Preview: This weekend’s senior provincial club championship action:
Saturday, November 23
Ulster Club SFC semi-final
Scotstown (Monaghan) v Kilcoo (Down), Box-It Athletic Grounds, 6pm
When these two teams met in last year’s AIB Ulster Club SFC quarter-final it was Scotstown who came out on top by a single point and this match is likely to be another very tight affair.
Scotstown showed a lot of quality when beating Fermanagh champions Erne Gaels by 13 points in the quarter-final but Kilcoo will be just as happy with their two-point win over Crosserlough of Cavan because it was such a gut-check of a game.
It’s debatable whether the 2022 All-Ireland champions have the same zip in their legs they had in that title winning season, but they’re still a very formidable outfit that knows how to win tight games.
If they can keep a tight rein on Scotstown danger-man, Jack McCarron, their greater spread of threats in attack could see them edge this game.
Leinster Club SFC semi-finals
St Loman’s (Westmeath) v St Marys Ardee (Louth), Lake Point Park, 1.30pm
St. Loman’s have looked very impressive on the way to this semi-final, beating both Meath champions Dunshaughlin and Wexford champions Castletown by 13 points each.
St. Mary’s didn’t quite hit the same heights, but they too enjoyed comfortable wins over Abbeylara and Rathvilly en route to this match.
Both of these teams reached the same juncture of last year’s competition and are well-seasoned outfits, but the firepower of John Heslin, Ronan O’Toole and TJ Cox could give the Westmeath champions a slight edge.
Cuala (Dublin) v Tullamore (Offaly), Parnell Park, 7.15pm
Few predicted Cuala as likely Dublin champions at the outset of the season but they show no signs of resting on those laurels.
Up against a Naas team in the quarter-final that’s very experienced at provincial level, they showed both their quality and self-belief to come out on top by three points.
Con O’Callaghan and his younger brother Niall are a serious double-act in attack where they’re well-supported by Luke Keating, and Michael Fitzsimons locks down a mean defence.
The Dublin champions go into this game as favourites, but Tullamore will surely take a lot of confidence from their quarter-final win over Tinahely, which was the club’s first provincial victory for 47 years.
If players like Harry Plunkett, Dan Fox, and Diarmuid Egan get a decent supply of ball the Offaly champions can make a real game of it.
Sunday, November 24
Leinster Club SHC semi-finals
Na Fianna (Dublin) v St Martins (Wexford), Parnell Park, 3pm
Having come up agonisingly short in last year’s Leinster Final, Na Fianna look very much like a team to make amends this time around.
They were very clinical against Laois champions Clough-Ballacolla in the quarter-final, and have huge firepower in attack thanks to players like Donal Burke, Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, and Ciarán Stacey.
This will be a very interesting match because St. Martin’s are a very potent force themselves when their attack clicks. Their talisman is Rory O’Connor and if he has a good day the Wexford champions have a great chance, but Na Fianna look a better balanced team.
Castletown Geoghegan (Westmeath) v Kilcormac Killoughey (Offaly), TEG Cusack Park, 1.15pm
After the incredible high of beating Kilkenny champions Thomastown by 11 points last weekend it’ll be interesting to see if Castletown Geoghegan can hit the same heights again in this game.
Forwards like Niall O’Brien, Peter Clarke, David O’Reilly, and Liam Varley were all very clinical in that match and if they’re just as dialled in for this game there’s no reason the Westmeath champions can’t pull off another shock,
Kilcormac-Killoughey are a seriously talented outfit with rising Faithful County stars like Adam Screeney, Charlie Mitchell, Brecon Kavangh and Colin Spain in their ranks, but they haven’t always hurled consistently from first whistle to last in recent matches.
If they play to their full potential they look the more likely winners here, but Castletown are primed to pounce on any hesitancy.
Ulster Club SFC semi-final
Clann Eireann (Armagh) v Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) , Pairc Esler, 3.15pm
Both of these teams showed a lot of grit to come through very tough quarter-finals as Clann Eireann came from behind to beat Newbridge by two points and Errigal Ciaran did the same against St. Eunan’s.
Both teams have serious quality in attack with Conor Turbitt and Jack Conlon in a rich vein of form for Clann Eireann and Peter Harte, Darragh and Ruairi Canavan leading the charge for Errigal Ciaran.
Darragh Canvavan was quiet by his very high standards in the quarter-final and if he hits form here he could be the difference-maker.
Munster Club SFC semi-finals
Éire Óg (Clare) v Loughmore Castleiney (Tipperary), Cusack Park, 1pm
Éire Óg will bring some good momentum into this match after a workmanlike five-point win over Limerick champions Adare in the quarter-final.
Third quarter goals from defensive anchors Ikem Ugwueru and Ciaran Russell highlighted the Clare team’s ability to counter-attack and hurt teams with runs from deep.
Loughmore-Castleiney have performed heroics to campaign on two fronts with the same group of players but you’d have to wonder if they’ll be drained by last weekend’s Munster SHC semi-final defeat to Ballygunner.
They’ll play their hearts out like they always do, but Éire Ógs fresher legs could make the difference in the final quarter.
Rathgormack (Waterford) v Dr. Crokes (Kerry), Fraher Field, 1pm
Kerry champions Dr. Crokes were very impressive in their seven-point quarter-final win over Cork champions Castlehaven and come into this game as hot favourites.
Rathgormack are well-organised outfit though and have Waterford senior players in their ranks such as Paudie Hunt, Michael Curry, Jason Curry, Stephen Curry, and James Power so they’re good enough to make it a challenging afternoon for their highly vaunted opponents.
The greater attacking quality of Dr. Crokes should tell in the end though, with Tony Brosnan, Micheál Burns, and Kieran O’Leary all in free-scoring form.