Preview: Weekend's senior club championship finals

It's the biggest weekend of the senior club championship season with a total of 19 finals across both codes.

Sunday, October 18

FOOTBALL

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Final

St. Brigid’s, Belfast v O’Donovan Rossa, Corrigan Park, 3.00pm

A novel pairing that features a St. Brigid’s team playing in a first final in their 28-year history and O’Donovan Rossa playing in their first since 1991. It’s a tough game to call, but if O’Donovan Rossa can play with the same character they showed when beating Portglenone in the quarter-final and Cargin in the semi-final you’d fancy them to come out on top.

Cormac Leonard Commercials Armagh SFC final

Killeavy St Moninna v Crossmaglen Rangers, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 3pm

Killeavy haven’t lost a match in this year’s championship but will nevertheless go into this final as underdogs against a Crossmaglen Rangers team that has caught fire in the knock-out rounds after two defeats in the group phase. It’s hard to see how the Killeavy defence will be able to hold Cian McConville and Rian and Oisin O’Neill.

Michael Lyng Motors Carlow SFC Final

Old Leighlin v Rathvilly, Netwatch Cullen Park 4pm

This is a repeat of last year’s Final which Old Leighlin won by a point and another tight battle is anticipated here. The reigning champions looked very out of sports in the group phase but seem to have timed their run nicely based on an impressive win over Éire Óg in the semi-finals. Rathvilly arguably have a keener cutting edge in attack though, and if they can break even in the battle for possession in the middle third could edge this.

Kyle Powertech Cavan SFC Final

Gowna v Kingscourt Stars, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm

This is a repeat of last year’s final which Kingscourt Stars won by a margin of nine points. Gowna didn’t play anywhere near their potential in that game and will be highly motivated to prove a point this time around. If the reigning champions can get a decent supply of a ball into the electric Jordan Morris, though, you’d fancy them to repeat the dose.

TUS Clare SFC Final

Eire Óg Ennis v Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis, 3.30pm

Kilmurry-Ibrickane have a nice blend in their team of some stalwart veterans and exciting up and coming talent but champions Éire Óg look like a more complete team from front to back and are warm favourites to win a fifth county title in six years.

Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC Final

St. Eunan’s v Naomh Conaill, Sean MacCumhaill Park, 3.30pm

A heavyweight battle between reigning champions Naomh Conaill and 2024 champions St. Eunan’s. In a match of fine margins, Naomh Conaill’s greater spread of scorers in attack could give them a vital edge. They’ve scored an average of three points more per game than St. Eunan’s on the way to the Final, and in Shea Malone have a goal-scoring forward in a rich vein of form.

PTSB Dublin SFC Final

Castleknock v Cuala, Parnell Park, 4.15pm

Castleknock have exceeded most people’s expectations to make it as far as this county final but are there on merit after impressive quarter and semi-final wins over Kilmacud Crokes and Thomas Davis. Their ability to transition from defence to attack very quickly has been most impressive. 2024/25 All-Ireland champions, Cuala, look that little bit better in most departments though and played to a very high level in their semi-final win over reigning champions Ballyboden.

Anchor Tours Louth SFC Final

Newtown Blues v St. Mochta’s, Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, 3.30pm

St. Mochta’s have really impressed on the way to this final, especially in the semi-final when they blitzed St. Joseph’s by 16 points. Newtown Blues are much more familiar with the big occasion though and their know-how and experience could be decisive.

Fairyhouse Steel Meath SFC Final

Donaghmore-Ashbourne v Wolfe Tones, Donaghmore-Ashbourne GAA Grounds, 2pm

Few would have predicted when the decision was made to play the Meath SFC Final in Ashbourne this year due to the unavailability of Pairc Tailteann that Donaghmore/Ashbourne would make it all the way to the decider. They’re there on merit though and home advantage in front of a parochial crowd will surely spur them on. Wolfe Tones look like a more complete team though, with forwards like Thomas O’Reilly, Caolan Ward, Oisin Martin and Kyle Moran capable of kicking them to victory.

Greenfield Foods Monaghan SFC Final

Truagh Gaels v Scotstown, Clones, 3.30pm

Truagh Gaels have played some great football to make it as far as this Final, but they’ll go into it as heavy underdogs against a Scotstown team bidding to win an 11^th title in 14 years. The reigning Ulster champions were comfortable winners when these two teams met in the group phase, and if county stars like Rory Beggan, Conor McCarthy, Ryan O’Toole, Michéal McCarville and Jack McCarron play to their full potential, this game should go along similar lines.

Hodson Bay Group Roscommon SFC Final

Pádraig Pearses v St. Brigid’s, King & Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park, 2.00pm

These two teams produced an epic final last year that needed a replay to settle it in favour of St. Brigid’s, and there’s every chance this will be another contest of very fine margins. Pearses have shown great heart to come through two extra-time battles to make it to this final, but last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists, St. Brigid’s, arguably have a little bit more firepower in attack.

FBD Insurance Tipperary SFC Final

Loughmore-Castleiney v Clonmel Commercials, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm

Clonmel Commercials have won five of the last seven Tipperary SFC titles but the two finals they lost in that time were against Loughmore-Castleiney. The Mid-Tipp team usually juggle both codes late into both campaigns but their relatively early exit from the hurling championship means they’ve had six weeks to focus solely on football. That should ensure they’re well prepared for this test, but Commericals are favourites to retain their title with good reason.

Connolly’s of Moy Tyrone SFC final

Edendork St Malachy’s v Errigal Ciarán, O’Neills Healy Park, 4.30

This is Edendork’s first ever Tyrone SFC Final but that won’t daunt players like Darren McCurry, Conn Kilpatrick, and Niall Morgan. Form nevertheless favours an Errigal Ciaran team looking to win a third title in five years.

Dominic Smith Expert Electrical Wexford SFC Final

Kilanerin v St. Martin’s, Chadwick’s Wexford Park, 3.30pm

It’s a great achievement by St. Martin’s to reach a county senior football final a year after winning the Intermediate title. The big question mark though is how much will their extra-time loss to Rathnure in the county hurling semi-final last weekend will have sapped their energy. When these two teams met in the first round Kilanerin came out narrowly on top, and there could be a similar result here in what should be a contest of fine margins.

HURLING

Co-Op Superstores Cork SHC Final

Glen Rovers v St. Finbarr’s, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm

This traditional heavyweight clash should be a cracker. St. Finbarr’s still haven’t really caught fire this year but if they get a good supply of ball in to the likes of Brian Hayes, William Buckley, and Ben Cunningham, they’ll be hard to stop. On the flip side, if Rob Downey comes out on top in his key battle with Hayes, then it’s advantage Glen Rovers.

Morgan Fuels Down SHC Final

Portaferry v Ballygalget, Páirc Esler, Newry, 4pm

Portaferry are gunning for a historic five-in-a-row of Down Senior Hurling Championships. They were convincing victors over Ballygalget in the last two finals and are hotly fancied to come out on top again here.

Laois Shopping Centre Laois SHC Final

Camross v The Harps, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 3.45pm

Camross defeated The Harps in the group phase of the championship and also the League Final this year, but don’t be surprised if the tables are turned here. The Harps stopped Clough-Ballacolla’s bid for a third title in a row in the semi-finals and their talented young team is made up of players who have won the last four county U20 titles in a row.

Yeats Tavern, Davis Restaurant Sligo SHC Final

Easkey v Naomh Eoin, Markievicz Park, 2.15pm

Easkey go for a remarkable seventh Sligo SHC title in a row. They’ve beaten Naomh Eoin in the previous six finals, last year by 13 points, and are fancied to repeat the trick here.

Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath SHC Final

Lough Lene Gaels v Raharney, TEG Cusack Park, 3pm

Having lost the last three finals in a row Lough Lene Gaels will be desperate to win their first title in 24 years. They’re coming up against a strong Raharney team who beat them in the final three years ago and who looked very good when beating reigning champions Castletown Geoghegan in the semi-final. It should be a very tight match, but the pain of losing three-in-a-row will surely be a source of inspiration for the Gaels.