Today

Club Championships

Connacht SFC final replay - Crossmolina (Mayo) v Roscommon Gaels (Roscommon), Crossmolina, 2.00 - The question is: were Roscommon lucky that Crossmolina faded in the second half or were Crossmolina lucky that their opponents gave a noticeably below-par performance? The feeling here is that the Mayo champions have the right blend of industry and football to make their home advantage tell this afternoon.

Munster Club SFC semi-final replay - Rathgormack (Waterford) v UCC (Cork), Dungarvan, 2.0 - UCC will presumably have spent a more sober week than that which preceded last week's draw. They can also add Michael D Cahill and Micheal Cronin to their ranks after both struck gold with their intermediate clubs last Sunday. This supplementing will be necessary as the trip to Dungarvan will be demanding against a Rathgormack side with composure and staying power backed by a home crowd. Nonetheless, the students have more room for improvement and can qualify for next week's final.

Sunday

Club Championships

Connacht SHC final - St Mary's, Athenry, (Galway) v Tooreen (Mayo), Aughamore, 2.30 - The Mayo champions' fine win over St Dominics will be their highpoint of the season whereas more serious challenges await Athenry.

Leinster SHC final - Birr (Offaly) v Castletown (Laois), Kilkenny, 2.15 - Central to this match is the extent to which Castletown can have improved in the two years since the teams last met at this stage. On the face of it, the picture isn't that encouraging because there are minimal changes to both line-ups. The Laois club can argue that they were disadvantaged back then by both inexperience and a tough replayed semi-final against Oulart. This time around, the team has been proceeding at a steadier pace and will hope to give a better account of themselves tomorrow. Defensively, they have been impressive although they haven't met a team as potent as Birr but there will be question marks over their ability to make an impression on the Offaly champions' defence. This may be unfair as Birr were prone to lapses of concentration against Glenmore and but for wasteful finishing by the Kilkennymen, could have found themselves in deeper trouble than they did. The inter-changeability of Offaly forwards continues with Simon Whelahan playing at corner forward as he used to in Birr until becoming one of the best corner backs in inter-county hurling in recent years. It looks like too much of a gap for Castletown to bridge.

Munster SHC final - St Joseph's Doora-Barefield (Clare) v Ballygunner (Waterford), Thurles, 2.30 - It is a tribute to St Joseph's that they have progressed this far in their year as defending All-Ireland champions. None of their county predecessors as Munster champions managed to make it out of Clare for two years running - not surprising when you look at the county's record of having supplied two All-Ireland winners in the last four years as well as two other teams who lost to the eventual winners - in Clarecastle's case after a replay. Comparisons are difficult to make given the shifting scenery in this championship but as far as we can tell, the champions are actually looking in better shape this year although the loss of captain Lorcan Hassett will weaken tomorrow's effort. Their semi-final victory over Toomevara was both more comprehensive and achieved against an improved outfit than the Munster final win of last year. Ballygunner are now a very experienced side but found the escalating challenge from Clare clubs hard to handle. They may do so again.