Weekend GAA Club Previews: Have Kilcoo still got the wiliness for Scotstown revenge mission?

All the previews and verdicts for this weekend's action.

ALL IN ACTION (L-R): Donal Burke, (Na Fianna), Luke Keating (Cuala), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Jack McCarron, Scotstown and Tom Doyle, Dr Crokes

SATURDAY

AIB Leinster Club SFC semi-finals:

St Loman’s (Westmeath) v St Mary’s, Ardee (Louth), Lake Point Park 1.30pm (B. Tiernan, Dublin).

A quicker than expected turnaround for the Westmeath champions after their postponed quarter-final against Castletown Liam Mellows, but that shouldn’t upset them too much. St Mary’s have been commanding in games thus far but they haven’t faced as good a forward line as the one John Heslin will lead on their home patch in Mullingar. 

Verdict: St Loman’s.

Cuala (Dublin) v Tullamore (Offaly), Parnell Park 7.15pm (A. Nolan, Wicklow) Live RTÉ2.

Tullamore don’t appear to be getting due respect from the odds talliers. Sure, they are coming off their first provincial win in 47 years and Cuala are rightfully favourites but they are a resolute outfit who have got into the habit of breaking records this season. Backed by their sizeable support, Cuala should come through but maybe not with flying colours. 

Verdict: Cuala.

AIB Ulster Club SFC semi-final:

Kilcoo (Down) v Scotstown (Monaghan), Box-It Athletic Grounds 6pm (S. Hurson, Tyrone).

For the second year in a row, these two meet in the last four, only the venue is different on this occasion. Last year, Rory Beggan was the hero as the Monaghan men came out on top in Páirc Esler with a flourish at the end. Karl Lacey won’t need to remind the Kilcoo players of how they let that game slip. At the same time, they may not have the wiliness of old to get the revenge job done. 

Verdict: Scotstown.

AIB Munster Club JFC semi-finals:

Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary) v Kilmurry (Cork), New Inn 1pm (E. Ó Muirtcheartaigh, Kerry).

Cashel King Cormacs are fighting on two fronts with their intermediate hurlers gearing up for a final in Limerick next weekend. Kilmurry are heavily expected to come out on top here. 

Verdict: Kilmurry.

Firies (Kerry) v Cappagh (Limerick), Austin Stack Park 1pm (C. Murphy, Cork).

Twenty-one points separated Firies from Fenor in their quarter-final and the margin will be double figures again against Cappagh as the east Kerry men march on to a final. 

Verdict: Firies.

SUNDAY

AIB Munster Club SFC semi-finals:

Rathgormack (Waterford) v Dr Crokes (Kerry), Fraher Field 1pm (N. Quinn, Clare).

Over a month has passed since Rathgormack put Ballinacourty to the sword in their Waterford final and that gap is as much a worry for them in Dungarvan as the obvious momentum Dr Crokes bring from the west. Rathgormack have been a high-scoring team but this could be an occasion where they have to be economical. Pat O’Shea has worked wonders since his return and the spell he has cast will continue into a provincial final at least. Verdict: Dr Crokes.

Éire Óg, Ennis (Clare) v Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary), Cusack Park 1pm (B. Griffin, Kerry).

Loughmore-Castleiney may have been hit with illness before last weekend’s disappointing showing against Ballygunner in the hurling semi-final but as Eamonn Kelly said at least they have the chance to get that out of their hair with this trip to Ennis. They will find Éire Óg are just as comfortable in carrying the ball and also have an abundance of pace that carves out goal chances. After what they did against Adare the last day, half-backs Ikem Ugwueru and Ciarán Russell will be watched closely. A close encounter but the home side to prevail. 

Verdict: Éire Óg, Ennis.

AIB Leinster Club SHC semi-finals:

Na Fianna (Dublin) v St Martin’s (Wexford), Parnell Park 3pm (S. Cleere, Kilkenny).

St Martin’s will take a lot from going to Newbridge last weekend and seeing off a fancied Naas side, who probably showed them too much respect. Na Fianna won’t be as obliging and will be cope with what should be a physical challenge presented by the Wexford champions. Not to say that there isn’t plenty of hurling talent on show too with Donal Burke, Seán Currie, Liam Rushe and the O’Connors. 

Verdict: Na Fianna.

Castletown Geoghegan (Westmeath) v Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly), TEG Cusack Park 1.15pm (E. Furlong, Wexford) Live TG4.

Alan Mangan will probably be relieved that this game has come so soon after Castletown Geoghegan’s extraordinary quarter-final win over Thomastown. They will have little time to dwell on that shock victory and the need to refocus on a Kilcormac-Killoughey side that look as convincing as their team of the early 2010s is great. The Offaly kingpins won’t want to make a hero out of Castletown Geoghegan marksman Niall O’Brien for the second weekend in a row. Adam Screeney and Charlie Mitchell to light the way for Kilcormac-Killoughey. 

Verdict: Kilcormac-Killoughey.

AIB Ulster Club SFC semi-final:

Clann Éireann (Armagh) v Errigal Ciarán (Tyrone), Páirc Esler 3.15pm (J. McQuillan, Cavan) Live TG4.

Clann Éireann will hardly be treated lightly by Errigal Ciarán after what they did against Newbridge. That was a quarter-final that could have gone either way but the Armagh men stood tallest when it mattered and that battle is possibly better preparation for this encounter than the handy win Enda McGinley’s side had over Cargin. Still, they have been in enough close scrapes this year to come out on top in another. 

Verdict: Errigal Ciarán.

AIB Munster Club IFC semi-finals: 

Kllshannig (Cork) v Austin Stacks, Kilshannig GAA, Glantane 1pm (D. O‘Mahoney, Tipperary).

The Tralee men look too big for this competition but them’s the rules right now. They simply blew away Laune Rangers in the Kerry intermediate final replay and Kilshannig, irrespective of home advantage and a good quarter-final outing against Rathkeale, aren’t going to have it much easier. 

Verdict: Laune Rangers.

Aherlow (Tipperary) v Wolfe Tones na Sionna (Clare), Lattin-Cullen 1pm (D. Murnane, Cork).

Effin’ Eddie Moroney is deriving plenty of pleasure from this run of his beloved Aherlow, led by the evergreen former Tipperary forward Barry Grogan. This affair is a toss-up but the fabled commentator may have another day out to look forward to. 

Verdict: Aherlow.