Recent New South Wales 2011 Hurling League champions Michael Cusacks, didn’t get much time to ponder the heights of winning titles as the team that beat them in Over Time in both last year’s league and championship finals, Sydney Shamrocks, once more ruined the vibe when beating ‘Cusacks in the first round of the NSW Hurling Championship last Sunday at Mono Park.
‘Shamrocks had been the early form team in the recent league campaign but were shocked in the semi final when taken by Central Coast, who sucumbed to ‘Cusacks in the decider. However, last weekend in the championship opener, Sydney Shamrocks came back with a vengeance when emphatically beating the league champions by 11 points.
In the other first round hurling clash of the new championship, ‘Coast were suprised by St Pats. The winners put in a good showing when winning by a 7 point margin.
In the opening round of the Mens Football Championship, league champions Michael Cusacks did better when accounting for young Irelands by 6 points, while in the other first round tie, Penrith Gaels edged out 2010 championship runners-up, Clan na Gael by a single point.
Meanwhile in the Ladies Football Championship, 2010 victors and recent league winners, Central Coast continued where they left off last week with an easy victory over Young Irelands. The league runners-up ‘Cusacks also got their championship off on the right note with a good win against Cormac MacAnallens.
It was a similar story for the first round of the NSW Camogie Championship as league winners, ‘Coast and runners-up ‘Cusacks, both recorded wins over ‘MacAnallens and St Pats respectively.