Weekend GAA previews: Brigid’s have physical edge to hold off Maigh Cuilinn

All of this weekend's GAA club action previewed.

St. Brigid's wing-forward Conor Hand breezes past Pádraig O'Hora. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

SATURDAY

AIB Munster Club IHC final: Upperchurch-Drombane (Tipperary) v O’Callaghan’s Mills (Clare), TUS Gaelic Grounds, 5pm (N. O’Toole, Waterford).

It’s Upperchurch-Drombane’s defence that has brought them to this point and if it holds up again then O’Callaghan’s Mills are going to have a frustrating evening in Limerick. The Clare champions will be battle-hardened by their wins over Abbeydorney and Tallow and 2013 All-Ireland winning captain Patrick Donnellan is still chipping in from the bench. Upperchurch showed against Ballinhassig that they have the mettle to prevail. 

Verdict: Upperchurch-Drombane.

AIB Munster Club JHC final: Kilbrittain (Cork) v Kilrossanty (Waterford), Mallow, 1pm (C. O’Donovan, Tipperary).

Kilrossanty’s six goals in two games won’t have gone unnoticed by Kilbrittain but they looked composed in seeing off Knockaderry in their semi-final and Luke Griffin and Mark Hickey are capable of taking control of this game.

Verdict: Kilbrittain.

AIB Leinster Club SFC semi-finals: Tullamore (Offaly) v Ballyboden St Enda’s (Dublin), Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.30pm (B. Cawley, Kildare).

There are issues for Tullamore off the field at the moment but they will be hoping there won’t be too much drama here. Thwarting Ballyboden’s forward line will be the idea but the visitors have an array of scoring threats. Tullamore aren’t a team that know when they’re beaten and staying in touch will give them a fighting chance. 

Verdict: Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Athy (Kildare) v Portarlington (Laois), Cedral St Conleth’s Park, 2pm (A. Smith, Meath)

Despite dominating Laois in recent times, this is Portarlington’s first semi-final since 2022. Beating Naomh Mairtín last day out was noteworthy although Athy have the same, if not more, momentum after also winning two provincial games to get to this point. The Kildare men look pretty solid at the back with a few inter-county players past and present and aren’t lacking experience. 

Verdict: Athy.

Ulster Club SHC final: Slaughtneil (Derry) v St John’s (Antrim), Box-It Athletic Grounds, 6pm (P. Owens, Down) Live RTÉ2.

Conor Coyle is out for Slaughtneil but they have the reliables in the form of dual stars like Brendan Rogers and Shane McGuigan. Slaughtneil will feel an All-Ireland final berth was there for the taking last year. That belief is probably driving them but they have to be wary of St John’s who despite their novelty factor were deserved Antrim champions. 

Verdict: Slaughtneil.

Connacht Club JFC final: Aughavas (Leitrim) v Kiltimagh (Mayo), Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 1.30pm.

Beating Carna-Caiseal in the semi-final was a good scalp for the Leitrim men but Kiltimagh may have the edge here despite it being in Carrick-on-Shannon. 

Verdict: Kiltimagh.

All-Ireland Ladies Club JFC semi-final: Cavan Gaels (Cavan) v Cromane (Kerry), Terry Coyle Park, Kilnavaragh, Cavan, 1pm.

The Kerry and Munster winners can make this long trip north worthwhile.

Verdict: Cromane.

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club semi-finals: Athenry (Galway) v Dicksboro (Kilkenny), Kinnegad, 1pm (D. O’Callaghan, Limerick).

Dicksboro are used to facing Sarsfields but the lack of familiarity with Athenry can’t be an excuse here. They simply must be business-like. 

Verdict: Dicksboro.

Na Seamróga (Antrim) v St Finbarr's (Cork), Ashbourne, 2pm (L. Dempsey, Kilkenny).

A first Munster title would have been celebrated with great gusto but St Finbarr's can get their feet back on the ground and qualify for the final.

Verdict: St Finbarr's.

SUNDAY

AIB Munster Club SHC final: Ballygunner (Waterford) v Éire Óg, Inis (Clare), FBD Semple Stadium, 3.30pm (A. Tierney, Tipperary) Live TG4.

A manager as wily and accomplished as Gerry O’Connor is sure to have a gameplan to at least make Ballygunner think twice. Stephen O’Keeffe’s puck-outs will have to be targeted if Éire Óg are to have a foothold in the game and as yet no team has really tested a Ballygunner defence that lost serious physicality in Barry Coughlan from last year. Shane O’Donnell will surely be a handful for Ian Kenny inside. In the middle of the field, if David Reidy can spoil the triangle passing Ballygunner put together then this will be a game of a final. But it’s in the forwards where Ballygunner are blessed and the younger Mahony brothers are really stepping it up. 

Verdict: Ballygunner.

AIB Connacht Club SFC final: Maigh Cuilinn (Galway) v St Brigid’s (Roscommon), King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 1pm Live TG4.

Uncertainty around the availability of Peter Cooke and James McLaughlin has muddied the waters for the Galway champions. St Brigid’s are teak tough in the middle of the park and at this time of year that physical edge is necessary. In Brian Stack and Seán Kelly, both teams have exceptional leaders and in the latter Maigh Cuilinn have a man whose versatility can sometimes negate his powers but it shouldn't this weekend. Maigh Cuilinn to give Brigid's a real spook and possibly more if all their key men are right but the home side to win. 

Verdict: St Brigid's.

AIB Ulster Club SFC semi-final refixture: Scotstown (Monaghan) v Newbridge (Derry), Box-It Athletic Grounds, 4pm (J. McQuillan, Cavan).

Turning four points up half-time in Omagh last weekend, Scotstown could consider their 30-plus minutes a job well done in such poor conditions. Then Joe McQuillan called a halt to the game due to an unplayable pitch. They will have to do it all over again and Newbridge will obviously be more relieved about that, but Scotstown have even more of a purpose to finish what they started. 

Verdict: Scotstown.

Ulster Club IHC final: Éire Óg, Carrickmore (Tyrone) v Lisbellaw (Fermanagh), St Tiernach’s Park, 1pm (T. Conway, Derry).

No Tyrone club has ever won this competition while Lisbellaw are hoping to repeat their 2012 feat. Carrickmore, finalists two years ago and bridesmaids on three occasions, look a mean team this year and can eke out the victory.

Verdict: Éire Óg, Carrickmore.

All-Ireland Ladies Club SFC semi-finals: Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) v Comeragh Rangers (Waterford), Fr Stephen’s Park, Clonberne, 2pm.

Comeragh are a doughty side but they are coming up against a machine of team in Kilkerrin-Clonberne who haven’t much on their minds other than a fifth straight All-Ireland title. 

Verdict: Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v St. Ergnat’s, Moneyglass (Antrim), Páirc de Burca, Stillorgan, 2pm.

Kilmacud Crokes have made mincemeat of several teams in recent times and they could win this in a canter as they look to make amends for last year’s final loss. 

Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes.

All-Ireland Ladies Club IFC semi-finals: Knockbride (Cavan) v Naomh Abán (Cork), Knockbride GFC, 1pm.

Their opponents’s home advantage won’t bother Naomh Abán who should relish the challenge. 

Verdict: Naomh Abán.

St Fechin’s (Louth) v Caltra Cuans (Galway), Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, 1.15pm.

Caltra’s eye for goal can serve them well here. 

Verdict: Caltra Cuans.

All-Ireland Ladies Club JFC semi-final: Muckalee (Kilkenny) v Menlough Skehana (Galway), Muckalee GAA, 2pm.

Menlough Skehana may just have enough. 

Verdict: Menlough Skehana.