Any doubts about Liatroim Fontenoys' ability to mix it with the big boys were extinguished in minutes. Their opening 30 minutes of the Down Senior Hurling Championship could hardly have gone much better. Half-time Liatroim Fontenoys 1-15 0-05 Bredagh GAC.
Out of their depth? Hardly.
Challenged? Barely.
A Liatroim win may not have been a shock, but for a side that were Intermediate last year, a 23-point victory in the end was quite the statement. An ageing Bredagh aren’t even the perceived whipping boys. That would be Newry Shamrocks, this Monday’s assignment, where another heavy victory looks to be on the cards (7:30pm, Páirc Esler).
Newry, for their part, managed the same disappointing total as Bredagh, recording 0-8 in a heavy loss to 2022 champions Portaferry. But for a restructured championship, Liatroim would most likely be replacing the Shamrocks rather than joining them in the senior ranks.
Portaferry displayed real ruthlessness last weekend, but it was far from unexpected. They make them tough around the Ards peninsula, with Ciara Mageean among many die-hards in the lashing rain to witness that Portaferry victory last October.
Although this summer has been something for the outdoorsy type, conditions should be a little more promising in Ballycran as the top two clash again (Sunday, 3pm).
Ballygalget didn’t quite offer the resistance some thought they might. Perhaps even Ballycran themselves were in that bracket. New manager Michael Ennis, a playing member up until their 2021 Down title, had been expecting a tough task, particularly after being beaten by ‘Galget during the Antrim league.
They mustered a 13-point win however, in what was the tightest game of a disappointing opening round. With Portaferry’s 24-point win over Newry, we haven’t learned an awful lot about the Down hurling kingpins. We’ve seen nothing to suggest they should have that status taken away from them however.
Perhaps Ballycran have…
Bredagh will aim to benefit from home advantage as they face Ballygalget (Monday 7:30pm), and although the nature of that Liatroim defeat will have stung, they will equally be buoyed by their opposition’s heavy defeat.
Albeit, a poor league campaign and the loss of Dónal Hughes will be difficult to overturn.
