By John Harrington

It's the biggest weekend yet of club championship action this year with 13 county finals taking place across the country.

Antrim

Cushendall and Loughiel Shamrocks will meet in the Bathshack Antrim SHC Final on Sunday. Loughiel produced a big upset in the semi-final when they dethroned a Dunloy team seeking a fifth title in a row with a superb display of hurling as they triumphed by 1-21 o 0-13. Cushendall were equally impressive in their semi-final win over Ballycastle, so this is all set up to be a cracking match.

Cushendall have had the better of it when these two teams have met in recent years, including the group phase of this year’s championship when they won comfortably by a margin of 15 points just six weeks ago. Loughiel’s young team looked a far better outfit in the semi-final win over Dunloy than they did that day, but a Cushendall team inspired by Neil McManus are favourites with good reason.

Armagh

Middletown will attempt to win a fifth Antrim SHC title in a row when they play Keady in Sunday’s Final. They’ve beaten the same opponents in three of the last four finals, but on each successive occasion Keady have been more competitive and got within four points of Middletown in last year’s Final. The fact that they beat Middletown in the group phase of this year’s championships suggests this match will be decided by even tighter margins.

Clare

St. Breckan’s and Cratloe go head to head in a novel looking TUS Clare SFC Final on Sunday. St Breckan’s are contesting their first final since 1996 and will go in as underdogs, but they’ve matured nicely as a team since winning the intermediate championship in 2019 and will fancy their chances of winning the club’s first ever title. They’re defensively solid, counter-attack at great pace, and in the electric Joe McGann have a potential match-winner.

Cratloe, who still have a few veterans in their ranks from the 2013 and 2014 championship winning teams, have an edge in experience. The Collins brothers, Podge and Sean, are in great form, as is inside-forward Cathal McInerney. There won’t be much in this, but Cratloe’s greater big-match savvy may get them over the line.

Cork

Midleton and Sarsfields will do battle in Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC Final. Both teams are in the final on merit, going through the group stages unbeaten and raising their game again in the knock-out rounds. Midleton’s form is slightly more convincing. They’ve won all four of their championship matches and dethroned reigning champions St. Finbarr’s in the semi-final. In what’s likely to be a game of very fine margins, the scoring power of Conor Lehane and Colm Beausang could give them the edge.

Derry

It’s semi-final weekend in the Derry SFC as Magherafelt and Newbridge play on Saturday and reigning county and provincial champions, Glen, do battle with their neighbours and great rivals Slaughtneil on Sunday. A Magherafelt team powered by three county stars in Odhran Lynch, Eoin McEvoy, and Conor McCluskey, will be slight favourites in the first semi-final, but Newbridge are a very well drilled outfit and in Sean Young have one of the most exciting young forwards in the country.

Sunday’s semi-final is a repeat of the last two county finals, both of which Glen won comfortably. The reigning champions have looked as good as every so far this year, and it would be a big surprise if Slaughtneil could turn the tables on them.

Down

Kilcoo go in search of a fifth Morgan Fuels Down SFC title in a row and 11th in 12 years when they play Burren in Sunday’s Final. The reigning champions will go in as warm favourites, but Burren will surely take some encouragement from the fact they’re the only club to have usurped Kilcoo’s dominance in recent times, beating them in the 2018 final. If Burren are to pull off a shock it’s vital that star forward Odhran Murdock returns from a recent AFL Combine in Australia in good fettle.

Dublin

It’s semi-final weekend in the Go Ahead Dublin SHC as St. Vincent’s play Ballyboden and Lucan Sarsfields play Na Fianna. Ballyboden have greater pedigree in recent years than St. Vincent’s and will get a good bounce out of their quarter-final win over Cuala. The Marino-men shouldn’t be underestimated, though. They’re managed by Pat Gilroy and have a potential match-winner in big John Hetherton if he’s supplied with enough ball.

Having lost the 2021 and 2022 finals to Kilmacud Crokes, Na Fianna will believe this can finally be their year after they beat the reigning champions in the quarter-final. The Mobhi Road men have some injury concerns, though, and a Lucan team that won all their group games including a four-point win over Crokes, might just take advantage.

Fermanagh

It’s semi-final weekend in the Mannok Fermanagh SFC as Derrygonnelly Harps play Kinawley on Saturday and Enniskillen Gaels play Erne Gaels on Sunday. Derrygonnelly topped their group convincingly and will be fancied to reach an eight final in nine years.

The second semi-final is a repeat of last year’s final which Enniskillen Gaels won convincingly. It would be a surprise if they don’t come out on top again.

Galway

It’s semi-final weekend in the Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Championship. St. Thomas’ are gunning for a sixth title in a row and will face Sarsfields in the last four. The reigning champions will go into that match as warm favourites, but Sarsfields were very impressive in their quarter-final victory over Oranmore Maree and will fancy their chances of springing an upset.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Loughrea, showed their mettle when overcoming a strong Clarinbridge team in the quarter-finals, and go into their semi-final with Turloughmore as favourites.

Kerry

It’s quarter-final weekend in the Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry SFC Quarter-Finals. On Saturday, Rathmore play Spa and East Kerry play St. Kieran’s. While, on Sunday, Dingle play Templenoe and Mid Kerry play Na Gaeil.

Reigning champions East Kerry are likely to have the Clifford brothers back in harness for their match. After a long season with their club, Fossa, they’ve been largely held in reserve until now, playing just 10 minutes of their third-round tie against Templenoe.

Kildare

Naas go in search of a fifth title in a row when they play Coill Dubh in the UPMC Kildare SHC Final on Sunday. The reigning champions haven’t been at their very best so far in the championship, but they’ve still won every match they’ve played fairly comfortably. Defensive lynch-pin Rian Boran missed the semi-final win over Maynooth and if he’s ruled out again it will give Coill Dubh a glimmer of hope. The underdogs were beaten by Naas in the group phase but their form has been on an upward curve since then with wins over Éire Óg Corra Choill, Ardclough, and Celbridge. Anything other than a Naas win would be a big shock, but this game might be tighter than most people predict.

Kilkenny

It’s semi-final weekend in the St. Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Final as Ballyhale Shamrocks play James Stephens and O’Loughin Gaels play Bennettsbridge. Reigning All-Ireland champions Ballyhale looked vulnerable in the League stage but showed their mettle and class again when beating an in-form Dicksboro in the quarter-final. Ballyhale beat James Stephens by seven points in last year’s final, but there’s every reason to suspect this game will be closer. The Village, coached by Brian Cody, have looked sharp this year with forwards like Niall Brassil and Luke Scanlon in great form. You’d still fancy a star-studded Ballyhale team to advance, but it should be a ferocious battle.

The other semi-final should be another close affair but the form-line of Bennettsbridge has been more convincing than that of O’Loughlin Gaels.

Laois

St. Joseph’s and Portlaoise meet in the Laois Shopping Centre Laois SFC Final on Sunday for the first time since 2002. St. Joseph’s will go in as slight favourites after a very impressive semi-final win over defending champions Portarlington, but Portlaoise will be a hard nut to crack. Their team is stacked with players who have previously won championships, whereas St. Joseph’s haven’t won a county title since 2000. In a match of fine margins, the in-form Eoin O’Flaherty could be the match-winner for St. Joseph’s.

Limerick

It’s semi-final weekend in the Bon Secours Limerick SHC as Na Piarsaigh play Doon on Saturday and Kilmallock play Patrickswell on Sunday. When Na Piarsaigh played Doon in the group phase on September 2 they were very comfortable 4-23 to 0-16 winners. This match is likely to be a big tighter, but Na Piarsaigh’s more potent attack should still see them come out on the right side of the result.

The second semi-final is harder to call. There were just two points between the teams in the group phase when Kilmallock came out on top and this match is likely to be just as tight. Aaron Gillane and Cian Lynch give The Well great punch in attack, but Kilmallock’s greater defensive nous might give them a vital edge.

Longford

It’s a novel pairing in the Peter Hanley Motors Longford SFC Final on Sunday with Clonguish up against Killoe Emmet Og. Few expected Clonguish to make it this far, but they’ve successfully introduced a clutch of young players to their team this year who have brought them to a new level. Dominant at underage level, everyone knew Clonguish were a coming team, but progression to this year’s senior final came was a ahead of the schedule most predicted. A more experienced Killoe team will go in as favourites, though. Most of their team won county titles in 2019 and 2020, and some were around for the 2012, 2014, and 2015 successes too. The finishing power of Michael Quinn, Daniel Mimnagh and Mark Hughes should give Killoe an attacking edge.

Mayo

It’s semi-final weekend in the Connacht Gold Mayo SFC. Both matches are local derbies with Breaffy playing Castlebar on Saturday and Ballina playing Knockmore on Sunday. Breaffy have been the surprise packages of the championship thus far, beating reigning champions Westport in the quarter-final. Despite that win they’ll go in as underdogs against a youthful Castlebar team very much on the up. Last year’s beaten finalists, Ballina, have been very impressive thus far in the championship, winning all of their group games and hammering Belmullet in the quarter-final. Knockmore are also unbeaten, and this game is likely to be decided by very fine margins.

Meath

Ratoath will hope it’s third time lucky when they play Kildalkey in the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear Meath SHC Final on Sunday having lost finals in 2022 and 2020. They were defeated in both of those matches by Trim, so the fact they finally got over their hoodoo team in this year’s semi-final suggest Ratoath are now capable of going one step further. Many of their players were also in action in last weekend’s football final extra-time defeat to Summerhill though, so there’ll be question marks about how much they’ll have left in the tank after those exertions. Kildalkey were triumphant when the teams met in the group phase, but Ratoath were missing many key players that day. If Ratoath have enough energy in their legs, they have the quality in their wrists to edge what should be a ferocious battle.

Offaly

Sunday’s Offaly SHC Final between Shinrone and Kilcormac-Killoughey is a repeat of last year’s decider which Shinrone won courtesy of a sensational second-half performance. Both teams have been a cut above everyone else again this year, but Kilcormac-Killoughey’s form has been that bit more convincing. Their talented young team includes six players who started this year’s All-Ireland U-20 Final, with the inside forward line of Adam Screeney, Colin Spain, and Charlie Mitchell, especially lethal. If that trio is supplied with enough ball, it’ll be very difficult for Shinrone to contain them.

Tipperary

It’s Thurles Sarsfields against Kiladangan in the FBD Insurance Tipperary SHC Final on Sunday. These two teams already met in the group phase when Kiladangan came out on top by nine points. That result comes with an asterisk though as Sarsfields were missing their most important player, Ronan Maher, from the heart of their defence. Since that defeat Sarsfields have gone from strength to strength and were especially impressive in their semi-final win over Loughmore-Castleiney. The Stakelum brothers, Conor and Darragh, have been shooting the lights out and are both potential match-winners on Sunday. Kiladangan have plenty of firepower themselves with players like Billy Seymour, Paul Flynn, Brian McLoughney and Sean Hayes to call on, so an exciting end to end tussle is anticipated.

Tyrone

It’s semi-final weekend in the Conolly’s of Moy Tyrone SFC. On Friday night, Trillick play Dungannon, while on Saturday it’s Errigal Ciaran against Ardboe. When Dungannon and Trillick contested the 2020 Final it was Dungannon who came out on top after the match went to penalties, and this game is likely to be another tight affair. It could all come down to whether Trillick’s Lee Brennan or Dungannon’s Paul Donaghy has a better night in attack for their respective teams.

Reigning champions Errigal Ciaran haven’t put a foot wrong so far in the campaign with convincing wins over Killyclogher and Moortown with the Canavan brothers to the fore in both wins. If Ardboe are to pull off a shock they’ll need Michael Cassidy to have a stormer at centre-back to lock down the dangerous Errigal attack.

Waterford

It’s quarter-final weekend in the JJ Kavanagh Waterford SFC. Reigning champions, The Nire, are up against Gaultier, unbeaten Rathgormack are up against Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Ballinacourty play An Rinn, and Brickey Rangers play Kilrossanty.

Wexford

It’s Castletown versus Shelmaliers in the Dominic Smith Electrical Wexford SFC final on Sunday. Reigning champions Castletown are bidding to become the first club since Horeswood in 2006 to make it back to back titles in what’s always a ferociously competitive Wexford championship. This match is a repeat of last year’s final which saw Castletown overcome 2021 champions, Shelmaliers, by four points. In what’s likely to be a tight match, Shelmaliers could have an ace card in the shape of former Dublin star, Eoghan O’Gara. He came off the bench to kick 1-2 in the semi-final win over Kilanerin when Shelmaliers came back from seven points down. A similar super-sub performance on Sunday could be decisive.

Wicklow

Bray Emmets go in search of a history-making fifth Lightning Protection Ireland Wicklow SHC title in a row when they play Carnew Emmets in this year’ Final. The reigning champions looked better than ever when dispatching Glenealy with ease in the semi-final. Former Wicklow Kingpins Carnew haven’t won a title since 2009, and it would be a major surprise if they stopped Bray’s drive for five.

* You can view and download all of this weekend's club championship fixtures below.