THERE is cup competition in all the provinces this weekend and still some more to come in two of the four. But the longest, most arduous and certainly the most contentious season in the history of the game, will be brought to an end in Ulster today and Connacht tomorrow if there are conclusive outcomes to the finals.

At Ravenhill this afternoon Dungannon, the holders, will meet Malone in the Ulster final and tomorrow, at the Sports Ground, Galwegians take on junior club Connemara in the Connacht final.

Tomorrow is semi finals day in Leinster and Munster as the respective branches decided against playing the matches today to avoid a clash with the telecast of the English FA Cup final at Wembley. A feature of the provincial cup campaigns this season has been the eclipse of the holders in three of the provinces. Garryowen (Munster) failed to survive the quarter final against Young Munster, Buccaneers (Connacht ) went out at the semifinal stage to Galwegians and St Mary's College (Leinster) lost in the first round to Lansdowne.

The notable exception has been in Ulster, where Dungannon have yet again revealed their capacity for the demands of knock out competition. Winners for the last three years, Dungannon will become the first club this century to win the cup four times in a row if they defeat Malone. Malone's last win was achieved in 1992 before Dungannon started on their current run of success.

In Connemara, defeated by Creggs a play off in the Connacht Junior League, thus lost the opportunity to play in the fourth division of the AIL next season. Connemara are contesting the senior cup final for the second time in three seasons and a win would be very nice compensation for the league disappointment. The Leinster semi finals bring first division sides into opposition in Lansdowne and Old Belvedere and second division in Terenure College and Clontarf, but Terenure, of course, will be moving to the premier division next season of the clubs in the Munster semi finals only Sunday's Well are not in the first division.

TODAY

ULSTER SENIOR CUP

FINAL

Dungannon v Malone, Ravenhill

2.30.

A very big occasion for the Dungannon club and the chance of achieving that historic four in a row. Having gained promotion to the first division of the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League this season, a win today could crown a fine season. They will be favoured to achieve it against a

Malone side that contains a considerable element of experience but has lacked consistency this season. Dungannon are unchanged for the fifth successive week. Ulster centre and captain Bill Harbison returns to the Malone side to team up with international Maurice Field in the centre, as Malone seek to end Dungannon's great run.

TOMORROW

CONNACHT SENIOR CUP

FINAL

Connemara v Galwegians, Sports Ground 3.0.

Defeated narrowly in the final two years ago by Corinthians, Connemara hope to become the first junior club to win the senior cup since Ballina achieved the feat in 1979. Connemara dismissed senior opposition in UCG and Sligo. Galwegians first won the trophy 70 years ago and on 22 occasions subsequently, but it is 10 years since Galwegians' last win in the competition, the longest spell the club has had to endure without cup success for over 50 years.

Connemara captain Henry O'Toole will be playing in his ninth senior cup final, seven of them with Corinthians, with whom he enjoyed great success. Galwegians have doubts about the fitness of wing Barry Kenny and prop Pat Leahy, both under treatment for hamstring injuries. But second row Paul Casserley is expected to be fit and his presence could be influential in the line out.

LEINSTER SENIOR CUP

SEMI FINALS

Old Belvedere v Lansdowne,

Lansdowne Road 2.15.

Old Belvedere, once a renowned cup fighting force, who set the record of seven consecutive cup wins in the 1940s, have not won the trophy since 1968 or appeared in a final since 1981 when they lost to Lansdowne. Both clubs have been hit by injuries, Old Belvedere more severely, being without four first team regulars, Paddy Gavin, Neil Francis, Mick Carswell and Kevin Spicer.

Lansdowne will be without internationals Brian Glennon and Eric Elwood. Lansdowne have travelled the harder road to the semifinal, having defeated the holders St Mary's College and Wanderers. Lansdowne won the league tie between the clubs and are favoured to win again.

Terenure College v Clontarf

Lansdowne Road 4.0.

Winners of the Leinster Senior League and promoted to the first division of the AIL, Terenure College are in pursuit of a treble. But Clontarf will be fortified by the fact that they won the AIL match 3-0 at Lakelands Park. Terenure, however, have not lost a since last November. They won the cup in 1994, Clontarf's lone win was achieved exactly 60 years ago. Their last appearance in the final was 31 years ago. Karl Hoffman returns to their side at full back, Terenure have Joy Muldowney at outside half in place of Paul Hennebry and Mick Quinn in the second row for Colin Potts, who has influenza.

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP

SEMI-FINALS.

Cork Constitution v Sunday's Well, Musgrave Park, 3.30.

Third in the AIL first division, Constitution make one enforced change from the side that defeated Old Crescent last week. Denis O'Dowd is not available so Anthony Horgan plays on the right wing. Second row Ultan O'Callaghan, who sustained a head injury last week has been passed fit.

Sunday's Well have Brian Roche, who was playing with Constitution up to a month ago, at full back and a liberal sprinkling of the side that won the cup two years ago to add the element of experience.

Shannon v Young Munster,

Thomond Park 4.0.

AIL champions, Shannon are in pursuit of the big double, a feat never achieved by any club. In Young Munster they face the side whose win over Garryowen in the league a fortnight ago was a crucial factor in Shannon being crowned league champions.

Young Munster were one of the two clubs to defeat Shannon in the league and last season ended Shannon's hopes of a cup and league double with a 16-11 win in the cup after a 3-3 draw. Young Munster also beat Shannon in the cup in 1993 having lost in the finals of 1991 and 1992 to Shannon. Young Munster are unchanged from the team that beat Garryowen in successive weeks in league and cup and Shannon have international Anthony Foley back at number eight after injury. Young Munster have reached the cup final for the last six years.