All-Ireland club champions Portumna opened the defence of their Galway SHC title with Damian Hayes and Joe Canning blasting five goals between them to see off the challenge of Kiltormer.

BACK IN ACTION . . . Portumna began the defence of their Galway, Connacht and All-Ireland titles with Joe Canning once more leading the way for the champions along with Damian Hayes in their big win over Kiltormer. Photo: Declan Monaghan.

Hayes bagged a hat-trick and Canning got a brace as Portumna dished out a 5-12 to 1-9 hammering to the 1992 All-Ireland champions.

It was rough justice on a Kiltormer side who started well and built up an early lead but they were unable to hold the Portumna attack once Hayes and Canning cut loose.

Hayes got the first of his goals after twelve minutes to take the wind out of Kiltormer's sails and Portumna led by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

Kiltormer were still in the hunt but that quickly changed when Hayes and Canning both struck for goals soon after the restart and they repeated the double scoring act in the final quarter to get their campaign off to a flying start.

Three-times All-Ireland champions Athenry are going through a transitional period, but with Eugene Cloonan hitting seven points and Michael John Quinn superb at centre-back, they scored a 1-13 to 1-10 win over Mullagh.

The defeat leaves Mullagh with a mountain to climb in the group stages as they lost their opening game to Ardrahan a week earlier.

Athenry led by 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval with Cormac Cloonan putting Brian Higgins through for a 25th minute goal at Ballinasloe.

Athenry managed to build on their lead in the second-half before Mullagh came with a late rally which yielded a goal from Derek Hardiman, although they lost Conor Dervan to a second yellow card. Kinvara, last year's runners-up, had to settle for a 0-18 each draw with neighbours Beagh in their opening game of the season.

Joe Gantley was the Beagh hero as he landed an injury-time equaliser, after older brother Rory had led the way with ten points prior to that.

Beagh, who opened with a win over Padraig Pearses last week, led by 0-9 to 0-7 but with Shane Kavanagh outstanding, Kinvara looked set for a win until Gantley steered over his last-gasp equaliser.

It turned out to be a shootout at Loughrea between Craughwell's Niall Healy and Ger Farragher of Castlegar, with Healy scoring 0-15 to his county colleague's 0-13 as Craughwell came with a later flurry to secure a 2-20 to 2-16 win in a cracking contest.

Castlegar, semi-finalists last year, seemed poised for victory when they led by 2-16 to 1-14 going into the final quarter but, remarkably, they failed to score after that.

Craughwell, who came from behind to defeat Liam Mellows the previous week, again finished strongly with Adrian Cullinane getting his second goal as they scored 1-6 without reply in the closing stages. The sides were level eight times and with Adrian Cullinane and Ronan Cullinane exchanging first-half goals, were tied at 1-8 each at the break.

Healy and Farragher - the Castlegar man landed three points from lineballs - took centre stage in the second-half before Cathal Connolly fired home Castlegar's second goal, but from there on it was Craughwell who seized the initiative.

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