The very busy schedule in the GAA’s newest national hurling competition – The Celtic Challenge – continues this week. The competition for 16- and 17-year-old hurlers who are not sitting State Examinations this summer is currently featuring 14 matches across the country every Wednesday evening.

For a full list of tonight's games, click here

GROUP A

Waterford City got off the mark by pulling away from Carlow in the second half at Walsh Park. Brian Cooke and Mikey Mulcahy helped the Waterford side get off to a bright start, but Dan Sheehan, John Nolan and Tommy Dunne kept Carlow in touch and they trailed by just two points (0-8 to 0-6) at half-time. The gap was three points 10 minutes into the second half, before the hosts found another gear, with goals by Niall and Dáire O’Keeffe leading them to a 2-20 to 0-11 victory.

The other Group A game saw South Kilkenny continue their impressive start to the Celtic Challenge with a 3-20 to 2-8 win over South Wexford in New Ross.

South Kilkenny have a bye for Wednesday’s third round, where South Tipperary take on Waterford City and Carlow host South Wexford.

GROUP B

Dublin Pearse made a winning start in Group B by edging out Laois at O’Toole Park. Laois raced into a six-point lead, only for Sam Lally and Cian Derwin to lead a comeback that saw Dublin Pearse go in on level terms at 0-8 apiece. Laois took the lead after the restart, but goals by Derwin and Luke Hughes turned it in favour of the Dublin side, meaning that even a late goal for the visitors could only cut their deficit to two (2-15 to 2-13).

North Wexford also claimed their first win with a free-scoring display against Wicklow in Arklow. A brace of goals by the impressive Charlie McGuckin helped North Wexford take charge in the first half and despite the best efforts of the likes of Pádraig O’Toole and Ian Clancy, the away side were 2-14 to 0-7 clear at the interval.

The Wexford lads hit another three goals through Cian Fitzhenry (two) and Darryl Gray and with McGuckin and Diarmuid and Cathal Doyle also impressing, they never looked back. O’Toole and Ross Ward found the net for Wicklow, but they couldn’t stop North Wexford powering to a 5-22 to 2-13 win.

Dublin Pearse are away to North Wexford on Wednesday, while Kildare face Wicklow.

GROUP C

Dublin Clarke lead the way in Group C after they held off a strong challenge from Meath in Trim. Seán Martin’s accuracy helped Meath settle well, but Billy Ryan led Dublin Clarke to rally strongly and with Mark Grogan, Seán Clerkin and Andy Carroll also chipping in, they gained the upper hand in the early stages of the second half. Jamie Leavy and Jacob Ryan worked hard to keep Meath in touch, but Billy Ryan and Luke McDwyer helped see the Dubliners win on a scoreline of 0-22 to 2-10.

Dublin Plunkett earned a first win at the expense of Westmeath at the Naomh Mearnóg grounds. All of the Dublin Plunkett forwards contributed to their 2-24 tally, with Emmet Allen and Cormac Quinn in inspired form and Mark Tracey and Diarmuid Ó Fhloinn excelling at midfield.

Dublin Plunkett travel to Birr to play Offaly this week and there is also a derby between Westmeath and Meath in Mullingar.

GROUP D

The spoils were shared between the Cork and Limerick teams in Group D, making it a four-way tie for first place.

North Cork ran out 2-14 to 1-13 winners over West Limerick in Milford, but the other tie went in favour of the Treaty County as Limerick City won by the same margin against Cork City (2-9 to 1-8) at the Mon Field.

Kerry welcome Cork City to Tralee on Wednesday, when North Cork will also be on their travels to Limerick City.

GROUP E

North Galway are top of Group E after they won the clash of the Tribes against **Galway City/West **at Pearse Stadium. North Galway laid the foundations for their win when they built up a 1-5 to 0-5 half-time lead despite having played against the breeze; the goal coming from Barry Callinan.

Thomas Kimball landed a few frees for Galway City/West, who were left to rue some poor finishing, but when Callinan hit a second three-pointer, the game looked to be over. An entertaining finish saw Oisín Connolly find the net twice for Galway City/West, either side of a Darren Collins goal for North Galway, who also had top scorer Conor Fahey for getting them over the line on a 3-12 to 2-10 scoreline.

South/East Clare are in second place after they played out an exciting draw with their fellow county-men, North Clare in Tubber. South/East Clare had the better of the early exchanges and with goal-scorer Paul Corry and top marksman Owen O’Hara on song, they moved six points clear towards the end of the first half. North Clare, whose goal came from Ciarán Keenan, finished the half strongly, however, to trail by just three (1-12 to 1-9). South/East Clare still led by three going into the final quarter, but a string of scores by Tom O’Rourke, Breffni Horner and sub Colin Haugh turned it in favour of North Clare, only for a long-range point from Diarmuid Ryan to make the final score 1-17 each.

Roscommon had a high-scoring 4-16 to 2-12 win over Mayo at Bekan. Ben McGahon hit the first goal of his 2-4 haul after just 30 seconds to hand Roscommon a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. A brace of goals from Bobby Douglas – the first of which was a spectacular overhead flick – and some good points by Cormac Phillips kept an understrength Mayo team in touch, but Roscommon were still 2-10 to 2-6 ahead at half-time and majors from Conor Grimes and Oisín Kelly kept them clear.

This Wednesday’s fixtures are Galway City/West v Roscommon, North Galway v South/East Clare and North Clare v Mayo.

GROUP F

Sligo lead the way in Group F after a dominant second-half performance saw them get the better of Leitrim in Ballinamore. A goal-hungry Leitrim team led by 5-1 to 2-7 at half-time, but Sligo outscored them by 2-10 to 0-4 in the second period. Rory McHugh and Stephen Mulligan (who bagged 3-3) were the main men as Sligo turned the game on its head to win by 4-17 to 5-5.

Cavan got off the mark when they defeated Louth. Louth started brightly in their bid for a second win, but Cavan hit three goals by the end of the first half, with the third from Craig Donegan seeing them change ends leading by 3-5 to 2-3. Feidhlim Joyce and Pádraic Cunningham replied for Louth, but Peter Galligan and Cormac Wall helped Cavan finish on the right side of a 3-10 to 3-7 result.

Longford got their first points with a hard-earned 3-12 to 3-8 win over Monaghan.

This week’s games see Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan host Longford, Louth and Monaghan respectively.