimordaly will go on to the semi-finals and in the end Castlegar will retain the title they lost two years ago.
DOCILE
Biggest name omission from the senior ranks this year is Abbeyknockmoy who two years ago went as far as the quarter-finals with a nicely balanced team of young and old. One wonders at their rapid decline and feel that if they fell by the wayside there can be little hope that hurling is going to or about to make a phenomenal comeback in the county. The fact about Abbeyknockmoy is that some of their best prospects have turned to other codes. We know of one particular man who is making a name for himself with Tuam Soccer XI. Despite their troubles Abbey do have a team interested in hurling and they will take their place in the County Intermediate Championships which have been restarted.
DRAW
At the annual convention in the early months of the year delegates decided that such a competition would provide sides better than junior but not as good as senior valuable experience.
The following is the draw the County senior championship:
A: Mellowes v Moycullen or Loughrea
B: Ardrahan V Killimordaly
C: Carnmore V Craughwell
D: Oran-Maree v Killbecanty (Sel) or Rahoon
E: Gort V Ballindereen or Ballinasloe
F: Tommie Larkin's v Ahascragh
G: Castlegar V Turloughmore
H: Athenry V Fohenagh
The following is the second round draw:
A v B; C v D; E v F; G v H;
INTERMEDIATE
The draw for the intermediate hurling championship is; Tommie Larkin's, V Pearses Ballymacward; Abbeyknockmoy V Letrim; Killtormer v Mellick-Eyrecourt. Draw for the second round is Winner of A play winners of B; and winner of that play C. At yet no date has been set for the start of either intermediate or the senior championship. However, it is thought that they will probably begin in mid-June.