National GAA Previews: Mid Kerry must do better job lessening David Clifford's contribution

Elsewhere Sars looking to overcome preparation difficulties by defeating Ballygunner in Munster SHC quater-final

DAVID VS GOLIATH: David Clifford on the field ahead of an East Kerry match. Photo: Don MacMonagle

SATURDAY

Leinster club SFC quarter-final

Eire Og (Carlow) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.45pm

Eire Og were provincial finalists as recently as 2019 and have five Leinster titles, just one shy of Crokes' six. Turlough O'Brien's side dug deep to see off St Joseph's of Laois after extra-time in Round 1, similar to their county semi-final win over Rathvilly on penalties.

They're missing key men though - O'Brien's son Darragh, Reece Denieffe and Cormac Mullins - whilst All-Ireland holders Crokes, ominously, gave their best performance of the season in the county final demolition of Ballyboden St Enda's.

Still, 8/1 is some price for Eire Og.

Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes

Munster club JHC quarter-finals

Tralee Parnells (Kerry) v The Banner (Clare), Tralee, 1.30pm

Tralee captured a first county intermediate title by beating St Brendan's 0-19 to 1-6. Their physical power was a factor in difficult conditions but it was all of 14 weeks ago now. The celebrations are surely complete but it's a big ask to be fully tuned in, particularly with so many players on football duty in the meantime.

The Banner, led by Clare's Shane Meehan, beat Kerry side Kilgarvan at this stage last year.

Verdict: The Banner

Ardmore (Waterford) v St Catherine's (Cork), Dungarvan, 1.30pm

St Catherine's lost the Cork PJHC final but advanced to the province as it was Erin's Own's second team that beat them. They will hope to live up to the rich tradition of Cork teams in the competition though county final goalscorer Dan Mangan's loss through injury is a blow.

Ardmore, Munster junior winners in 2017, beat Roanmore in the Waterford decider back on September 9.

Verdict: St Catherine's

Limerick IFC final

Dromcollogher-Broadford v Mungret St Paul's, Askeaton, 2pm

Drom-Broadford overcame a slow start to beat St Senan's 0-13 to 0-7 last time out. Mungret were narrower two-point winners over Rathkeale the same afternoon. The St Paul's club topped their group with five wins from five and, significantly, beat their final opponents by 1-13 to 0-8 back in July at today's venue.

Verdict: Mungret St Paul's

Flooding at Sarsfield GAA's club building

SUNDAY

Ulster club SFC preliminary round

Derrygonnelly Harps (Fermanagh) v Kilcoo (Down), Enniskillen, 3.45pm

Ulster's only preliminary round tie and a potential bananaskin for Karl Lacey's Kilcoo. True, they hammered Derrygonnelly by 3-10 to 0-3 in the 2021 decider, going on to win the All-Ireland that year.

But with seven Fermanagh titles since 2015, Derrygonnelly crave provincial success at this stage and will pour everything they have into this one. There was only two points in it when the teams met in 2019.

Verdict: Kilcoo

Munster club SHC quarter-final

Ballygunner (Waterford) v Sarsfields (Cork), Walsh Park, 1.30pm

Some light relief for Sarsfields after a horror two and a half weeks or so. Storm Babet wiped out much of their facilities so the senior team have been utilising the likes of Pairc Ui Rinn for training.

They'll meet the All-Ireland favourites and whoever wins will play Na Piarsaigh of Limerick - the toughest possible draw. James Sweeney and Liam Healy are injury doubts also but Johnny Crowley leads a strong and experienced Sars management team.

Could Ballygunner be rusty after an eight-week break?

Verdict: Ballygunner

Leinster club SFC quarter-finals

Blessington (Wicklow) v Ardee St Mary's (Louth), Aughrim, 2pm

Blessington beat former champions Mullinalaghta in a rare Leinster encounter two years ago and will hope for another winning start. They needed a replay to overcome Rathnew in the Wicklow final so could be fatigued though home advantage is a big help in Aughrim. Louth's Daire McConnon is a considerable threat in attack for back to back Louth champions Ardee who also won their opener last year.

Verdict: Ardee St Mary's

Killoe Young Emmets (Longford) v St Loman's (Westmeath), Pearse Park, 2pm

Luke Dempsey must still have nightmares about losing the 2017 Leinster club final to a late Moorefield smash and grab when in charge of St Loman's.

Six years on, he's manager of Killoe and set to run into his old team. The Longford champions have home advantage though Loman's have a Round 1 win under their belt, albeit a narrow one over Wexford's Shelmaliers.

Verdict: St Loman's

Naas (Kildare) v Summerhill (Meath), Hawkfield, 2pm

Meath teams have a poor provincial record and Summerhill looked destined for defeat when trailing Tullamore for much of their Round 1 encounter but a late rally pinched the win. Naas haven't played since beating Celbridge to complete a Kildare three-in-a-row on October 22.

The 2021 finalists will be at home in Hawkfield and have plenty of experience at this level but Conor Gillespie's Summerhill are motoring nicely with the Fraynes, Ryans and Barry Dardis all impressing.

Verdict: Naas

Munster club IHC quarter-final

Lorrha Dorrha (Tipperary) v Corofin (Clare), Nenagh, 1.30pm

Joe Cahill's Corofin beat Sixmilebridge by 0-18 to 0-14 a fortnight ago to secure a third title at the intermediate grade. Lorrha Dorrha, with Tipp great Patrick 'Bonner' Maher in good form, will return to MacDonagh Park where they snatched a one-point county final replay win over Thurles Sarsfields. Ken Hogan's young side looks to be on the up following back to back promotions.

Verdict: Lorrha Dorrha

Limerick SFC final

Adare v Newcastle West, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm

Jimmy Lee's Newcastle West comfortably took care of Monaleen in the last four though Adare required extra-time against Fr Casey's. The three-in-a-row is within NCW's sights and, if they achieve it, all of the final wins would have been over Adare.

Iain Corbett is their trump card though county colleague Hughie Bourke has been similarly delivering for John Brudair's Adare. The winners will host Clonmel Commercials in Munster next weekend.

Verdict: Newcastle West

Galway SFC final

Corofin v Maigh Cuilinn, Pearse Stadium, 2pm

After years of success, a Corofin team in transition approach this county final as underdogs. Kevin Johnson's group will enjoy that status and they showed their deep resolve when holding off a strong semi-final comeback from Milltown.

Corofin were beaten by Mountbellew-Moylough in the last three championships, clearing a path for Moycullen to take the 2020 and 2022 titles. Dessie Conneely was terrific again for Moycullen in their semi-final.

Verdict: Maigh Cuilinn

Cork IAFC final

Aghabullogue v Mitchelstown, Páirc Uí Chaoimh (B Coniry), 1pm

Aghabullogue, two weeks on from their Intermediate A hurling success, will be hellbent on completing the double. They also have the stored disappointment of having lost this final 12 months ago. Mitchelstown are not too dissimilar on that latter front.

They came up short in the 2020 and 21 finals, and so will be determined to avoid a third decider defeat. Cork senior Cathail O’Mahony will of course ask many hard questions of the Aghabullogue defence, but the greater spread and all-round form seems to be on the side of the dual-chasing men.

Verdict: Aghabullogue

Kerry SFC final

East Kerry v Mid Kerry, Austin Stack Park (P Hayes), 3.30pm

Where else to start but with the Clifford brothers. David kicked 2-13 across the last two county final meetings of this pair, 2-10 of that arriving from play. Forgive us for stating the absolute obvious here, but Mid Kerry must somehow do a better job in lessening his contribution.

Ditto older brother Paudie. He directly assisted 2-2 during East Kerry’s quarter-final win and had a hand in 19 of their 23 scores that day. Mid Kerry need to tag a runner onto him as Rathmore sought to do with Fionn Holohan in the semi-final.

Nathan Breen has been such a steady hand on the tiller at the heart of the Mid Kerry defence that we’re not sure management will want to unsettle their entire rearguard by taking him out of that central watchtower and giving him one of the Clifford jobs, more likely David than Paudie.

The third quarter is where the 2020 and 2022 finals went completely away from Mid Kerry. In 2020, Mid Kerry’s first second half point didn’t arrive until the 56th minute. In 2022, it was the 42nd minute.

Fiachra Clifford, Cillian Burke, Keith Evans, and Éanna O’Connor are in the sort of form where they should not be allowing any repeat of such damaging scoreless spells. The Mid Kerry attack, on the whole, seems to be a more coherent and dynamic machine and so the paltry 0-9 and 0-10 totals of past finals should be surpassed.

But can they reach a figure beyond what the Cliffords, Darragh Roche, Donal O’Sullivan, and Patrick D’Arcy magic up?

Verdict: East Kerry

Kerry JFC final

Tarbert v Reenard, Tralee, 1pm

No strangers to meeting in recent championships campaigns, this is an intriguing decider. With a strong underage section, Tarbert have built nicely and this will be their first junior final since 1995.

Shane Enright provides massive experience in defence. Conor O'Leary played well in the semi-final win over Sneem/Derrynane and struck a crucial goal.

Verdict: Tarbert.