Today’s Previews

Limerick SFC final Adare v Newcastle West Kilmallock, 3.0

The two clubs that have dominated in recent years go head-to-head in a rematch of last year’s decider when Newcastlewest had six points to spare, and that is a lot of ground for Adare to make up. Verdict: Newcastle West

Leinster Club SFC quarterfinals

Ratoath (Meath) v Rhode (Offaly)

Páirc Tailteann, 2.0

Ratoath may have won a third county title in four years, but the Meath champions are still waiting for a first win in the Leinster championship, having lost to Garrycastle in 2019, while the pandemic shut the door on their provincial ambitions a year later.

Rhode are a battle-hardened outfit, but they may have deemed winning Offaly to be their war.

Verdict: Ratoath

The Downs (Westmeath) v St Mary’s, Ardee (Louth) TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2.0

Novel hardly describes this fixture, given that it’s 17 years since The Downs last represented Westmeath, while Ardee’s first appearance in 27 years culminated in a 3-7 to 1-7 win over St Colmcille’s of Longford.

Daire McConnon’s eye for goal gives the Louth side hope but The Downs secured a Lake County league and championship double and get the nod. Verdict: The Downs

Palatine (Carlow) v Portarlington (Laois) Netwatch Cullen Park, 3.0

No matter what happens from here, after last month’s first win in the Leinster Club SFC, when they trounced St Patrick’s of Wicklow, this campaign will go down as a historic one for Palatine.

And in classy corner-forward Conor Crowley, the Carlow champs have a star to trouble the Portarlington defence, but the three-in-a-row Laois champions are simply on a different level.

Verdict: Portarlington

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Naas (Kildare) Parnell Park, 3.30

A rematch of last year’s Leinster final which Kilmacud won by double scores (0-14 to 0-7) but it was a far more keenly contested affair than that result suggested.

The Kildare champions trailed by just a point at the interval but failed to score in the second period, kicking nine wides in the process.

Their misfortune is they face an even stronger Kilmacud team this year. Paul Mannion may be absent but the addition of Shane Walsh (below), who scored 0-4 in the county final win over Na Fianna, has added to the attacking threat of the defending champions.

Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes

Munster club SHC quarterfinal

Ballygunner (Waterford) v Kilruane MacDonagh’s (Tipperary)

Walsh Park, 1.30 TG4

There are two ways of looking at this one. The first is that the reigning All-Ireland champions and ninein-a-row Waterford winners will deliver a reality check to a team after winning a first Tipperary title in 37 years. And after a physically and mentally demanding replay, too.

The second is that a team in cold storage for eight weeks since the club hurling championship was parked might take time to find their best form.

The underdogs can still surf that emotional high to really trouble them here, especially with Niall O’Meara, Jerome Cahill and Cian Darcy in fine form.

But Ballygunner’s experience suggests the former.

Verdict: Ballygunner

Leinster LGFA Senior Club Final

Kilmacud Crokes v Tinahely

Bray Emmets GAA, 1.0

There will be brand new senior champions in Leinster as firsttime finalists Kilmacud Crokes take on Tinahely. Crokes have named the same side as defeated Naomh Ciarán a fortnight ago.

The game will be live streamed on Leinster’s InPlayer streaming service: https://page. inplayer.com/leinsterlgfa/index. html

Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes