Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
SHAMROCKS LOOK TO RUB SHOULDERS WITH KINGPINS TULLAROAN
COUNTY final season is in full swing with 10 deciders taking place in football and two in hurling this weekend.
The Kilkenny final is the highlight in hurling, with Ballyhale Shamrocks facing James Stephens, who have Brian Cody in their backroom team.
Shamrocks are going for a five- in- a- row and victory will see them join Tullaroan at the top of the roll of honour with 20 titles.
The other senior hurling final takes place in Armagh, where Keady play Sean Treacys at the Athletic Grounds.
Keady have been in four of the last five deciders, winning in 2018.
In football, there are senior finals in Cavan, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Leitrim, Meath, Monaghan, Sligo, Tipperary and Wexford, as well as a replay in Louth.
Respect
The Donegal final, featuring St Eunan’s, Letterkenny and Naomh Conaill, Glenties was postponed last weekend as a mark of respect to those killed in the Creeslough tragedy.
In Dublin football, it’s the same pairing as the senior hurling final with Kilmacud Crokes up against Na Fianna.
Paul Mannion is out for Crokes, who are led by Rory O’Carroll, Craig Dyas and Shane Walsh.
Crokes are going for their 10th title and back-to- back crowns.
Na Fianna haven’t won a Dublin senior championship since 2001, when Dessie Farrell, Kieran McGeeney, Jason Sherlock and Senan Connell were on board.
In Meath, David
Brady- led Ratoath are looking for their third senior title in four years to cement their arrival as a major force in the county.
They face Summerhill, managed by former Meath midfielder Conor Gillespie. They are looking for a first title since 2013 and an eighth in total.
Summerhill haven’t conceded a goal in the championship yet, while free- scoring Ratoath are without cruciate knee ligament victim Joey Wallace.
Elsewhere, Scotstown face Ballybay at Clones tomorrow (3pm) in the Monaghan decider.
Scotstown are going for a three- in- a- row and an eighth county title since 2013.
Ballybay, with eight titles, last lifted the title in 2012, while they were beaten in the 2018 and 2020 deciders.
In Tipperary, it’s Clonmel Commercials against first- time county finalists Upperchurch- Drombane at Semple Stadium tomorrow (3.15pm).
Behind
Clonmel are only two behind Fethard in the overall roll of honour with 19 titles.
Commercials were beaten by a point in last year’s final by Loughmore- Castleiney. They have won four of the last seven titles.
In Sligo, it’s St Mary’s versus Tourlestrane at Markievicz Park (3.30pm).
In Leitrim, it’s Mohill against St Mary’s in Carrick- on- Shannon (3pm).
In Down, All- Ireland champions Kilcoo face Warrenpoint at Páirc Esler tomorrow (4pm).
And in Wexford, it’s Shelmaliers against Castletown at 4pm in Wexford Park tomorrow.