Preview: Croke Park deciders on offer in Ladies All-Ireland club semi-finals

This weekend has a host of fascinating match-ups across three grades, with a few potential firsts for certain clubs

Michelle Davoren of Kilmacud Crokes in action against Ciara Stokes of Tinahely during the Leinster final at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It's crunch time in the Ladies All-Ireland club football championships this weekend, with six mouth-watering semi-finals taking place across three grades.

Sunday has a host of fascinating match-ups. Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) and Comeragh Rangers (Waterford) go head-to-head at Father Stephen's Park at 2pm in the first of the Senior semis. 

Kilkerrin are defending champions and the only thing standing between them and a coveted five-in-a-row are the tricky Comeragh Rangers from Waterford - fresh from their very first Munster senior title win. 

Rangers captain Emma Murray has been in scintillating form recently and will need to put on a leader's display if her side stand any chance of dethroning the top dogs.

The second semi-final features last year's runners-up Kilmacud Crokes and St. Ergnat’s, Moneyglass. 

Moneyglass of Antrim were hugely impressive when capturing a very first Ulster title recently - they outscored Tyrone opponents Errigal Ciaran by 13. Led by talisman Cathy Carey, they'll need to be just as sharp to stop Leinster's dominant outfit at Páirc de Burca at 2pm on Sunday.

In the intermediate grade Cork's Naomh Abán travel to Knockbride of Cavan, a team looking to break the mould and become the first Cavan team to contest a intermediate club final.

Abbi Connor shone in the forward line during Knockbride's Ulster final win and will be one to watch again on Sunday. Meanwhile, Naomh Abán needed extra time to overcome Kerry’s Clounmacon/Moyvane in the Munster final, they'll be hoping to get the job done sooner this Sunday at 1pm.

St Fechin's take on Caltra Cuans in the intermediate semi-final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

St. Fechin’s (Louth) and Caltra Cuans (Galway) take each other on at the Integral Grounds at 1.15pm in the other intermediate semi. St Fechin's ground out a hard-earned victory against Holloway Gaels in the quarter-finals and have earned a home semi-final for their efforts. 

They come up against a Cuans side in fine form, having triumphed in the Connacht final against St Barry’s of Roscommon by 3-9 to 0-9. The Galwegians have been in the intermediate grade for 15 years, so they'll feel like this is their time to finally make the ascension to the senior grade - but it won't be easy to book the decider in Croke Park.

Finally, in the junior grade Muckalee of Kilkenny host Menlough Skehana from Galway at 2pm. Menlough Skehana sealed Connacht glory over Northern Harps when they beat the Roscommon side by 2-10 to 1-10. 

They'll face an even tougher challenge against Muckalee, a team currently enjoying a dream season. The hosts became the first Kilkenny club in 21 years to win the Leinster junior title before they dispatched of London opponents St Kiernan’s at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.

On a weekend of potential firsts, Muckalee can also become the very first team from Kilkenny to contest an All-Ireland club final.

On Saturday, Cavan Gaels take on Cromane from Kerry at Terry Coyle Park in the other junior semi-final. 

Gaels are hot off an impressive 15-point mauling of Monaghan’s Killeevan Sarsfields in the Ulster final, so too are Cromane who bulldozed their way to a monumental 23-point takedown of St Patrick’s of Tipperary. 

It's an intriguing tie that will likely do down to the wire. Both sides are strong down the middle and on the flanks where they have pace in abundance. 

Much like Knockbride in the intermediate grade, a win for Gaels would mean a first junior final for a team from the Breffni County.