New-look title race kicks off with a dozen group games in first round

It is worth noting, however, that only a minority of miners made it big in the ‘Gold Rush’ and the Galway senior hurling championship will be no different. There may be a maximum of 10 group points on offer now but it won’t be long before those begin to become scarce, forcing the SHC prospectors to dig deeper and harder for their quarry in the concluding group stages.

For their part, county champions Sarsfields already struck gold last year but in St. Thomas’ they face an opponent that will have no qualms in usurping the claim of the Bullaun/New Inn men. The pairing of two big guns at such an early stage is representative of how competitive the SHC is set to become.

Another mouthwatering fixture is that of 2015 finalists Craughwell and four-time All-Ireland champions Portumna, now back under the management of Jimmy Heverin. Understandably, Heverin has been keeping the head down going into this one and you can’t blame him.

Residing in Craughwell, he managed the club’s seniors in 2012 which, ironically, was the last time Craughwell won a first round fixture. Craughwell also took a beating from Portumna under his stewardship so there are more sub-plots to this tie than a Christmas edition of a TV soap.

To mark the commencement of the senior and intermediate championships, Galway GAA has produced a magnificent 64-page programme – a must for all hurling enthusiasts – which will be readily available to purchase at all championship games.

SENIOR A

SATURDAY

Padraig Pearses v Ardrahan

Kenny Park, Athenry 5pm

The absence of Johnny Glynn (USA), Pat Holland (hip) and John Greene (unavailable) leaves big boots to fill in the Ardrahan team but U-21 boss and interim senior manager Jamie Larkin does have a good crop of young players coming through, including 2015 All-Ireland minor winners Cianan Fahy and Liam Forde.

Pearses have been solid campaigners in recent years and they should be again this year. Martin Tierney returns as manager and should have Cormac Ward – who manages a tricky knee injury that has threatened to cut short his hurling career – available for game time. Noel McDonagh, on a permission to play with Pearses U-21s, returns to Mountbellew-Moylough for their junior campaign.

Last SHC Meeting: 2015 (Group Stages) Padraig Pearses 2-20 v Ardrahan 1-17.

Verdict: Padraig Pearses.

Sarsfields v

St. Thomas’

Kenny Park, Athenry 6:30pm

Panellists Kieran Kelly (groin) has returned to training for champions Sarsfields but Stephen Earls (broken hand), Jeffrey Lawless (broken finger) and Dylan Madden (knee) are all still out. Diarmuid Murray and Thomas Spellman, two influential players, will miss the year with cruciate injuries.

Title contenders St. Thomas’ are waiting on a number of injuries to clear up this week – Galway captain David Burke among them – but manager John Burke is hopeful of having a clean bill of health. Star forward Conor Cooney is back in training but this game may have come too soon.

Last SHC Meeting: 2011 (Group Stages) Sarsfields 1-18 v St. Thomas’ 0-18.

Verdict: Sarsfields.

Cappataggle v Liam Mellows

Gort, 5pm

With injuries to a host of frontline players, the strength and depth of Cappataggle’s squad will be tested this weekend, according to manager Tony Nevin. Thomas Broderick is abroad while Michael Broderick (cruciate), Stephen Creaven (shoulder) and Kevin Kelly (hamstring) are among those on the treatment table. Kelly is the closest to making a recovery.

Desperately unlucky not to make the semi-finals of last year’s championship, Liam Mellows will be looking to push on in 2016. In Tadgh Haran, Adrian Morrissey and Aonghus Callanan they have three devastating forwards while the acquisition of Conor Kavanagh from Kinvara and the return of Shane Minton also increases their options. Manager Conor Donovan reported a clean bill of health.

Last SHC Meeting: 2009 (Group Stages) Cappataggle 3-10 v Liam Mellows 3-10.

Verdict: Liam Mellows.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.