Details of Sunday’s St Patricks’s Day AIB All Ireland Club Championship finals at Semple Stadium, Thurles were announced today by the GAA.
The hurling final between Birr of Offaly and Galway’s Clarinbridge will be officiated by Cork referee Ger Harrington and gets underway at 2.00 p.m.
Birr were four point winners over Dunloy in the semi-final and will look for another inspired performance from Brian Whelahan to lift them to their third All-Ireland title.
Clarinbridge were underdogs going into their semi-final against Ballygunner but outfoxed their Waterford counterparts on a rain sodden Thurles pitch. Alan Kerins' haul of 1-2 on the day went a long way to securing the Westeners their first appearance in an All-Ireland final.
Cork outfit Nemo Rangers will face first time finalists Ballinderry in the football final. Seamus McCormack will take charge of the game at 3.40 p.m.
Nemo - seeking their seventh title - go into the game as warm favourites but struggled to find their best form when beating Mayo side Charlestown in the semi-final at the start of the month. Colm Corkery’s remarkable dead ball accuracy lifted Nemo to a two point victory (0-9 to 0-7) in a game where they could only manage a single point from play.
Derry and Ulster champions Ballinderry trundled their way through the Pearse Park mud to oust Wicklow kingpins Rathnew in the other semi-final. On a pitch that was unplayable, but nevertheless was played on, Ballinderry found the net after three minutes and never looked back on their way to a 1-9 to 0-7 victory.
Both games will be transmitted live by TG4. Spectators can pay cash at the gates at the following prices: Stand €10, Terrace €7, Senior Citizens / Students (with relevant identification) €4. Children under-14 will be admitted free of charge.