GAA Previews

A look at the weekend's matches

Saturday

Connacht Club HC semi-final replay

Athleague (Roscommon) v Ballina (Mayo), Athleague, 1.30pm - Athleague's skin-of-the teeth escape in Mayo last week sets up a home tie and the likelihood of progress.

Women's All-Ireland Club FC semi-final

Carnacon (Mayo) v Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin), Clogher, 2pm - Former champions Ballyboden needed a big second-half response to get past Timahoe for their fourth Leinster title on the spin and this won't be easy either.

Sunday

Leinster Club FC quarter-finals

St Vincent's (Dublin) v Seneschalstown (Meath), Parnell Park, 3pm - The record of Meath clubs against their Dublin counterparts isn't great but Seneschalstown came close to derailing Kilmacud's All-Ireland season 13 years ago by taking them to the edge in the Leinster final.

St Vincent's have a strong tradition in the club championship and after finally regaining the county title, they're favourites to progress. But Seneschalstown have been overturning the odds all season and it looks closer than the bookies' odds but St Vincent's have come through a succession of close calls and can move on.

Moorefield (Kildare) v Dromard (Longford), Newbridge, 2.30pm - Suggestions from Kildare that the Leinster champions are a better team this year were borne out in comprehensive wins in the county final and then the Leinster first round against Clongeen despite injury to their influential captain, Kenny Duane. Dromard are also going to be under pressure physically against the big Kildare team and it's hard to see a surprise.

Éire Óg (Carlow) v Tyrrellspass (Westmeath), Carlow, 2.30pm - Carlow's brand leaders in this competition, with five titles, are back on the road having followed up the replay win over defending county champions Palatine with victory against Tullamore. But Tyrrellspass are experienced and came close to beating eventual champions Moorefield last year. Their marquee names, the Glennon brothers and Martin Flanagan, are in good form and they are capable of upsetting the home side.

St Patrick's (Louth) v Portlaoise (Laois), Dundalk, 2.30pm - Portlaoise must still be smarting from the failure to take their chance in the All-Ireland three seasons ago. A classy outfit with plenty of big names, they're red-hot favourites to negotiate a St Patrick's team that was nonetheless pretty assured in holding off Cooley's late challenge in the Louth final.

Leinster Club HC quarter-final

Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin) v Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford), Parnell Park, 1.30pm - Perhaps Ballyboden will be liberated by the experience of finally getting out of Dublin and will make the best of their undoubted talent. They'll be battling the poor reputation of Dublin teams - UCD apart - in this championship as well as the more tangible challenge of a stylish Oulart, who destroyed Buffer's Alley in the county final.

Connacht Club FC semi-finals

Ballina (Mayo) v Tourlestrane (Sligo), Ballina, 2pm - This should be straightforward given Ballina's achievements - two provincial titles and one All-Ireland within the past 10 years. They will be expected to beat Tourlestrane with the visitors' best-known player Eamonn O'Hara struggling to recover from a broken thumb.

Killererin (Galway) v St Brigid's (Roscommon), Tuam, 2pm - The championship is on track to rerun the final of three years ago when Killererin lost to Ballina. But first the Galway champions must overcome the reigning champions. Killererin's recipe hasn't varied hugely and their tight game, orchestrated and spearheaded by Pádraic Joyce, will set the champions a difficult task.

Munster Club FC quarter-finals

Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Moyle Rovers (Tipperary), Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm - Nemo are feeling very relieved to have got past Ilen Rovers in the county final. Moyle have the added vexation of trying to get Declan Browne home after a wedding in Boston.

Lissycasey (Clare) v Kilcummin (Kerry), Ennis, 2pm - After a Kerry championship dominated by the divisional sides, Kilcummin were the last club standing but hardly the best. Lissycasey's county title success was a great achievement for veterans like Colin Lynch and Martin Daly and they will fancy their chances here. But the Kerry representatives should survive.

Ulster Club FC quarter-final replay

Mayobridge (Down) v Dromore (Tyrone), Newry, 2.0 - Mayobridge midfielder John Caldwell scored the late equaliser in Omagh last Sunday after Dromore surrendered a commanding half-time lead of 1-6 to 0-6. It's still a close call.

Kerry SFC final

South Kerry v Feale Rangers, Tralee, 2.45 - A classic north-south rivalry and arguably the most competitive county final in the country, given the impressive spread of All-Ireland medallists. Although the winners don't get to play in the Munster championship there is plenty at stake, including the Kerry captaincy for 2008.

South Kerry are chasing a fourth county title in succession and with the likes of Declan O'Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan on board start as favourites. Maurice Fitzgerald is also in reserve ready for action and don't rule out another winning cameo performance.

Feale Rangers, however, come loaded with determination to bring the title back to north Kerry after 17 years. Paul Galvin is sure to be prominent, along with former All-Ireland winners Eamon Fitzmaurice and Noel Kennelly, but the ultimate class and experience still rests in South Kerry.

Limerick SHC final

Adare v Croom, Gaelic Grounds, 2.0 - The last of the county hurling finals, with the winners progressing to play Tipperary's Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster semi-final. On paper Adare appear the more formidable outfit, famously winning a first county title in 2002, and comfortably beating Murroe-Boher in the semi-final, with All-Ireland finalist Mark Foley among their artillery.

Croom are chasing a first county title since 1941, but also recorded an impressive semi-final win over Andrew O'Shaughnessy's Kilmallock, and boast the likes of Stephen Lucey and Peter Lawlor. It's been a good year for Limerick hurling and this should live up to that, with the greater incentive for victory surely resting with Croom.

Wicklow SFC final replay

Baltinglass v Rathnew, Aughrim, 2.0 - One of these teams was meant to have played last Tuesday in the Leinster championship, but given last Sunday's draw now miss out altogether, not that either team is overly upset about that. Winning the county title is still a massive prize.

Rathnew had the best forward in Trevor Doyle, who hit 1-7, and if he repeats that form tomorrow could this time establish a winning edge.

Waterford SFC final

Ardmore v Ballinacourty, Dungarvan, 2.45 - Ardmore have been impressive throughout their county campaign, and take to Fraher Field as favourites not least of all after beating recent five-in-a-row champions Stradbally in the semi-final.

Women's football All-Ireland club semi-final

Inch Rovers (Cork) v Errigal Ciarán (Tyrone), Killeagh, 2.0 - Backboned by some key members of Cork's All-Ireland winning team this should prove a home victory for Inch Rovers

Kildare hurlers look to Comerford

Andy Comerford will be ratified as manager of the Kildare senior hurling team on Monday night.

The 35-year-old former All-Ireland winning captain with Kilkenny had his nomination rubber-stamped by Kildare county chairman Syl Merrins on Thursday and with the hurling board having already approved the appointment, the ratification will be a formality.