Seán Moran previews the weekend's major GAA club games.
Leinster SHC Final
Birr(Offaly) v Ballyhale Shamrocks(Kilkenny), Nowlan Park, 2pm - An ideal scenario for Birr and manager Pad Joe Whelahan - going down as defending champions to Kilkenny to play Kilkenny opposition and taking the field as astronomical underdogs (9/2).
But there's a reason for those odds: Shamrocks will be at full strength this time having had to field without Henry Shefflin and James Fitzpatrick 12 months ago. It's a third successive meeting for the clubs, who have shared the last two titles, and a chance for the Kilkenny club to become the first from outside Offaly to defeat Birr twice in the championship. Whoever wins will join Rathnure at the top of Leinster's roll of honour.
Birr have travelled the more arduous route but looked more impressive when sweeping aside last year's finalists, Ballyboden, than when being taken to extra time by St Martin's a fortnight ago despite a battling performance from the Wexford champions, whose quality at centrefield required some changes by Birr. This sector will also create difficulty tomorrow.
Even if Birr pull a big performance out of the hat, it's hard to see them retaining the title.
Munster SHC Final
Adare(Limerick) v De La Salle(Waterford), Thurles, 2pm - This is the first time in 20 years, since Patrickswell defeated Mount Sion, these counties have provided both club finalists.
Neither were favourites to emerge from the semi-finals but Adare, with time and focus on their side this year, took the physical pressure from Toomevara and put too much on the first-half scoreboard for the Tipp champions to recover after the break.
The Limerick champions have good balance with quality players in all the important areas from Mark Foley at the back through to Conor Fitzgerald up front.
De La Salle had arguably a harder task, having to recover from an historic county final victory and then travel to Cork to play Sarsfields. In a flowing match the Waterford team, inspired by John Mullane who is having the year of his life, beat the Cork champions in a shoot-out with a fine display from their centrefield of Brian Phelan.
Tomorrow will be a different sort of game.
Adare have the strength and application as well as the firepower up front to grind out a win if conditions are bad but De La Salle won Waterford in a succession of chiselled-out victories.
This may well be another.
Ulster SFC Final
Crossmaglen Rangers(Armagh) v Ballinderry(Derry), Brewster Park, 3.45pm - With three All-Irelands between them this decade, the best clubs in the province meet in a re-match of the 2006 final.
That ended in a 0-5 to 0-2 win for Cross, which tells you something about the weather but also something about the Armagh and defending Ulster champions for whom every match is a battle of wills.
Ballinderry found some good form against an admittedly under-strength Cavan Gaels and ran out convincing winners. Their centrefield dominated the match and with a steady acquisition of breaking ball they had enough possession to service the forwards.
Cavan Gaels manager Mick O'Dowd was impressed but believes it won't be as easy this weekend: "We struggled with the injuries and Ballinderry won't have the same time and space. Cross exert so much pressure that teams really find it hard to get scores.
"Ballinderry have better forwards but Crossmaglen have the better defence and handle the important phases of games - when pressure's greatest - better than any other team."
By way of example, St Eunan's should have had more to show for their best period in the semi-final but they were frustrated and eventually dismantled.
Ballinderry are capable of winning this but in all likelihood Cross won't let them.
Kerry SFC Final (replay)
Kerins O'Rahillysv Mid Kerry, Fitzgerald Stadium, 2pm - If Mid Kerry's injuries haven't entirely cleared, O'Rahillys have certainly benefited from the extra week's break (not least in that it aborted Tommy Walsh's and David Moran's trip to Australia) and have had time to ponder their narrow escape in the drawn encounter.
On the basis that they will hardly fall seven points behind this time around, the Tralee club should be able to close out the match.
