SundaY

Clare SHC final

St Joseph's Doora-Barefield v Sixmilebridge, Milltown Malbay, 3.30.

REIGNING All-Ireland champions St Joseph's, built around Clare stars Sean McGrath, Ollie Baker and Jamesie O'Connor, managed to defy predictions of exhaustion by playing their sharpest hurling of the summer in the semi-final against Clarecastle.

Another Clare player, Niall Gilligan, cleared Sixmilebridge's passage to the final with a goal two minutes from time against Kilmaley. He had already hit eight points. The match-up between O'Connor and Stiofan Fitzpatrick will be central to the outcome but even if O'Connor is coralled, St Joseph's can turn to Baker or Lorcan Hassett to engineer some momentum.

Verdict: St Joseph's DooraBarefield.

Galway SHC final

Athenry v Abbey-Duniry, Ballinasloe, 2.30.

ABBEY-DUNIRY caused minor shockwaves in Galway when they announced the decline of Sarsfield's, the Galway club team of the decade, through a second half drubbing in their replayed semifinal. The seasoned Matt Kenny and Kevin Broderick were in electric form in that match; county men Liam Hodgins at full back and Fergus Flynn at centre field backbone the side. Athenry obliterated Ardrahan in their semi-final, with Eugene Cloonan nailing 2-9 of the 2-24 total. All-Ireland champions in 1996, Athenry seem to possess much of what is good about Galway hurling these days - namely Cloonan and the invaluable Joe Rabbitte as well as county captain Brian Feeney. They have a wealth of pure hurlers, from Paul Hardiman to the mercurial Adrian Poniard.

In what could be the tie of the weekend, Athenry are chosen to win.

Verdict: Athenry.

Kilkenny SHC final

Graigue-Ballycallan v Glenmore, Nowlan Park, 3.30. THE old hands square up to the young pretenders in an interesting tie in Kilkenny. The ageless O'Connor brothers, Willie and Eddie prop up the Glenmore effort from the heart of the defence, while Denis Byrne will be at the coalface for Graigue.

Glenmore were champions as recently as 1995, while Graigue are seeking their first title in almost 50 years. Still, they raised eyebrows in subduing the fancied Young Irelands - who feature Pat O'Neill, DJ Carey and Charlie Carter - in their semi-final, firing a solid 13 points in terrible conditions.

Glenmore, in contrast, huffed and puffed against Ballyhale until two late goals by John Phelan and Michael Murphy put the issue to rest. Their flair attackers are Denis and Richard Mullally. If they aren't overcome by the history of the occasion tomorrow, this Graigue team can fashion a new era for the club.

Verdict: Graigue-Ballycallan.