Club previews

A preview of the weekend's matches

Today

All-Ireland SHC Semi-finals

Coolderry (Offaly) v Gort (Galway), Gaelic Grounds, 2pm – So successful have Galway clubs been in the All-Ireland that in an open year like this, they’re almost a default choice for the championship.

Gort have emerged from the shadow of Portumna and last year, Clarinbridge, under the management of the county’s minor Midas Matt Murphy. Built on a solid, physical defence marshalled by Andy Coen they also have county hurlers Aidan Harte and the immensely promising Richie Cummins up front to add a cutting edge. Coolderry have, however, picked their way impressively through Leinster and surprised Oulart in the final.

A quick survey of that match indicates their strengths: all but one of the starting forwards scored from play in an attack that features four county players, Barry Teehan, Brian Carroll, Damien Murray and Cathal Parlon as well as Eoin Ryan, who has put away six goals in the campaign to date. Gort won’t necessarily be more formidable at the back than the Wexford champions were in November but neither will they be as wasteful up front so a tight contest is expected. Coolderry by a whisker.

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim), Parnell Park, 2pm – Loughgiel are the only one of the four semi-finalists to have won the All-Ireland albeit nearly 30 years ago and have the advantage of having been to this stage last season where they lost to O’Loughlin Gaels.

Antrim teams have traditionally done better against inexperienced clubs and the new Limerick champions tick that box. But they had a gruelling campaign in Munster, including a replayed final and have shown the ability to ride out pressure and take their chances at the other end. Liam Watson is an obvious threat for Loughgiel but Na Piarsaigh have enough up front in Shane Dowling, Kevin Downes, the Breens, David and Adrian, to finish in front.

All-Ireland IHC Final

Middletown Na Fianna (Armagh) v Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow), Croke Park, 7.15pm – Middletown, having stormed Ulster, were deserving if surprise winners over Limerick’s Effin but forewarned, the Carlow side can take the title.

All-Ireland JHC Final

St Patrick’s Ballyragget (Kilkenny) v Charleville (Cork), Croke Park, 5.30pm – Two well-matched sides with St Patrick’s slightly fancied having come through the harder semi-final and beaten both of the intermediate finalists in challenge matches.

TOMORROW

All-Ireland IFC Final

Davitts (Mayo) v Milltown Castlemaine (Kerry), Croke Park, 3.45pm – Davitts can edge out the Kerry champions who came back strongly in a tight semi-final win over Derry’s Craigbane.

All-Ireland JFC Final

Naomh Pádraig Clonbur (Galway) v Derrytresk (Tyrone), Croke Park, 2pm – The highest-profile of these finals, ever. Realistically the suspensions should ensure a Clonbur victory even allowing for the motivation it affords Derrytresk.