AIB Club Championships: Talking points and all the weekends fixtures

It’s getting to the business time of the year in the provincials as Leinster heads for the football quarter-finals and Munster to the semis.

Returning players and managers are fighting for more silverware, and inter-county referees are playing their part on the other side of the fence.

Aughawillan (Leitrim) v St Brigid's (Roscommon)

There are three Plunkett brothers on the Aughawillan team: full back Noel, as well as wing-forwards Mark and Gary. And it took a late ‘45 from Mark to seal the county final win over Glencar/Manorhamilton. This is a designated home game for St Brigid’s but because Hyde Park is being upgraded and since 2011 the Connacht council have forbidden clubs to host home games in the province, they have to go elsewhere. All of which means the staging of this game in Carrick-On-Shannon makes it a de facto home game for the away side.

Mullinalaghta (Longford) v St Loman's (Westmeath)

Donal, Ruairi, Aidan and Conor McElligott have all been central figures as Mullinalaghta secured a first Longford title in 66 years and then beat Stradbally of Laois in the first round of Leinster. Their father Dan hails from Kerry and the name of his native town, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Ballymacelligott.

Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo) v Corofin (Galway)

Corofin’s Kieran Fitzgerald collected his 11th senior county medal this year in a year where Kevin O’Brien has taken over from Mayo boss Stephen Rochford. Michael Lundy made his first start of the season in the county final win over Salthill after his time spent in America.

Palatine (Carlow) v St Vincent's (Dublin)

Mick Lillis managed the Carlow side to county titles in 2006 and last year but at the beginning of this year was installed as Laois senior boss. For months on end, there was no word locally on Barrowside about his future but then, after a Leinster loss to Dublin and a qualifier defeat to Clare, he returned for Palatine. Paud O’Dwyer, the inter-county referee, is part of his backroom team.

Sean O'Mahonys (Louth) v Sarsfields (Kildare)

Sean O’Mahony’s are looking to add to the Leinster intermediate crown they won two years ago with this senior run. Stephen Fisher, once of Dundalk Town FC, was part of that team while Conor Crawley also lined out — he being one of several connections to the armed forced in the Dundalk barracks. Soccer team Quay Celtic would share many players with O’Mahony’s and the GAA club have hugely improved their grounds on Point Road in recent years. At one time, players had to get togged out in a school hall across the road from their field.

Burgess/Duharra (Tipperary) v Inniscarra (Cork)

Inniscarra have had to get this far the hard way. All-Ireland club champions in three of the past four seasons, Milford, fell by their hand in the Cork final. It means the likes of Ashling Thompson and Anna Geary had to settle for a runners-up spot as Joanne Casey gave a player-of-the-match display. Three days later they beat Inagh-Kilnamona, with Casey, Niamh McCarthy, multiple All Star Rena Buckley and Aileen Sheehan causing problems from the Clare side. Burgess/Duharra needed two bites at the Borris-Ileigh cherry to win the Tipperary title but they’ve got huge scoring power. Eimear McDonnell might be the oldest player on the team but she’s also the biggest threat — a former All Star and the leader of the team. She’s helped in the forwards by the Kennedy sisters, Amy and Tara, who are on the wing and in the corner respectively. All three are huge goalscoring threats.

AIB GAA & Camogie Club Championships Fixtures, 12th / 13th November 2016

Saturday 12 November
Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final
Rosenallis (Laois) v Clontarf (Dublin), Rosenallis, 2pm

Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals
Round Towers (Kildare) v St Colmcilles (Meath), Round Towers, 2pm

Fingallians (Dublin)v Rosemount (Westmeath), Lawless Park, Swords, 2pm

Munster club JHC semi-final
Ballybacon/Grange (Tipperary) v Ballyduff Lower (Waterford), Walsh Park, 2pm

Sunday 13 November
Connacht club SFC semi-finals


Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo) v Corofin (Galway), MacHale Park 2pm


Aughawillan (Leitrim) v St Brigid's (Roscommon), Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm

Leinster club SFC quarter-finals


Sean O'Mahonys (Louth) v Sarsfields (Kildare), Drogheda, 2pm


Rhode (Offaly) v Simonstown (Meath), O'Connor Park, 2pm


Palatine (Carlow) v St Vincent's (Dublin), Dr Cullen Park, 2pm


Mullinalaghta (Longford) v St Loman's (Westmeath), Pearse Park, 2.30pm

Munster club SFC semi-finals


Dr Crokes (Kerry) v Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary), Dr Crokes GAA, Killarney, 2pm


Carbery Rangers (Cork) v The Nire (Waterford), Clonakilty, 2pm

Munster club IFC semi-finals
Kifenora (Clare) v Kenmare (Kerry), Fitzgerald Stadium, 2:30pm

Kiskeam (Clare) v Adare (Limerick), Mallow, 2pm

Ulster club SFC semi-finals


Killyclogher (Tyrone) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Athletic Grounds, 2.30pm


Kilcoo (Down) v Maghery (Armagh), Pairc Esler, 2.30pm

Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals
St Malachy's Castledawson v Pomeroy Plunketts, Athletic Grounds, 12:45pm

St. Mary's G.A.C. Aghagallon v Donaghmoyne, Páirc Esler, 12:45pm

2016 Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club Championship semi-finals
Keady Lámh Dhearg v Naomh Brid Cloiche An Mhuillinn, Owenbeg, 12:45pm

2016 Ulster Club Junior Football Championship semi-finals
Blackhill v Na Dúnaibh / Downings, Owenbeg, 2:30pm

Newtownbutler v Rock St Patrick's, Clones, 2:30pm

Connacht club IHC final replay


Ballyhaunis (Mayo) v Ahascragh-Fohenagh (Galway), Athleague, 2pm

CAMOGIE FIXTURES

Saturday November 12
Munster Intermediate Final
Gaultier (Waterford) v Nenagh Éire Óg (Tipperary), Cahir, 12.30pm

Munster Senior Final
Burgess/Duharra (Tipperary) v Inniscarra (Cork), Cahir, 2.45pm

Sunday November 13
All-Ireland Junior Club Championship Semi-Finals
Scariff Ogonnelloe (Clare) v O’Connells Tullysaran (Armagh), Cusack Park Mullingar, 1pm

Athleague (Roscommon) v Johnstownbridge (Kildare), Cusack Park Mullingar, 2.45pm

Leinster Intermediate Final
Myshall (Carlow) v Shinrone (Offaly), Parnell Park, 12.30pm

Leinster Senior Final
Thomastown (Kilkenny) v St Vincent’s (Dublin), Parnell Park, 2:30pm