The sheer competitiveness of the Galway SHC was illustrated at the weekend when four of the eight games ended in draws.

But All-Ireland champions Portumna were not one of the teams caught in stalemate as they continued their march towards another title with a 2-16 to 1-9 win over Sarsfields.

Portumna had never defeated Sarsfields in championship hurling but the former kingpins - the first club in the country to put back to back All-Ireland titles together - were put to the sword by another Damian Hayes-inspired effort.

Hayes scored 1-5 from play as the champions laid a solid foundation in the opening half and never looked back after leading 0-10 to 0-2 at the break.

Kerrill Wade reduced the deficit with a goal from a free but Hayes found the net after Andrew Smith had earlier rattled in a goal.

Tommie Larkins, who have moved between the senior and intermediate grades in each of the last three years, secured their top flight status this time round with their second win from two outings when they defeated Padraig Pearses by 4-17 to 1-9.

A lethal full-forward line of Gerard Kelly, Barry Shiel and Niall Kelly did the damage for the Woodford side with each of them finding the net in the opening half for an interval lead of 3-9 to 0-5.

Shiel got his second goal after the restart as Pearses fell to their second defeat in two outings. Last year's runners-up Kinvara are still without a win after two games after going down 0-14 to 0-11 to neighbours Clarinbridge.

Alan Kerins was the Clarinbridge hero after recovering from a hand injury picked up in the league final defeat by Tipperary. He was introduced as a sub with ten minutes left and equalised within seconds and was instrumental as Clarinbridge tacked on three more points to bounce back from their opening day loss to Tommie Larkins.

Athenry brought St Thomas crashing back to earth following their opening day win over 2006 champions Loughrea. Eugene Cloonan shot 1-10 and young brother Cormac blasted home two goals in the opening half in a 3-14 to 1-16 win.