The sliotar has been tucked into the gear bag and the O' Neills ball has been taken back out as the senior football championships gets underway this evening.
There's four games to be deiced this weekend with The Nire and Kilmacthomas raising the curtain this evening in Group B.
The Nire will have had plenty of time to prepare due to Fourmileater leaving the senior hurling as the early knockout stage, but likewise Kilmac had a shortened hurling campagin also and will not be short of time getting ready for this fixture.
There's three games on Saturday evening. The Group C game between Rathgormack and St Saviours is in Walsh Park and Saviours will be up against it from the first whistle as they try to turn over the defending champs of Rathgormack.
The Village will be looking to pick up where they left off and open a winning account to start their campaign. They know how to win, but possibly, more importantly, they know how to come back from behind and take a win - having lost to the Nire in last years group phase, they regrouped and beat Ballinacourty in the final. Still the team to watch for this campaign.
The Group A tilt between last years felled champions Ballinacourty and Ardmore is in the Fraher Field at seven - The Courty are going to be looking to get back to the top of the mountain.
Ardmore might be seen as one of the easier starts they could have asked for, but Ardmore played well to come through their relegation game against Portlaw last year.
The Group D encounter of Stradbally and Brickey Rangers is in Lemybrien, also at 7. The Dungarvan outfit last won the championship 4 years ago and will be bolstered by having a head start at preparations due to leaving the senior hurling prematurely.
References to "hard work" and a "never give up attititude" abound for Brickys, but nonetheless, they remain accurate. Stradbally will be eyeing a healthy opener for this campaign, but don't count out Brickys for a surprise win in Lemybrien.
