A look at tomorrow's matches
Ulster SFC final
Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Burren (Down), Morgan Athletic Grounds, 3.15pm
Victory for the Down champions would represent a power shift in Ulster football. The dominant force of the 1980s, Burren gathered two All-Ireland titles on top of five provincial crowns only for the 10 -year harvest to eventually end with defeat to Lavey of Derry in the 1992 decider.
The slack was picked up by Crossmaglen in 1996 when they won the first of their eight Ulster titles. The clannish folk of south Armagh are never sated with provincial spoils, however, adding five All-Irelands in this hugely successful era.
Current All-Ireland champions, the contribution of the Kernan brothers remains undimmed, while 36-year-old Oisín McConville ensures a link still exists back to the ’96 team.
Cross’ fended off their great predecessors in last year’s semi-final by a solitary point. The bookmakers have installed them as three-point handicap favourites this time around, yet Burren possess enough quality throughout the spine of their team – like Kevin McKernan, Dan McCartan, Anton McArdle up into a group forwards where there are a number of scoring avenues – to twist this on its head.
Still, the appetite for silverware in Crossmaglen refuses to wane and while Burren are certainly back on the provincial stage, the pursuit of a sixth Ulster title may go into its 24th year.
Munster SHC final
Crusheen (Clare) v Na Piarsaigh (Limerick), Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm
The momentum seems to be building behind Na Piarsaigh. Having won their first ever Limerick title, they registered an impressive 3-9 to 0-12 defeat of Waterford champions Ballygunner. The presence of men like Kevin Downes, Shane Dowling and David Breen makes anything possible.
Crusheen have a firm grip of the Clare hurling landscape at present and were undaunted by a semi-final trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where they dismissed Carrigtwohill with six points to spare.
Donal Tuohy’s shot-stopping prowess is sure to be called upon again but it’s unlikely even he can deny Downes at close quarters. Pat Vaughan clips over their placed balls, although they have a number of scoring outlets.
A decent contest is promised but the Limerick men might continue their ground-breaking exploits.
Leinster SHC final
Oulart The Ballagh (Wexford) v Coolderry (Offaly), Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, 2pm
Kilkenny is a mildly ironic setting for the meeting of Wexford and Offaly clubs in the provincial decider. It is certainly a welcome change and certainly earned as Oulart, under incoming Wexford manager Liam Dunne, transferred their county dominance to the next plateau by beating James Stephens at this same venue.
Birr were the last non-Kilkenny club to annex Leinster in 2007 but the Offaly club’s real period of dominance waned in 2002/03. Coolderry, managed by Ken Hogan, had enough hurling in them to put away Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda’s in fine style already this season.
Oulart were denied at this juncture last season by O’Loughlin Gaels but considering the loss of influential forwards Stephen Doyle (from the throw-in anyway) and Peter Murphy, the Offaly men can target a first provincial title, especially if the Brady brothers, Joe and Kevin, Kevin Teehan, Brian Carroll, Kevin Connolly and Damien Murray perform to their usual high standard.
Gavin Cummiskey
