Gaelic Games

GAA previews: Goal-hungry Na Fianna bidding to book All-Ireland final place

Formidable Dublin champions face Galway kingpins Loughrea while experienced Slaughtneil will test first-time Munster winners Sarsfields in Sunday’s first semi-final

Dónal Burke: the Dublin stalwart delivered his best display of the season to date for Na Fianna in the Leinster final. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Dónal Burke: the Dublin stalwart delivered his best display of the season to date for Na Fianna in the Leinster final. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Seán Moran
Sat Dec 14 2024 - 06:00
Saturday

All-Ireland women’s club SFC final: Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Croke Park, 5.0 – There are two co-ordinates to this final: one, the fact that the Galway champions are on the verge of a four-in-a-row, a feat unprecedented since the heyday of Ballymacarbry’s subjugation of the championship three decades ago; but two, is last year’s semi-final when these teams arm-wrestled to an extra-time conclusion with the champions just ahead.

This time around, they were clear winners against Clann Éireann but Kilmacud annihilated Munster champions Desmonds, scoring five goals. Well-known players abound on either side – the Wards and Divillys for the champions and Lauren McGee and Galway footballer Ailbhe Davoren for Crokes.

Ironically, two of the Galway team that beat Dublin this year line out for Crokes, Dearbhla Gower in goal and Davoren. This is their first All-Ireland final and they look to have momentum. Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes

Ailbhe Davoren of Kilmacud Crokes. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Ailbhe Davoren of Kilmacud Crokes. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Sunday

All-Ireland club camogie senior final: Sarsfields v Truagh-Clonlara, Croke Park, 4.15 – Two hugely contrasting backgrounds in opposition with the Galway champions in their eight All-Ireland final in nine years whereas their opponents are the first Clare club ever to reach this stage. It is an opportunity for Michael McGrath’s team to balance the books with a fourth title in that time.

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They have lived dangerously this year, needing extra time to beat Athenry in the county and only leading the All-Ireland semi-final against Loughgiel in the last minute after Caoimhe Kelly’s superb winner.

The Clare champions have also had to battle to get here and looked done in their semi against St Vincent’s before late points by Áine O’Loughlin, Aoibhinn Marren and Becky Foley overturned a two-point deficit. They are hoping to be Munster’s first winners since Milford nine years ago. Verdict: Sarsfields

All-Ireland club SHC semi-final: Loughrea (Galway) v Na Fianna (Dublin), FBD Semple Stadium, 3.30 [Live on TG4] – Loughrea were jittery in the county final defeat of neighbours Cappataggle and can be expected to loosen up a bit in their first All-Ireland semi-final in 17 years. They also have influential forward Jamie Ryan back after acclimatisation off the bench in a recent couple of matches although Martin McManus is still out with long-term injury and greatly missed. Their opponents were star turns on a provincial finals weekend, which greatly tested favourites. Na Fianna controlled the match against Kilcormac and again played their invaluable calling card, the ability to get well-timed goals.

On top of that, they got Dónal Burke’s best display of the campaign and if he can repeat that, it’s very hard to see the Dublin champions being beaten. Solid at the back and tactically versatile, they have a range of scorers up front who can pose problems for a Loughrea side who haven’t played in five weeks and are not equipped with an infinite array of man markers. If the Galway champions can step up dramatically and force Na Fianna into a less confident frame of mind they’ve every chance but it doesn’t look the most likely scenario. Verdict: Na Fianna

Sarsfields’ Shane O'Regan scores his side's second goal in the shock Munster final win over heavy favourites Ballygunner. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Sarsfields’ Shane O'Regan scores his side's second goal in the shock Munster final win over heavy favourites Ballygunner. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

All-Ireland club SHC semi-final: Sarsfields (Cork) v Robert Emmet’s, Slaughtneil (Derry), Cedral St Conleth’s, 1.30 [Live, TG4] – Sarsfields sprang the biggest ambush of the championship in taking down Ballygunner with a display that few outside Riverstown saw coming and which may prove difficult to repeat. Most impressive was their steadiness in staying the course after the startled favourites had pulled back, level. Of course, they got 2-3 from replacement Shane O’Regan, which put the kibosh on any prospects of the champions recovering the initiative.

This weekend they face a serious challenge from the five-time Ulster champions. Since their last All-Ireland outing three years ago, Slaughtneil have added a new manager, the highly regarded former Armagh Ulster player, Paul McCormack and a couple of talented young defenders in Fionn McEldowney and Conor Coyle, who have the pace and athleticism to cope better with Sarsfields’ slick attack and also get ball into dangerous forwards, such as Brendan Rogers. They also have experience of these big days and a solid chance of upsetting the odds. Verdict: Slaughtneil

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times