TODAY: McGrath Cup (Munster SF) final Kerry v Clare, Tralee, 7.30pm– Clare, beefed up under the parentage rule, had a good win over a slightly under-strength Waterford in the semi-final whereas Kerry came out on top in what was essentially a battle of shadow teams with Cork. Jack O'Connor says he won't be losing sleep over the outcome here and he won't be the only one.
Dr McKenna Cup (Ulster SF)
Section A Tyrone v UUJ, Healy Park, 7pm– In the difficult circumstances Tyrone have started their season encouragingly with determined wins over Donegal and Fermanagh. The students haven't shone particularly brightly and will hardly start here.
Donegal v Fermanagh, MacCumhaill Park, 7pm– Donegal are front runners to pip Cavan to the fourth semi-final place, assuming that Tyrone win Group A, and they will be expected to do the necessary by taking a four-point win.
Semi-final Derry v Antrim, Celtic Park, 7pm– Derry have put in a purposeful campaign and will welcome back a number of third-level players before starting next week's NFL opener. Antrim were also impressive in going through the group unbeaten. Should be interesting with Derry slightly favoured.
O’Byrne Cup Shield (Leinster SF) final
Dublin v Meath, Parnell Park, 7.30pm (Live onTG4)– Bernard Brogan comes back for his first match of 2011, as Dublin renew memories of their most traumatic outing of last year against a Meath side with their own top gun Joe Sheridan also returning. Do teams use up revenge impulses in the O'Byrne Shield? We'll see.
Walsh Cup (Leinster SH) semi-final
Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 5.30– Having wrought their own revenge for last year against Antrim, Dublin and their new recruits come up against the first big challenge of the season. Despite absentees Galway have named a decent team and will provide Anthony Daly with plenty of data on his state of evolution.
TOMORROW
Leinster club SHC final
O'Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) v Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford), Dr Cullen Park, 2.30pm (Deferred broadcast on TG4)– Like all of the postponed provincial finals there was one team a bit keener than the other to get finished before Christmas and Oulart would have liked to maintain the momentum of two months ago. O'Loughlins can argue that they had the more impressive semi-final but the break has allowed Maurice Nolan recover from the leg injury that kept him out of most of the Leinster championship. The Kilkenny champions deservedly beat Ballyboden but lapses in concentration meant that they started slowly and were chasing the match from an early stage and then having wrested back the initiative they got caught again and were slightly fortunate to get to extra-time.
With Nolan – hugely influential in the defeat of All-Ireland champions Ballyhale in the county semi-final – available, they will, however, have a formidable spine with Brian Hogan at centre back and Martin Comerford, their best player against Ballyboden, up front. Oulart come into this with sound credentials. Under Liam Dunne they have consolidated their status as Wexford’s best club and last season nearly dispatched Ballyhale. They play a style reminiscent of Wexford when they beat Kilkenny for the only time in the last decade, using pace, movement and well directed ball to bring their skilful forwards into play.
In defence they have a number of proven intercounty performers, such as Keith Rossiter, Paul Roche and Darren Stamp and it’s easy to see why they’re in the unaccustomed position (in a Wexford-Kilkenny encounter) of being bookies’ favourites. But there’s a resilience about O’Loughlin Gaels that suggests they can buck those odds.
Munster club SFC final
Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Dr Crokes (Kerry), Gaelic Grounds, 2.30pm– The strength of Nemo's tradition in Munster has faded a little in recent years – their loss record trebling in the last four years – but their consistency and experience is such that they retain the favourites' tag for tomorrow's eagerly-awaited provincial final. The rest will benefit the Kerry champions, who had a sustained run of matches leading up to the Munster semi-final when fatigue and the feisty challenge of Aherlow nearly derailed them. Colm Cooper has been in top form for the club and Nemo will need to take a grip around centrefield or try to emulate the excellence of Ciarán McDonald's marking job for Aherlow.
Even those safeguards aren’t foolproof. As was seen four years ago when Crokes last won Munster, Cooper is also comfortable playing a deeper role and with Kieran O’Leary and Daithí Casey capable of putting up scores, Nemo will have to maintain their defensive shape. The Cork champions have firepower of their own in Paul Kerrigan’s pace and finishing and the guile of James Masters as well as the boost of Barry O’Driscoll’s recovery from injury. The question of retained form doesn’t usually arise until All-Ireland semi-finals but the weather raises the question this year at an earlier stage of the championship. Nemo haven’t been shooting out the lights in their challenge match preparation whereas Crokes are still reportedly sharp and it won’t be a surprise to see them clock up a fourth title.
O’Byrne Cup (Leinster SF) final
Kildare v Louth, Newbridge, 2.30pm– Kildare have been approaching this year's competition intently and Louth have maintained their recent profile in it by reaching a third successive final. One of the interesting match-ups will be at centrefield where Pádraig O'Neill has been attracting rave reviews for Kildare and where Louth's Paddy Keenan has been maintaining his All Star form in tandem with the impressive Ronan Carroll.
Connacht SF League (rescheduled fixtures)
Leitrim v Mayo, Ballinamore, 2pm– Leitrim's big win over GMIT gives them a shout of winning the group but Mayo are more likely to prevail an reach the final against NUIG.
Roscommon v GMIT, Ballyforan, 2pm– Roscommon retain an outside chance of topping the group but whereas they should win this, further progress is unlikely.
Walsh Cup (Leinster SH) semi-final
Laois v Kilkenny, Rathdowney, 11.30am– Laois have been in sprightly form so far but even against a Kilkenny, who were in experimental mode against NUIG, that probably won't be enough to progress.
Munster Cup SH semi-finals
Clare v Waterford, Sixmilebridge, 2pm– Both had good wins over Limerick and Cork with Richie Foley given a run at centre forward and getting amongst the goals. Waterford won this easily last year and should progress.
Cork v UL, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2pm– Cork engineered a last-gasp win against UCC and now take on the last of the third-level institutions left standing after WIT scratched during the week because of an imminent Fitzgibbon fixture.
Walsh Shield(Leinster SH) semi-final: Offaly v UCD, Banagher, 12.30pm; Kehoe Cup(Leinster SH) semi-finals: Wicklow v DCU, Arklow, 2.15; Meath v GMIT, Trim, 2.15pm; Kehoe Shield(Leinster SH) final: Louth v Trinity, Drogheda, 2.15pm.
All-Ireland club semi-finals– IFC: St James (Galway) v Gneeveguilla (Kerry), Gaelic Grounds, 1pm; Ballymore (Kildare) v Lisnaskea (Fermanagh), Pairc Tailteann, 2.30pm. JFC: St Peter's (Lancashire) v St Mary's (Kerry), Kilmallock, 1pm; Ballinabrackey (Meath) v Swanlinbar (Cavan), Kenagh, 2.30. IHC: Pádraig Pearses (Galway) v Ballymartle (Cork), Templetohy, 2.30; Dicksboro (Kilkenny) v St John's (Antrim), Cusack Park, 1pm. JHC: Bearna-na Forbacha (Galway) v Meelin (Cork), Ennis, 2.30; John Lockes (Kilkenny) v Inniskeen (Monaghan), St Loman's, 2.30.
