Perhaps because the threat of relegation has been removed from the clubs participating in Senior B - which will be reclassified as Premier Intermediate in 2026 - there were notably higher scores per team than normal with an average of just over 24 points per team in round one, with Ahascragh/Fohenagh (39 ) and Kilnadeema/Leitrim (31 ) leading the way.
On the flip side, there is the pressure of desperately wanting to stay in the senior grade and with only the competition’s winners able to do so it looks like the last senior B championship will be a memorable one.
In Group 1, Ballinderreen had an excellent win over Liam Mellows in their opening round fixture with Luke Prendergast and Roy Lane catching the eye while goalkeeper Michael Kelly played his part with an important penalty save from Adrian Morrissey. Next up for them will be a battle against Kilnadeema/Leitrim in Kilbeacanty on Sunday afternoon, who also started on a very positive note with an eight-point win over local rivals Tynagh Abbey/Duniry. A conveyor belt of underage talent has Kilnadeema/Leitrim operating off a healthy platform and they will fancy their chances of making it two from two.
The two sides on zero points meet as David Collins’ Liam Mellows take on Tynagh Abbey/Duniry in Loughrea on Saturday at 4pm.
In Group 2, Padraig Pearses pulled off one of the results of the round in defeating Mullagh as Emmet Ward converted two penalties. Shane Raftery’s side will now take on a Portumna side who will be looking to improve their efficiency in front of goal in Duggan Park on Saturday afternoon. Joe Canning hit 2-5 in a sobering defeat but a number of other chances went abegging.
Cathal Mannion contributed 0-17 but had plenty of assistance as Ahascragh/Fohenagh had an explosive start to their campaign, and they will take on Mullagh in Duggan Park on Sunday with Davy Glennon perhaps able to start on this occasion.
Intermediate Championship preview
The Intermediate competition already has one fixture that can be classed as a relegation decider due to the fact that in each group only two of the clubs whose first team operate at this level will enter the Premier Intermediate competition next year, with the other club dropping to Junior.
Kilbeacanty lost their first match against Beagh and now take on Rahoon/Newcastle in Group 4 in Pearse Stadium on Friday evening with everything on the line for Kilbeacanty. Beagh’s first round win takes some of the pressure off them when they take on Turloughmore on Sunday in Loughrea.
In Group 1, Sylane will take on Athenry in Tuam Stadium on Sunday afternoon while the two first round winners, Meelick/Eyrecourt and Skehana/Mountbellew/Moylough, lock horns in Ballinasloe on Saturday.
Elsewhere, in Group 2, Carnmore and Craughwell had impressive opening wins and they take on Abbeyknockmoy and Killimor respectively on Saturday.
Group 3 saw high-scoring wins for both Kinvara and Ballygar in their opening games and they will do battle in New Inn on Sunday, while both Clarinbridge and Annaghdown will be licking their wounds ahead of their contest in Pearse Stadium on Saturday.
