GAA PREVIEWS
TODAY MAYO SHC FINAL Tooreen v Ballyhaunis, Tooreen, 4.0 Tooreen will look to county footballer Fergal Boland but Keith Higgins can lead Ballyhaunis to a fourth successive title. Odds: Ballyhaunis 8/13 Tooreen 6/4 Draw 8/1 Verdict: Ballyhaunis TOMORROW CARLOW SFC FINAL REPLAY Eire Og v Rathvilly, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3.15 Cormac Mullins earned Eire Og another shot in the drawn match, and having ousted three-in-a-row-chasing Palatine in the semi-final they will fancy their chances of getting the job done this time around.
Odds: Eire Og 4/6 Rathvilly 8/5 Draw 7/1 Verdict: Eire Og CORK SFC FINAL REPLAY Nemo Rangers v St Finbarrs, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 1.0 Nemo will feel they should have got the job done first time around, and if Paul Kerrigan, Tomás Ó Sé and Co get their noses in front here they are unlikely to slip up again.
Odds: Nemo 8/11 Finbarr’s 11/8 Draw 15/2 Verdict: Nemo KERRY SFC FINAL Dr Crokes v South Kerry, Austin Stack Park, 3.0 It’s hard to make a case against reigning All-Ireland champions Dr Crokes, who hit 5-13 in their semi-final win over West Kerry. South Kerry have no shortage of talent either, with Bryan Sheehan leading the way as they saw off Kerins O’Rahillys, but Crokes look in top form.
Odds: Dr Crokes 2/9 South Kerry 7/2 Draw 12/1
Verdict: Dr Crokes LIMERICK SFC FINAL Adare v Newcastle West, Gaelic Grounds, 4.0 Newcastle West had Jamie Lee in top form when they ousted reigning champions Monaleen in the semi-final as he hit 2-5, while Adare beat Dromcollgher Broadford in their last-four clash. Odds: Adare 7/4 Newcastle West 4/7 Draw 15/2
Verdict: Newcastle West LONDON SFC FINAL Fulham Irish v Tir Chonaill Gaels, Ruislip, 2.30 A repeat of the 2014 final, TCG go into this one as favourites, though Fulh am Irish have already taken the scalp of 2016 champions St Kiernan’s and can call on former Tyrone All-Ireland winner Owen Mulligan.
Odds: Fulham Irish 7/4 TCG 4/7 Draw 7/1 Verdict: TCG ROSCOMMON SFC FINAL Roscommon Gaels v St Brigid’s, Dr Hyde Park, 4.0 St Brigid’s won by 25 points when these sides met earlier in the championship but it’s worth nothing that the Gaels had already qualified for the knock out stages at that point. Still, Frankie Dolan’s Kiltoom side might be too strong once more.
Odds: Gaels 6/4 St Brigid’s 4/6 Draw 15/2 Verdict: Brigid’s SLIGO SFC FINAL Eastern Harps v Tourlestrane, Markievicz Park, 4.0 Eamonn O’Hara’s Tourlestrane can secure back-to-back titles.
Odds: Harps 7/2 Tourlestrane 2/9 Draw 12/1 Verdict: Tourlestrane MAYO SFC FINAL Ballintubber v Castlebar Mitchels, Elvery’s MacHale Park, 3.30 It’s perhaps a surprise to see Castlebar installed as such clear favourites, given their hectic schedule that saw them win their semi-final replay on Wednesday night. There’s no doubting their quality but if they are even a little off, the likes of C ill ian and Di ar mu id O’ Connor and the in-form Alan Dillon can help Ballintubber pounce.
Odds: Castlebar 8/13 Ballintubber 13/8 Draw 15/2
Verdict: Ballintubber CLARE SHC FINAL REPLAY Clooney Quin v Sixmilebridge, Cusack Park, 3.30 This is the second successive year that the Clare final has gone to a replay. Clooney Quin, playing in their first final in 73 years, were in the driving seat for long periods in the drawn match but they might have given Six mile bridge a chance too many here. Odds: Clooney Quin 10/3 Sixmilebridge 1/4 Draw 12/1 Verdict: Sixmilebridge CORK SHC FINAL Blackrock v Imokilly, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4.0 Imokilly, who can all on the likes of Seamus Harnedy, hit 4-17 to see off Sarsfields in the semi-final. Blackrock will need Michael O’Halloran in top form if they are to see off the East Cork outfit.
Odds: Blackrock 5/2 Imokilly 1/3 Draw 11/1 Verdict: Imokilly SLIGO SHC FINAL Calry-St Joseph’s v Western Gaels, Markievicz Park, 2.0 Calry have the quality to make it seven on the bounce.
Verdict: Calry WATERFORD SHC FINAL Ballygunner v De La Salle, Walsh Park, 3.0 Fergal Hartley’s Ballygunner have looked strong in their bid for four in a row and did enough to get past a Dan and Maurice Shanahan-inspired Lismore in the semifinal but De La Salle still can call on the evergreen John Mullane as well as Hurler of the Year nominee Kevin Moran. Odds: Ballygunner 1/2 DLS 2/1 Draw 8/1 Verdict: Ballygunner WEXFORD SHC FINAL Oulart-The Ballagh v St Martin’s, Innovate Wexford Park, 3.30 Oulart are chasing a seventh title since 2010 and they will be out for revenge as they lost to St Martin’s early in the championship. However the Frank Flannery-Martin Dempsey-managed side can make amends here against a St Martin’s outfit who are also in the senior football final.
Odds: Oulart 8/15 St Martin’s 15/8 Draw 8/1 Verdict: Oulart-The Ballagh LEINSTER IFC FINAL (extra-time if necessary) Durrow (Offaly) v Mullinavat (Kilkenny), Durrow, 2.0 Jack Fogarty hit four goals for Durrow in their Offaly decider and he can steer them through.
Odds: Durrow 1/7 Mullinavat 4/1 Draw 14/1 Verdict: Durrow ULSTER CLUB SHC FINAL Ballygalget (Down) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Athletic Grounds, 4.0 Slaughtneil can secure yet more glory in what has been a memorable 18 months for the club.
Odds: Ballygalget 11/2 Slaughtneil 1/8 Draw 14/1
Verdict: Slaughtneil ULSTER CLUB IHC FINAL Lavey (Derry) v Middletown (Armagh), Corrigan Park, 1.0 Middletown to prevail.
Odds: Lavey 11/10 Middletown 4/5 Draw 8/1 Verdict: Middletown