SUNDAY- Munster SFC final DR CROKES (Kerry) v NEMO RANGERS (Cork), Limerick Gaelic Grounds, 2.00 Live on TG4:There will be a further pitch inspection this morning before the much-delayed Munster final gets the go-ahead. If the surface is deemed unplayable it's likely the fixture will be postponed until after the holidays. This actually is an "eagerly awaited" contest between two strong sides with the winners likely to be favourites for next spring's All-Ireland.
Both clubs have had a frustrating time by their standards over the past decade although Nemo were All-Ireland winners just eight seasons ago and Crokes reached only their second All-Ireland final in 2007 but the Cork club have lost by agonisingly narrow margins in All-Ireland finals and a semi-final whereas their opponents have been oppressed by South Kerry in the county championship.
Dr Crokes survived a real fright in the semi-final. Aherlow blew the opportunity – missing kickable scores and conceding a couple of goals that will give the club nightmares in years to come – to create a major shock and Crokes pulled through in extra-time.
Nemo’s progress was more conventional, comfortably pulling through against a respectable Stradbally team once they hit the front early on. Paul Kerrigan was in excellent form and the feeling is that both clubs will be trying to play to their attacks.
Colm Cooper has been in fine form in the club championship although Aherlow back Ciarán McDonald did a top-class marking job on him the last day, which Ciarán O’Shea would be happy to emulate. Crokes welcome back to full fitness two significant influences, Ambrose O’Donovan and Kieran O’Leary whereas Nemo are missing Barry O’Driscoll. Given the attacking strengths, centrefield and ensuring the supply will be critical considerations and Crokes may edge that. Nemo look more consistent throughout the field but assuming the Kerry side tighten up at the back they can become the only club to inflict two provincial defeats on the Cork giants.
Ulster SFC final
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS (Armagh) v NAOMH CONAILL (Donegal), Breffni Park, Cavan, 2.00; Deferred coverage on TG4.
Confirmed after a change of venue from Clones to Cavan’s Breffni Park yesterday, the Ulster final pits two clubs with very different records against each other. Cross are after what would be an eighth provincial title whereas Glenties are the first Donegal club to reach this stage since 1991.
Although the Armagh juggernaut has undergone an extensive refit in recent years there are still some very experienced operators around with Oisín McConville enjoying a new lease of life after retiring from intercounty and John McEntee brought back from retirement as well as former county players Paul Hearty and Francie Bellew.
Their style in the matches to date has been to launch early blitzes, which burned off two very serious opponents, All-Ireland champions St Gall’s and Down’s Burren, so Naomh Conaill will want to avoid a nervous start. But the Donegal champions have put in a respectable campaign since sinking Killybegs in the county final. Their attack has impressed – Leo McLoone and Leon Thompson having been most prominent although the latter’s radar malfunctioned in the semi-final.
McLoone, Ciarán Molloy and Dermot Molloy were all on the county under-21s who came within inches of winning the All-Ireland earlier this year and the team were deserving winners against Kingscourt, Clontibret and Tyrone champions Coalisland.
Although it’s reasonable to quibble with their second-half fade-out, Naomh Conaill did demonstrate a great capacity to respond when threatened – most obviously when the Tyrone team scored a goal to take the lead going into the final quarter. Burren’s manager Frank Dawson believed that his team showed Crossmaglen too much respect during their meeting and they paid the price by getting bludgeoned early in the match.
The Donegal men will need to avoid that pitfall but the likelihood is that the experience of the south Armagh club will assist them through to another All-Ireland campaign.
Women’s SFC All-Ireland final
CARNACON (Mayo) v INCH ROVERS (Cork), Cashel, 2.00; Deferred coverage on TG4.
A familiar pairing as Carnacon and Inch Rovers meet for the third time in four years, the Mayo club having won both the previous encounters.
Carnacon had the less troublesome passage to the final with a comprehensive 10-point win over Timahoe. The Cork side made a long journey up to Donegal and emerged with a creditable win and will hope to maintain the trajectory of improvement between the first and second finals in 2007 and ’08 respectively. Cornacon’s Cora Staunton has scored 1-22 in her previous matches. It’s hard to argue with firepower like that.
