CRATLOE, KILMALLOCK, BALLINTUBBER and Corofin are all dreaming of provincial AIB senior club glory this weekend in the marquee club matches that are down for decision.
The Gaelic Grounds hosts the meeting of Cratloe and Kilmallock in the Munster hurling final on Sunday afternoon. It’s Cratloe’s first ever final appearance on the back of wins over Ballygunner and Thurles Sarsfields earlier in this campaign.
Kilmallock won an extra-time classic against Sarsfields in their semi-final tie and are managed by former Clare great Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin. The club have the tradition of previously winning Munster titles in 1992 and 1994.
Podge and Sean Collins, Conor Ryan, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney, Gavin O’Mahony, Paudie O’Brien and Graeme Mulcahy are amongst the Clare and Limerick inter-county players that will be in action on the day.
In Castlebar, it will be a battle between Mayo and Galway in the Connacht senior club football final with Ballintubber taking on Corofin. It’s Ballintubber’s first ever final appearance and they’ll seek to avenge their 2011 semi-final loss to Corofin by a point.
North Galway outift Corofin have appeared in nine Connacht finals, winning titles in 1991, 1995, 1997, 2008 and 2009. They have players with inter-county experience like Micheal Lundy, Thomas Healy, Daithi Burke, Gary Sice and Kieran Fitzgerald. Ballintubber can call upon Mayo seniors Cillian and Diarmuid O’Connor, Alan Dillon and Jason Gibbons.
There’s also intermediate hurling showdowns this week. In Munster on Saturday, it’s the meeting of Limerick’s Bruff and Waterford’s Cappoquin. In Leinster on Sunday, it’s the battle of Meath’s Kiltale and Kilkenny’s Mullinavat.
Elsewhere keep an eye on Sunday’s Leinster senior semi-final double-header in Parnell Park and the football semi-final in Tullamore. The delayed Tipperary senior football championship and Galway senior hurling championship also move a step closer towards completion.
The full fixture details for the weekend are:
SATURDAY
MUNSTER
Intermediate hurling final
Bruff (Limerick) v Cappoquin (Waterford), Mallow, 2pm
SUNDAY
CONNACHT
Senior club football final
Ballintubber (Mayo) v Corofin (Galway), Elvery’s MacHale Park, Castlebar, 2pm, (TG4 deferred coverage)
GALWAY
Senior hurling quarter-final
Ardrahan v Beagh, Athenry, 2pm
LEINSTER
Senior football semi-finals
Rhode (Offaly) v Moorefield (Kildare), Tullamore, 2pm
St Vincent’s (Dublin) v Garrycastle (Westmeath), Parnell Park, 4pm
Senior hurling semi-final
Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny), Parnell Park, 2pm
Intermediate hurling final
Kiltale (Meath) v Mullinavat (Kilkenny), Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 2pm
Junior football semi-finals
Moate All Whites (Westmeath) v Ballon (Carlow), Moate, 2pm
Courtwood (Laois) v Straffan (Kildare), Portlaoise, 2pm
Junior hurling semi-finals
Shamrocks (Offaly) v St Brigid’s (Westmeath), Ballinamere, 2pm
Crossabeg Ballymurn (Wexford) v Bennettsbridge (Kilkenny), Enniscorthy, 2pm
MUNSTER
Senior hurling final
Cratloe (Clare) v Kilmallock (Limerick), Gaelic Grounds, 2pm, (TG4 Live)
Junior football semi-finals
Brosna (Kerry) v Millstreet (Cork), Brosna, 2pm
Kill (Waterford) v Glin (Limerick), Newcastlewest, 2pm
TIPPERARY
Senior football quarter-finals
Thomas McDonagh’s v Killenaule, Templemore, 2pm
Arravale Rovers v Loughmore-Castleiney, Clonoulty, 2pm
Originally published at 10.55
