AIB Club Championships Talking Points

Ballyea v Clonlara

Ballyea have only ever once made a Clare senior final and that was in 2003 when Anthony Daly’s Clarecastle beat them by nine points. The black and amber side have one surviving player from that clash — a then 17-year old wing-forward named Kevin Sheehan — who is now the goalie. Ballyea have four hurling and five football Banner panellists at inter-county level, including 2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly and 2016 All Star nominee Gary Brennan. They have also benefitted from the isolated player rule as Damien Burke and Pearse Lillis have come from Cooraclare where there is no hurling side, likewise Stan Lineen, Martin O’Leary and David Egan from Kilmihil, along with Cathal Doohan and Ryan Griffin of Lissycasey. Clonlara beat 2014 champions Cratloe in the semi-final and are hoping to go one better than last year when they were beaten by Sixmilebridge. They have a stack of inter-county class in Colm Galvin, Darach Honan, Oisin O’Brien, John Conlon, Cathal ‘Tots’ and Nicky O’Connell, along with Domhnall and Cormac O’Donovan.

Abbeylara v St Columba's Mullinalaghta

Strangely for such a small club scene, this is a brand new county final pairing in Longford. The duo have a very close association too, because Abbeylara and St Columba's together comprise the Northern Gaels juvenile club which came into existence in the 1980s. This amalgamated outfit has been dominant in the last ten years at underage level and everyone on the field will have played together for Gaels, with numerous members on opposing sides this weekend. Mullinalaghta, to their credit, are fighting well above their weight as it is a tiny half parish, with the other side making up the Lough Gowna club which competes in Cavan. Both sides are looking to win a third county title with Mullinalaghta winning in 1948 and ’50, whereas Abbeylara had more recent success in 2000 and 2006.

Portlaoise v Stradbally

Portlaoise are chasing an incredible 10-in-a-row against Stradbally and current AFL star Zach Tuohy — who is currently out of contact with the Carlton Blues — in back in town for the clash.

Thurles Sarsfields v Kiladangan

Kiladangan will contest a first county title for 78 years on Sunday, and again they’ll be hoping their smooth interplay up front will do the damage. Central to it all is number 11 Darragh Egan, a man who spent 2014 and 2015 as goalkeeping understudy to Darren Gleeson with the Tipperary senior squad. The 30-year-old has also lined out in the forwards for his county’s hurlers and footballers at different stages of his career, scoring 3-8 for the Premier sticksmen. Thurles are bidding for a three-in-a-row and among their ranks are current Hurler of the Year nominee Padraic Maher, Lar Corbett who won that accolade in 2010, along with plenty more county experience in Ronan Maher, Mickey Cahill and Pa Bourke.

Loup v Slaughtneil

On the back of The Loup jersey are three small stars for their county championship wins, and another big star for their Ulster success. Derry star Johnny McBride captained the club to a first county crown in 67 years back in 2003 — the year of their provincial glory — and is currently manager of the team. Slaughtneil made the All-Ireland club football final in 2015 and also lost Ulster club hurling finals in 2014 and ‘15 — making them one of the strongest dual clubs around. Players such as Chrissy McKaigue have picked up four Derry hurling and two football crowns since 2013, and are this weekend looking to complete another double in 2016.

Glenswilly v Kilcar

Kilcar have not won a Donegal county title since 1993 when current manager Martin McHugh was on the team. They haven’t even been back to this stage but the new generation of players are making an impact: having three McHughs (Mark, Ryan and Eoin) and two McBreartys (Paddy and Stephen) was always likely to eventually lend itself to success. Two of Donegal’s three All Star nominees for 2016 come from the parish: Ryan McHugh and Paddy McBrearty. 2011 and 2013 champions Glenswilly are looking to regain a county title that is sponsored by one of their players, Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure.

St Patrick’s Cullyhanna v Maghery

Malachy Mackin fisted in a goal during injury time to ensure that Crossmaglen Rangers’ hopes of winning a 20th Armagh title in 21 years were vanquished. Amazingly it also meant that the south Armagh side inflicted just a second county championship defeat in total on Cross’ in two decades. It is the first time in their history that St Patrick’s have qualified for a senior final, while Maghery have not been in that position for 30 years. Both will be looking for a maiden county success.

AIB GAA & Camogie Club Championships Fixtures and Results, 10th October 2016

Results

Football

Carlow SFC Final

Palatine 2-13 Rathvilly 0-12

Cavan SFC Final

Castlerahan 3-8 Ramor United 2-11

Clare SFC Final

Cratloe 1-9 Kilmurry-Ibrickane 0-12

Leitrim SFC Final

Aughawillan 1-10 Glencar/Manorhamilton 0-12

Tyrone SFC Final

Coalisland 1-13 Killyclogher 0-16

Wexford SFC Final

Gusserane 0-11 Glynn-Barntown 0-10

Wicklow SFC Final

Baltinglass 1-14 St Patrick's 1-9

Dublin SFC round two

St Vincent’s 1-14 Na Fianna 1-6

Raheny 2-16 Parnell’s 0-7

Castleknock 1-13 St Sylvester’s 0-12

Whitehall Colmcille 1-10 Skerries Harps 2-19

Ballymun Kickhams 1-16 St Brigid’s 0-13

Kilmacud Crokes 1-14 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-9

St Jude’s 1-15 Clontarf 1-3

Lucan Sarsfield’s 3-17 Ballinteer St John’s 1-11

Galway SFC semi-finals

Corofin 3-13 Mountbellew/Moylough 1-11

Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-11 Cortoon Shamrocks 0-8

Kerry SFC semi-final

Dr Croke’s 1-15 Dingle 0-15

Meath SFC quarter-final

Donaghmore-Ashbourne 2-16 Seneschalstown 0-5

Hurling

Cork SHC final

Glen Rovers 0-19 Erins Own 2-11

Laois SHC final

Borris-Kilcotton 2-26 Rathdowney-Errill 2-26

Kilkenny SHC quarter-final

O’Loughlin Gaels 1-16 James Stephens 0-14

Clara 1-24 Dicksboro 0-12

Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-20 Mullinavat 1-11

Rower-Inistioge 2-19 St Martin's 0-12

Limerick SHC semi-final

Ballybrown 2-22 Adare 1-18

Tipperary SHC semi-final

Thurles Sarsfields 1-22 Clonoulty-Rossmore 0-15

Kiladangan 2-16 Killenaule 0-13

Ulster SHC club semi-finals

Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) 1-25 Ballygalget (Down) 0-9

Slaughtneil (Derry) 3-16 Middletown (Armagh) 1-12

Waterford SHC quarter-final replay

Mount Sion 0-23 De La Salle 1-14

Westmeath SHC semi-final

Clonkill 1-18 Castletown Geoghegan 1-18

Raharney 1-20 Lough Lene Gaels 1-13

Camogie

Wexford senior final

Oulart The Ballagh 1-13 St Martin’s 0-10

Wexford intermediate final

Bunclody 2-8 Gorey 0-12

Tipperary senior final

Borris-Ileigh 1-10 Burgess-Duharra 0-13

Tipperary Intermediate semi-final

Nenagh Eire Og 2-5 Silvermines 0-10

Limerick final

Granagh Ballingarry 0-21 Ahane 1-11

Leinster junior semi-final

Kilmessan 2-13 Raharney 1-9

Johnstownbridge 2-17 Knockanna 1-1

Munster junior semi-final

De la Salle 3-15 Cappamore 2-8

Scariff/Ogonnelloe 2-9 Clanmaurice 1-6

Ulster intermediate semi-final

Granemore 4-5 Dungiven 1-7

Kilkenny senior semi-finals

Mullinavat 4-14 St Lachtain’s/Lisdowney 1-3

Thomastown 2-9 Dicksboro 1-8

Kilkenny intermediate final

Glenmore 1-8 Rower Inistioge 0-9

Kilkenny junior A final

Young Irelands 2-12 Conahy Shamrocks 0-11

Cork intermediate final

Blackrock 3-13 Enniskeane 1-08

Galway senior final

Mullagh 1-9 Sarsfields 0-12

Galway senior relegation final

Davitt’s 0-11 Athenry 0-8

Fixtures

Saturday 15 October

Limerick SFC final

Drumcollogher-Broadford v Monaleen, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm

Sunday 16 October

Football

Ulster SFC first round

Scotstown (Monaghan) v Kilcoo (Down), Clones, 3.30pm

Antrim SFC final

Cargin v St Gall's, Corrigan Park, 3pm

Armagh SFC final

Cullyhanna v Maghery, Athletic Grounds, 4pm

Cavan SFC final replay

Castlerahan v Ramor United, Breffni Park, 4pm

Cork SFC final

Ballincollig v Carbery Rangers, Pairc Ui Rinn, 3.45pm

Derry SFC final

Loup v Slaughtneil, Celtic Park, 3.45pm

Donegal SFC final

Glenswilly v Kilcar, MacCumhaill Park, 4pm

Kerry SFC final

Dr Crokes v Kenmare District, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3.30pm

Kildare SFC final

Moorefield v Sarsfields, Newbridge, 3.30pm

Laois SFC final

Portlaoise v Stradbally, O'Moore Park, 3.30pm

Longford SFC final

Abbeylara v Mullinalaghta, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 4pm

Offaly SFC final

Ferbane v Rhode, O'Connor Park, 3pm

Hurling

Dublin SHC semi-final

Kilmacud Crokes v O’Toole’s, 2:15pm

Cuala v Lucan Sarsfields, 4pm, Parnell Park

Kilkenny SHC semi-finals TBC

Carlow SHC final

Mount Leinster Rangers v St Mullins, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3.45pm

Clare SHC final

Ballyea v Clonlara, Cusack Park, TBC

Galway SHC final

Gort v St Thomas, Pearse Stadium, 3.30pm

London SHC final

Robert Emmetts v St Gabriels, Greenford, TBC

Roscommon SHC final

Four Roads v Oran, Athleague, 3.30pm

Tipperary SHC final

Kiladangan v Thurles Sarsfields, Semple Stadium, 3.30pm

Wexford SHC final

Cloughbawn v Oulart-The Ballagh, Innovate Wexford Park, 3.30pm

Wicklow SHC final

Bray Emmets v Carnew Emmets, Aughrim, 3.15pm

Camogie

Tipperary senior final replay

Borris-Ileigh v Burgess-Duharra