Irish Independent

WEEKEND COUNTY FINAL PREVIEWS: FOOTBALL AND HURLING

- Donnchadh Boyle

TODAY MAYO SFC FINAL Ballintubb­er v Breaffy, Elvery’s MacHale Park, 8.0 AFTER two gruelling games against three-in-a-row champions Castlebar, Ballintubb­er must go to the well again. Breaffy are on the hunt for their first title with the O’Shea brothers to the fore.

Odds: Ballintubb­er 4/5, Breaffy 11/8, Draw 13/2

Verdict: Ballintubb­er

WEXFORD SFC FINAL REPLAY* Kilanerin v Shelmalier­s, Innovate Wexford Park, 3.45 SHELMALIER­S might have the momentum having come from three down late in the drawn game but Mattie Forde was brilliant for last year’s intermedia­te winners and if he can repeat the dose, Kilanerin might finish the job.

Odds: Kilanerin 7/5, Shelmalier­s 8/11, Draw 7/1

Verdict: Kilanerin

LEITRIM SHC FINAL Carrick Hurling v Cluainín Iomáint, Ballinamor­e, 2.0

Verdict: Cluainín Iomáin

TOMORROW ULSTER CLUB SFC FIRST ROUND Scotstown (Monaghan) v Derrygonne­lly (Fermanagh), Clones, 2.30 BOTH sides have won four in a row on home ground but will feel they could have gone better in Ulster.

Odds: Scotstown 3/10, Derrygonne­lly 3/1, Draw 9/1

Verdict: Scotstown

ANTRIM SFC FINAL Cargin v Creggan, Ahoghill, 3.30 TOMÁS McCANN’s brilliant late goal to knock out St Gall’s means Cargin will float into this final.

Odds: Cargin 1/2, Creggan 2/1, Draw 7/1 Verdict: Cargin

ARMAGH SFC FINAL Ballymacna­b v Crossmagle­n, Athletic Grounds, 4.0 CROSS’ haven’t won this title since 2015 but are expected to get back on top here.

Odds: Ballymacna­b 7/2, Crossmagle­n 2/7, Draw 8/1

Verdict: Crossmagle­n

CAVAN SFC FINAL Castleraha­n v Crosserlou­gh, Kingspan Breffni Park, 3.30 CASTLERAHA­N have lost the last three finals in a row but this could be their chance to atone for those near-misses.

Odds: Castleraha­n 4/9, Crosserlou­gh 12/5, Draw 7/1 Verdict: Castleraha­n

DERRY SFC FINAL Coleraine v Lavey, Celtic Park, 3.30 GIVEN that they knocked powerhouse Slaughtnei­l out of the competitio­n it’s hard to look past the claims of Coleraine. Odds: Coleraine 1/2, Lavey 21/10, Draw 7/1 Verdict: Coleraine

DONEGAL SFC FINAL Ghaoth Dobhair v Naomh Conaill, MacCumhail­l Park, 4.0 A HAUL of 3-14 in the semi-final reveals the sort of form Ghaoth Dobhair are in and having beaten Naomh Conaill earlier in the competitio­n they can move top of the roll of honour here.

Odds: Ghaoth Dobhair 4/7, Naomh Conaill 9/5, Draw 7/1

Verdict: Ghaoth Dobhair

KILDARE SFC FINAL Athy v Moorefield, Newbridge, 3.30

LEINSTER champions Moorefield are favourites but Athy, inspired by Niall Kelly, beat the Newbridge men in a league decider.

Odds: Athy 17/10, Moorefield 8/13, Draw 7/1

Verdict: Moorefield

LIMERICK SFC FINAL Adare v Ballylande­rs, Newcastlew­est, 3.0 ADARE are looking to make it back-to-back senior crowns here.

Odds: Adare 1/2, Ballylande­rs 21/10, Draw 7/1 Verdict: Adare

LONDON SFC FINAL Fulham Irish v Tír Chonaill Gaels, McGovern Park, TBC TÍR CHONAILL GAELS will be out for revenge after Fulham Irish’s smash-and-grab raid in last year’s decider.

Verdict: Tír Chonaill Gaels

LOUTH SFC FINAL Newtown Blues v Naomh Máirtín, Gaelic Grounds, 3.30 NEWTOWN BLUES had nine points to spare when the sides met in July.

Odds: Blues 4/9, Nh Máirtín 9/4, Draw 15/2 Verdict: Newtown Blues

TYRONE SFC FINAL Coalisland v Killyclogh­er, Healy Park, 4.0 THESE sides needed a replay to separate them in the 2016 decider when Killyclogh­er came out on top but they have a doubt over the fitness of county star Mark Bradley.

Odds: Coalisland Evens, Killyclogh­er 11/10, Draw 13/2

Verdict: Coalisland

WESTMEATH SFC FINAL Mullingar Shamrocks v St Loman’s, Cusack Park, 3.30 THE two Mullingar teams go head-to-head with St Loman’s looking for four in a row.

Odds: Shamrocks 2/1, St Loman’s 1/2, Draw 15/2 Verdict: St Loman’s

DUBLIN SHC FINAL Ballyboden-St Enda’s v Kilmacud Crokes, Parnell Park, 4.0

GIVEN they halted the gallop of Cuala it’s hard to look past the claims of Anthony Daly’s Kilmacud Crokes. Odds: Ballyboden 6/5, Crokes 5/6, Draw 8/1 Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes

CLARE SHC FINAL Ballyea v Cratloe, Cusack Park, 3.30 TONY KELLY hit 1-9 for Ballyea last time out while Cratloe’s defeat in the football semi means all eyes are on the hurling now. Odds: Ballyea 11/8, Cratloe 8/11, Draw 8/1 Verdict: Cratloe

TIPPERARY SHC FINAL Clonoulty-Rossmore v Nenagh Eire Óg, Semple Stadium, 3.30 NENAGH will take great heart from halting Sarsfields’ drive for five. Odds: Clonoulty-Rossmore 9/4, Nenagh 2/5, Draw 10/1

Verdict: Nenagh

WEXFORD SHC FINAL St Martin’s v Naomh Eanna, Innovate Wexford Park, 3.15 NAOMH EANNA look set to play without Cathal Dunbar after his controvers­ial red card in the semi final, which is a big blow.

Odds: St Martin’s 4/9, Naomh Eanna 2/1, Draw 10/1

Verdict: St Martin’s

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