Championship 2001: Weekend previews

All-Ireland Colleges finals

Hurling: St Colman's, Fermoy, v Gort CS, Croke Park, today, 3.30.

Tradition alone suggests that St Colman's will carry the favourites tag. Only one Connacht school has come away with the All-Ireland title - St Raphael's in 1995 - although this Gort outfit does have the ability to become the second.

Unfortunately, it's been nearly two months since they last played, whereas St Colman's were given a useful test by Dublin Colleges in their semi-final. That gap is likely to be a hindrance to the Connacht champions but they still have the quality and experience to push St Colman's right to the line.

Football: St Patrick's, Navan, v St Jarlath's, Tuam, Croke Park, today, 5.0.

Both teams carry a similar respect and fear for each other. St Patrick's, the champions, have again emerged as the school to beat this year, but St Jarlath's have always had that tag as being the school to beat.

That makes for a most appetising final, and if the Navan students can once more bring the best out of themselves, they should hold a narrow edge.