GAA: Nemo Rangers meet Ballinderry

St Patrick’s Day is the traditional date for the All Ireland Club Championships and this year it is the turn of Nemo Rangers and Ballinderry in football while Birr and Clarinbridge are pitted against one another in hurling.

Semple Stadium is the venue for the two games as the traditional home, Croke Park, is undergoing refurbishment work.

At two o’clock this afternoon, Birr from Offaly will battle it out with Galway’s Clarinbridge. Birr have won this title twice in the recent past, in 1995 and 1998 and have the advantage of experience over their younger opponents while there is a heavy reliance on the Whelahans; Brian, Barry and Simon. Clarinbridge also rely heavily on one family with the Kerins brothers expected to score most of the Connaught side’s points.

The two sides seem well matched and it could be too tight a match to predict a result in.

In the football final, Cork’s Nemo Rangers and Ballinderry from Derry will begin at twenty to four. Ballinderry are marking their 75th anniversary and would dearly love to crown the celebrations with the All Ireland title.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Nemo are the giants of Cork football and are lead by Cork captain, Colin Corkery and coached by the legendary Billy Morgan. The game includes a number of fascinating battles in key areas of the pitch and should proved an explosive final.