By John Harrington

It was the most important weekend yet of club championship action with 13 county finals taking place.

Antrim

Cushendall defeated Loughiel Shamrocks in the Bathshack Antrim SHC Final. You can read our match report of the game HERE.

Armagh

Middletown Na Fianna defeated Keady Lámh Dhearg in the Armagh SHC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Clare

Cratloe defeated St. Breckan’s in the Clare SFC Final on Sunday. You can read our match report HERE.

Cork

Sarsfields defeated Midleton in the Cork Premier SHC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Derry

Reigning Ulster champions, Glen, are through to another Derry SFC Final after a hard-fought 1-5 to 0-6 semi-final win over their neighbours Slaughtneil. Leading by 0-3 to 0-2 after a very physically intense first half, Glen scored 1-2 in the first ten minutes of the second-half which was the winning of the game. The champions wouldn’t score again, but were able to keep Slaughtneil at arm’s length.

In the weekend’s other semi-final Magherafelt enjoyed a convincing 0-12 to 0-2 win over Newbridge. Cormac Murphy and Shane Heavron were sharp in attack for the 2019 champions who look good enough to really put it up to Glen in the County Final now.

Down

Kilcoo defeated Burren in the Down SFC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Dublin

Ballyboden St. Enda’s and Na Fianna are through to the Go Ahead Dublin SHC Final after semi-final wins over St. Vincent’s and Lucan Sarsfields respectively. Ballyboden needed extra-time to see off St. Vincent’s, and had a hero in goalkeeper Conor O’Donoghue who made a brilliant save from a Thomas Connolly penalty in the 85th minute that would have put St. Vincent’s ahead had it hit the back of the net. It will feel like a missed opportunity for St. Vincent’s who hit 18 wides over the course of the contest.

Na Fianna looked on course for a comfortable win in the other semi-final when they went into a 0-9 to 0-1 lead, but Lucan fought back to hit five points in a row and reduce the deficit to four by half-time. Na Fianna did enough in the second-half to keep Lucan at arm’s reach and hold on for a 0-18 to 0-14 win.

Fermanagh

Erne Gaels avenged last year’s final defeat as they defeated Enniskillen Gaels by 1-10 to 0-9 in the Mannok Fermanagh SFC semi-final. The Belleek men raced into a 0-6 to no-score lead after just 13 minutes, but and Enniskillen revival saw them reduce to the deficit to a single point by the break.

The game looked like it could go either way until Ultan Kelm struck a vital goal for the winners after 54 minutes to push them four points ahead. In the other semi-final, Derrygonnelly defeated Kinawley by 5-8 to 3-10. Two goals from Shane McGullion and one each from Gary McKenna and Garvan Jones gave Derrygonnelly a big lead, but they were forced to hang on at the end when Conor Murphy and Ciaran Breen raised green flags for Kinawley.

Galway

St. Thomas’ are still on track for a sixth Galway SHC title in a row after their 1-20 to 1-17 semi-final win over Sarsfields. Conor Cooney was the main man for the winners, scoring 1-14 from 15 strikes at the posts including a penalty that gave his team A seven-point buffer nine minutes from the end. Sarsfields rallied with a converted penalty of their own through Kevin Cooney, but St. Thomas’ needed goalkeeper Gerard Kelly to make two great saves to ensure they held on for the victory.

In the other semi-final Turloughmore defeated Loughrea by 2-22 to 1-22. A Matthew Tarpey goal helped the winners into a 1-11 to 1-9 lead at half-time. Tom Quirke then scored their second goal of the game in the third quarter but Loughrea mounted a stirring comeback that saw them draw level with a minute of normal time remaining. It was Turloughmore who found the finishing burst though, as points from Sean O’Hanlon and Conor Walsh (2) sealed the win.

Kerry

David and Paudie Clifford returned to the East Kerry starting XV for their highly impressive 4-19 to 0-12 Kerry SFC Quarter-final win over St. Kieran’s, hitting a combined tally of 1-5. Dingle also looked good as they surged to a 0-20 to 1-9 win over Templenoe, with Paul Geaney kicking five poins and Dylan and Conor Geaney also excelling. Mid Kerry also enjoyed a convincing win as they defeated Na Gaeil by 1-19 to 1-7. Eanna O’Connor kicked 1-8 for the winners, with Stephen O’Brien and Fiachra Clifford also impressing in a slick forward unit. Rathmore are also through to the last four thanks to a 0-14 to 1-8 win over Spa, but won’t have Paul Murphy for the semi-finals after he was forced off with a calf injury. Mid Kerry will play Dingle and East Kerry will play Rathmore in the semi-finals.

Kildare

Naas defeated Coill Dubh in the Kildare SHC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Kilkenny

Reigning All-Ireland champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks, are still on course for a sixth Kilkenny SHC title in a row after a comfortable 5-19 to 0-14 semi-final win over James Stephens. The Village simply couldn’t handle the Ballyhale attack as Colin Fennelly banged in two goals and TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen, and Eoin Cody also rose green flags in what was a very impressive display. In the weekend’s other semi-final, O’Loughlin Gaels defeated Bennettsbridge by 3-16 to 0-22. Owen Wall sealed the victory when he scored his second goal of the match in injury-time, while Mark Bergin and Conor Kelly were also to the fore for the winners.

Laois

St. Joseph’s defeated Portlaoise in the Kildare SFC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Limerick

Both Limerick SHC semi-finals produced drama. Na Piarsaigh and Doon were deadlocked 2-23 to 0-29 after extra-time and so the contest was decided by penalties, with Na Piarsaigh triumphing 4-3. Two former county men were heroes for Na Piarsaigh. Shane Dowling saved a penalty from Cormac Ryan and then Kevin Downes blasted home the winning penalty for Na Piarsaigh.

In the other semi-final Patrickswell produced an outstanding performance to defeat Kilmallock by 2-25 to 2-15. Aaron Gillane was the outstanding player on the pitch, scoring 1-12 and assisting Patrickswell’s other goal. The winners were in control throughout, leading by 0-12 to 0-5 at half-time, and then banging in two second-half goals when Kilmallock threatened a revival.

Longford

Emmet Óg Killoe defeated Clonguish in the Longford SFC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Mayo

Breaffy and Ballina Stephenites will contest the Mayo SFC Final after semi-final wins over Castlebar and Knockmore respectively. Breaffy have been the surprise packets of this year’s championship and produced another big performance to defeat a fancied Castlebar by 1-9 to 0-10. Aidan O’Shea was the key man yet again for Breaffy, particularly in the second-half when his ability to win ball around the middle third gave them a great platform.

In the other semi-final, last year’s beaten finalists Ballina Stephenites defeated Knockmore by 0-10 to 0-7. Evan Regan was the key man in attack for the winners, kicking six points, and the impact made by their substitutes was also telling.

Meath

Kildalkey defeated Ratoath in the Meath SHC Final. You can read our match-report HERE.

Offaly

Kilcormac-Killoughey defeated Shinrone in the Offaly SHC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Tipperary

The Tipperary SHC Final between Kiladangan and Thurles Sarsfields ended in a draw. You can read our match report HERE.

Tyrone

Reigning champions Errigal Ciaran are through to another Tyrone SFC Final thanks to a very convincing 2-19 to 0-7 win over Ardboe. The result was apparent from very early on, as the winners surged into a 1-14 to 0-3 lead. The game was so comfortable for them they had the luxury of taking off star forwards Darragh (who kicked five points) and Ruairi Canavan before the end.

In the other semi-final, Trillick defeated Dungannon by 2-11 to 1-9. Trailing by 1-7 to 1-3 at half-time, Dungannon rallied to reduce the deficit to a single point. But it was Trillick who finished the stronger, with a goal from Seanie O’Donnell sealing the victory.

Waterford

Caolan Mac Craith netted the decisive penalty for An Rinn in their 3-1 shoot-out win over Ballinacourty in the Waterford SFC quarter-finals after the teams finished level – 1-16 to 2-13 – after extra-time.

Defending champions The Nire are also through to the last four after 2-13 to 0-11 extra-time win over Gaultier, with Aaron Ryan scoring 1-4 from play for the winners.

Rathgormack enjoyed a fairly comfortable 1-14 win over Clashmore/Kinsalebeg as eight different players got on the scoresheet, while Kilrossantry defeated Brickey Rangers by 0-12 to 0-6.

The Nire will play Kilrossanty and Rathgormack will play An Rinn in the semi-finals.

Wexford

Shelmaliers defeated Castletown in the Wexford SFC Final. You can read our match report HERE.

Wicklow

Bray Emmets defeated Carnew Emmets in the Wicklow SHC Final. You can read our match report HERE.