Every journey, no matter the length, starts with the first step.

This weekend a number of club challenges matches were played, the first on-field action to take place within the county since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic early this year. The start of the club Championships are still a few weeks away but this weekend’s matches gave the clubs involved the chance to stretch their legs ahead of their first competitive outings this year.

Tooreen’s hurlers entertained Castlepollard today and the challenge match was, according to Tooreen’s Twitter account, a “good high-scoring” encounter. It’s not clear if it was the Blue Devils or their Westmeath visitors who prevailed but that wasn’t really the point of the exercise.

Tooreen begin their defence of the TJ Tyrell Cup on the 25th of the month – they’re aiming for four county titles in a row this year – so today’s run-out will help to get them in shape for that.

Down the road in Claremorris, meanwhile, the footballers of Claremorris locked horns today with Galway’s Salthill/Knocknacarra. The occasion was the annual Seán McManamon Memorial Cup fixture and the home team claimed the spoils today with a 3-7 to 2-8 victory.

These were but two of a number of challenge games involving club teams from the county that were contested this weekend. I’m not in a position to give any kind of comprehensive run-down on the results, as details of the matches played are either sketchy or non-existent, so if anyone wants to provide any of these details then fire ahead by doing so in the comments.