The leading contenders stumble but all runners are still in the big race

By JIM CARNEY IT was the most eagerly awaited and most exciting start to the Galway Senior Hurling Championship since the time when the county's premier club hurling competition was knock-out from the first round on. With the change of format, a huge incentive to win first time out is safety from relegation down the line. Only the ten losing teams from Round 1 are now in danger of ending up in a relegation dogfight. That process will start after those ten teams have their play-off series on the weekend after next, with the five losers of that Round 2 then put into a relegation series, from which one of the five will lose their senior status, dropping to the Intermediate grade for 2013. The Round 2 draw, made on Monday evening, is: Ardrahan vs Portumna; â€Â¨Athenry vs the loser of Castlegar vs Kiltormer; Carnmore vs Pádraig Pearses;â€Â¨ Clarinbridge vs Mullagh; â€Â¨Liam Mellows vs St Thomas's. One replay is required: Castlegar vs Kiltormer, following their drawn game at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe last Saturday; it will be re-played in Athenry on Bank Holday Monday evening at 6.30. The two shock results last weekend were former County Cup specialists Portumna losing to Sarsfields, themselves giants of this competition in an earlier time; and the defeat of 2010 County and All-Ireland Club champions Clarinbridge by Beagh. Remarkably, five of last weekend's losing teams reached the quarter-finals last year: Carnmore, Clarinbridge, Mullagh, Portumna and St Thomas's. Tradition surely had something to do with the Sarsfields' victory over Portumna, by 1-14 to 1-12. The bravehearts from Bullaun and New Inn, under the management of Gerry Fahy, equally well known as a football coach, had never feared Portumna in the days before the Canning and Hayes warriors blazed a glorious trail through hurling inside and outside the county. Likewise, Beagh from down near the Clare border would not have been afraid of Clarinbridge, although it's only 13 months and two weeks since the â€ËœBridge men had their glory day at Croke Park, following in the footsteps of Castlegar, Kiltormer, Sarsfields, Athenry and Portumna. Athenry may have lost to Loughrea at Kenny Park last Sunday evening, but their young team played with marvellous spirit and total commitment against older, more battle-hardended opponents. Another young team on the rise also failed to get over the winning line at Athenry on Sunday evening, but St Thomas's from Kilchreest, Castledaly and Peterswell played brilliantly against the reigning County champions Gort and could have won what was a really high-quality contest, probably the best of the opening round. Gort dug deep to hold off the stylish, wonderfully skilful young St Thomas's men and the title-holders won by 1-14 to 0-15. Neighbours Carnmore and Turloughmore had mixed fortunes: Carnmore lost to Tommy Larkin's at St Brendan's Park, Loughrea on Saturday but Sunday brought a great win for Turloughmore over Liam Mellows at Pearse Stadium. Salthill Hotel-sponsored S.H.C., Round 1. Gort 1-14 St Thomas's 0-15; Beagh 0-21 Clarinbridge 1-15; Castlegar 0-14 Kiltormer 1-11 (a draw), Craughwell 1-10 Mullagh 0-12; Kinvara 0-16 Ardrahan 0-13; Loughrea 0-16 St Mary's, Athenry 1-11; Sarsfields 1-14 Portumna 1-12; Tommy Larkin's 1-14 Carnmore 0-9; Turloughmore 0-17 Liam Mellows 1-8; Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry 0-16 Pádraig Pearses 0-10.