The race for this year’s Canon Hamilton is already looking to be an intriguing one after 12 teams made their seasonal bow this weekend.
There was contrasting fortunes for last year’s final pairing, while the weekend’s action started with one of the upsets of the round.
First into the fray this weekend were Newmarket and Cratloe, in a game where a trio of goals through Peter Power, Eoin Guilfoyle and Eanna Crimmins saw the Blues run out winners by 3-15 to 0-15.
Newmarket manager Tomas Ryan admits their big scores came at crucial times
Elsewhere in Group Three, Clooney-Quin got off to the perfect start as Peter Duggan’s early goal helped them see off Wolfe Tones by 1-22 to 2-11.
In Group One, champions Ballyea responded in brilliant fashion to their opening round loss as Martin O’Leary’s late goal eventually swung a tight contest against Inagh-Kilnamona, with the holders running winners by 1-16 to 0-15.
Ballyea manager Leanord McNamara praised the way his side kept their focus in such a short turnaround.
Kilmaley followed up their win last weekend with victory over St Josephs Doora Barefield, which leaves them within touching distance of the last eight ahead of the next round.
Group Two’s early leaders are Sixmilebridge, but only after they needed David Kennedy’s goal to help see off a stern test from Crusheen to win by 1-21 to 0-20.
It was also tight in the other game of that group, where Clonlara had John Conlon’s goal to thank for their victory by the minimum over Clare Cup champions O’Callaghan’s Mills on a 2-15 to 1-17 scoreline.
East Clare has taken early control of Group Four.
Feakle held off a late push from Eire Og to run out winners by 2-23 to 2-11, with Raymond Bane’s brace of goals crucial to the win.
Broadford were always in control of their clash with Clarecastle, as Darren Chaplin’s goal helped them to a 1-19 to 2-9 victory.
Meanwhile in the intermediate championship, there were wins for Smith O’Brien’s, Sixmilebridge, Whitegate, Corofin and Inagh-Kilnamona, while Tulla and Tubber shared the spoils in their contest.
