Club previews

Lar Corbett: will be out to cause problems for Clare champions Cratloe when he lines out for Thurles Sarsfields in the Munster senior club hurling semi-final. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Lar Corbett: will be out to cause problems for Clare champions Cratloe when he lines out for Thurles Sarsfields in the Munster senior club hurling semi-final. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Connacht SFC semi-finals Aughawillan (Leitrim) v Corofin (Galway) Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2.0 This has been a sensational championship for the Willies, journeying from the status of favourites for relegation to county champions for the first time in 20 years. A very young side, they've shown striking resilience throughout in recording Leitrim's first win the club provincial championship since 2005. Tomorrow though, they're up against Connacht aristocracy. Corofin are former All-Ireland winners and this season tapped off their 10th Galway title in 18 seasons. With the match at their county ground and a decent support, Aughawillan can do more than dream of further upsets but reality will intrude.

Ballintubber (Mayo) v St Brigid's (Roscommon) McHale Park, 2.0 With a couple of fire-cracker displays in the county semi-final and final, Ballintubber have high hopes of making a long-awaited impact on the Connacht championship. Brigid's remain however a formidable proposition. Injuries have obliged the Roscommon club to blood new talent – a third of the 2013 All-Ireland winning side were unavailable for the county final – and they now have impressive depth. Their desire will need to hold up against a team with Ballintubber's hunger and the accomplished high-line defending of Cillian O'Connor and company; still, Brigid's - marginally.

Leinster club SFC quarter-finals Rhode (Offaly) v O'Mahonys (Meath) O'Connor Park, 2.0 Apart from Dunshaughlin more than a decade ago, Meath teams have failed in recent times to impact on the Leinster championship. They'll be up against it to improve county fortunes here. Kevin Reilly's injury weakens a defence that's sure to be under pressure from the Niall McNamee-orchestrated Rhode attack.

Rathnew (Wicklow) v Moorefield (Kildare) Aughrim, 2.0 Moorefield made neighbours Sarsfields bitterly regret not finishing off the Kildare final when they had the chance. Luke Dempsey's team are experienced and likely to win this despite the evergreen Tommy Gill still making it happen for Rathnew who have injury concerns over Leighton Glynn.

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Garrycastle (Westmeath) v Emmet Óg (Longford) Cusack Park, 2.0 To the surprise of many, Garrycastle turned back the clock to reclaim the Westmeath title. Their experience gives them an advantage. Manager Dessie Dolan was in charge of Emmet Óg's championship win in Longford 26 years ago although that hardly qualifies as insider information. His son Des Dolan, now 35, had a big role in Garrycastle's latest win but there's a lot of mileage on the clock against a team with a number of Longford first teamers. It's all of 30 years since Longford champions beat their Westmeath counterparts. The time might have come.

Portlaoise (Laois) v St Vincent's (Dublin) O'Moore Park, 2.30 Last year's provincial final between the clubs went all the way to the final 10 minutes but Vincent's displayed a certain amount of negligence along the way having opened up a commanding early lead. Portlaoise will be more confident here though, as the Dublin champions have been on the road so long at this stage. AFL export Zach Tuohy's availability is also good news, as anyone who saw his facility with the round ball in last year's International Rules series will be aware. But ultimately, Vincent's have a lot of firepower and back-up to big names like Diarmuid Connolly and Tomás Quinn. That's likely to be the difference.

Ulster SFC quarter-finals St Eunan's (Donegal) v Roslea (Fermanagh) Letterkenny, 2.30 With controversy dogging the outcome of the Donegal championship, the merits of Eunan's victory have been slightly overshadowed . But their dogged resistance against champions Glenswilly and the performance of the team, from veteran Rory Kavanagh to the younger members, was impressive. , Seán Quigley's knee injury looks too wounding a loss for Roslea to sustain.

Slaughtneil (Derry) v Cavan Gaels (Cavan), Owenbeg, 2.30 In a year that has seen surprises Cavan Gaels may fancy their chances of breaking the county's duck in the province. After a slow start to his resumed career at the club, Seán Johnston's form picked up at the business end of the county championship and Peter Canavan's team have defended well so far. Slaughtneil surprised everyone by winning the double after a controversial football final but their defence is rock-solid. They have also played all but one of their championship matches in Owenbeg. Home win.

Munster SHC semi-final Kilmallock (Limerick) v Sarsfields (Cork) Kilmallock, 2.0 Kilmallock were worthy if unexpected winners in Limerick and have something to prove, having won just one match in their two most recent outings in the province and watched rivals Na Piarsaigh win two Munster titles when they got the chance. Sarsfields have also under-achieved in their three sorties into the province. Home advantage can swing this for the Limerick champions.

Cratloe (Clare) v Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) Cusack Park, 2.0 This looks like the sort of challenge that doesn't always suit Thurles. Cratloe have a high work rate and energetic style. Unusually for opponents of Thurles, the Clare champions boast a comparable range of galacticos with the currently devastating Conor McGrath, Podge Collins and Conor Ryan facing Lar Corbett, Pádraic Maher and Michael Cahill. Cratloe already have an outing under their belt in Munster and can upset the odds.

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times