GAA weekend previews: does Croke Park finale come too soon for creaking An Ghaeltacht?
FINAL TWO: Eoin Bradley (Glenullin) and Aidan Walsh (An Ghaeltacht) ahead of the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
With so many fine dual players in their ranks, narrow runners-up to Monaleen just two years ago and Connacht IHC champions six times since 2017, the last thing Upperchurch-Drombane can afford to do is take Tooreen for granted. This is the first All-Ireland intermediate final appearance by a Tipperary club in 21 years (Kiladangan). If there is one club who should be humbled going into this final, it’s them. Upperchurch-Drombane have seen off some good opposition on the way and we stress again their defence has been superb. It can be the difference in a tight final. : Upperchurch-Drombane.
Easkey are no strangers to this stage, having lost out to Ballygiblin in the 2023 decider. Then again, Kilbrittain’s presence here is the sixth straight final appearance by a Cork team. And yet Ballygiblin have been the only victors in that run. Just because there are no Kilkenny representatives – they have beaten Cork outfits in four of those finals – doesn’t mean Easkey can be dismissed. Easkey overcame Ballinasloe in a decent contest of a provincial final and Andrew Kilcullen will demand a lot of attention. Easkey will feel they have building to this point but Kilbrittain’s own scoring powerhouses Mark Hickey and Bertie Butler can thwart them in what could be the start of a special day for players in black and amber stripes. : Kilbrittain.
A good crowd is expected in Newbridge as much as both managers are using the competition to expand their squads. Dublin haven’t won the O’Byrne Cup since 2022 but it would be a decent platform for new boss Ger Brennan ahead of facing Donegal in two weeks' time. Dublin
Offaly blew hot and then cold against a less familiar Meath side to reach this last-four game. Westmeath can take the early derby bragging rights. : Westmeath.
Both teams were denied a game last weekend because of poor weather. Losing a number of players, Galway may just have more work to do than Offaly in developing a squad but can chalk up the win. : Galway.
Nothing but a Galway win is on the cards as Pádraic Joyce distils his squad options ahead of the National League. : Galway.
Beaten up and cramped as they were, many An Ghaeltacht players barely raised more than a cheer at the final whistle after last Sunday’s epic win over Sallins. The fear must be they played their final in Cork. Not that the occasion will get to them here – there are enough men in the team and sideline who have Croke Park experience – but for a group that in part had been driving on fumes did they expend too much to see off the Kildare and Leinster champions? Another week and Glenullin might not be as fancied. Brian and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich sure would love to be in Paul Geaney’s shoes and have an extra week to right his body for this game. Glenullin went goal crazy in their semi-final against Strokestown, have posted eight in their last two outings (Ryan McNicholl has three of them) and, as sticky as the Gaeltacht defence can be, Croke Park won’t be into their barrow. An Ghaeltacht won’t die wondering here. Their half-back line and forwards will give them a chance. It will take plenty to break their spirit but their bodies are creaking. : Glenullin.
Kerry and Tyrone club battles can be ferocious contests, although the one-week turnaround from the clubs' respective semi-finals may persuade them to ease into this final. Clogher had it the easier of the two but that doesn’t appear to be reflected in the pre-match betting. Scoring 2-4 against Kiltimagh, Tyrone U20 Ciarán Bogue, who is now part of the county senior panel, is a gem and will thrive in Croke Park. It’s in Ballymacelligott’s nature not to win or lose this final easily. They should have been out of Grangenolvin’s sights in Rathkeale but were reeled back before seeing out the win. Their spread of scorers may give them an advantage over Clogher. It’s a shame these clubs don’t have more time to appreciate and prepare for an All-Ireland final. Extra-time has to be a consideration but if it develops into a shoot-out – and that is likely – Ballymac have the players to score. : Ballymacelligott.
Barring a major surprise, Kerry can look forward to a McGrath Cup final on January 17 ahead of their opening Division 1 game at home to Roscommon seven days later. Kerry will be expected to experiment again. : Kerry.
Limerick will be expected to commit more to this game than they did in personnel or performance against Tipperary. Nevertheless, Cork’s appetite will be whetted by the prospect of facing Kerry ahead of the league. : Cork.
Tipperary require a landslide victory to jump ahead of Waterford and take a place in the competition final. Kerry lost by 37 points to Waterford in Dungarvan. They should give a better showing in Tralee but a winning one is not anticipated by anybody. : Tipperary.
A draw will be enough for Tyrone to oust Armagh from the top of the table. Down are going to breeze through Division 3 but this is the type of test they want. : Tyrone.
Both teams picked up the full complement of points against Cavan meaning the victors will be certain of a semi-final place. Monaghan to land the win on home soil. Monaghan.
Donegal know they require a 16-point win to top the table. Going by the team they named for the abandoned Derry game, they meant business. : Donegal.
Mayo finished well against Sligo and they were given an examination. The same can’t be said of Roscommon’s win over Leitrim. Both teams are missing club-tied players but the visitors can edge it. : Mayo.
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