In attendance at the launch of the AIB GAA Leinster Senior Club Championship Finals at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare, are, from left, Cuala footballer Luke Keating, St Mary's Ardee footballer Robert Leavy, Kilcormac Killoughey hurler Conor Slevin and Na Fianna hurler Kevin Burke. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
Saturday 30 November
Leinster Club SHC final
Na Fianna (Dublin) v Kilcormac Killoughey (Offaly), Croke Park, 7.50pm - RTE2
There’s a novel look to this year’s Leinster Final and both sides will believe opportunity knocks in a major way.
Na Fianna’s experience of coming up just short against O’Loughlin Gaels in last year’s Final should stand to them.
They’re an even better team a year later, and not just because they’re able to call on their best hurler, Donal Burke, again.
With a powerful defence anchored by Liam Rushe, midfield turbo-charged by Brian Ryan, and a lively attack with accurate shooters like Burke, Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, and Jack Meagher, they’re a very complete team.
Kilcormac-Killoughey are likely to have eight U20 hurlers in their starting XV and while they’re all extremely talented, you’d wonder if a relative lack of experience and muscle might put them at a disadvantage.
They could really do with Cillian Kiely to be fit enough to start because he’ll supply a good dollop of both qualities if he does.
Croke Park is the ideal venue for these talented young Kilcormac-Killoughey hurlers at a time of a year when a heavy pitch arguably wouldn’t suit them. Forwards like Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney and Jack Screeney in particular should relish playing on such a big pitch with a firm sod.
This will be a contest of very fine margins, but a more seasoned Na Fianna team may have an edge.
Leinster Club SFC final
St Marys Ardee (Louth) v Cuala (Dublin), Croke Park, 5.45pm
St. Mary’s Ardee will hope to make history here by becoming the first club team from Louth to win an AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship.
They go into the game as underdogs but the nature of their impressive semi-final win over a St. Loman’s that that had their own provincial ambitions suggests they’ll at the least be very competitive.
They certainly were against Dublin opposition last year when they gave Kilmacud Crokes a hard game in the semi-final, so they won’t fear Cuala.
Six St. Mary’s players were on the Louth senior panel last year and another six were on the U20 panel so they have plenty of quality in their ranks.
Donal McKenny is a dominant figure at the heart of their defence, Sean and RJ Callaghan are powerful in the middle third, and Ciaran Keenan and the Jackson brothers are a handful in attack.
As every team that has played Cuala so far this year has found out though, the Dublin team’s defence is a tough nut to crack. Hardly a surprise given Michael Fitzsimons is the central figure in it.
Their ability to force teams down dead-end alleys, turn over possession, and then hit them ruthlessly on the break is very impressive.
Con O’Callaghan is an obvious match-winner on any given day, but he has good support in attack from his brother Niall and Cillian Dunne.
This is likely to be another tight match, but O’Callaghan’s poaching instincts and the midfield partnership of Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne and Peter Duffy could swing it for Cuala.
Sunday 1 December
Ulster Club SHC final
Portaferry (Down) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm - TG4
Slaughtneil go into this match as favourites after their thrilling extra-time victory over reigning champions but it’s far from a foregone conclusion.
Portaferry showed their quality in last year’s competition against the same Antrim opposition when they opened up a five-point lead late in the game but were ultimately pegged back and then beaten well in extra-time.
You’d imagine though that Slaughtneil will have benefited from that game against Cushendall whereas Portaferry are coming into this game cold.
It’s probably relevant too that when these teams met in the 2022 semi-final it was Slaughtneil who won comfortably on a scoreline of 2-24 to 0-11.
With players like Brendan Rogers, Cormac O’Doherty, Jack Cassidy, Sé McGuigan, Mark McGuigan, and Ruairí Ó Mianáin in their ranks this Slaughtneil side boasts a very impressive array of firepower that should see them come out on top.
Munster Club SHC final
Sarsfields (Cork) v Ballygunner (Waterford), Semple Stadium, 3.15pm - TG4
Ballygunner come into this match as hot favourites to win an incredible fifth Munster title in a row.
The played their opponents Sarsfields in the quarter-final of last year’s competition and on that occasion triumphed easily by 17 points.
Sarsfields were Cork champions last year but runners up this year to Imokilly who couldn’t progress to Munster due to the fact they’re a divisional team.
Still, you could only be impressed by how Sarsfields bounced back from that defeat to beat Clare champions Feakle in the Munster semi-final.
Players like Aaron Myers, Cathal McCarthy, Jack O’Connor, and Colm McCarthy showed great form that day, but this game presents a very significant step up in class.
There simply isn’t a weak link in this Ballygunner team. Stephen O’Keeffe is one of the best goalies in the game, Philip Mahony and Barry Coughlan anchor an abrasive defence, Paddy Leavey and Conor Sheahan are dynamic midfielders, and every single forward is a potential match-winner.
Connacht Club SFC final
Coolera-Strandhill (Sligo) v Padraig Pearses (Roscommon), Markievicz Park, 1.15pm - TG4
Pádraig Pearses go into this match as hot favourites, but they would be wise not to underestimate Coolera-Strandhill.
The Sligo champions showed great guts and skill to beat an equally fancied Ballina in the semi-final on penalties after coming back from two points down in extra-time.
They’re a defensively solid, well-drilled team, and star-man Niall Murphy is well supported in attack by players like Mark McDaniel, Ross Doherty, and Barry O’Mahony.
Pearses have looked seriously impressive though on the way to this final, defeating Galway champions Corofin and Leitrim champions Mohill in some style.
The Daly brothers remain as inspirational as ever and Paul Carey is playing some great stuff in attack too.
Champions in 2021, the Roscommon side have the ability to repeat the trick.