Sunday Previews

Leinster club football final: Na Fianna (Dublin) v O'Hanrahan's (Carlow), Portlaoise 2.15This is a classic contest between an up-and-coming team and an established side with unfinished business. It's not easy to retain Dublin titles let alone provincial ones, so Na Fianna have already achieved a fair bit by getting this far. There is a feeling that they are running on empty at the moment and would be glad to get to Christmas with their All-Ireland ambitions intact. Since leaving Dublin behind, they haven't hit top form and signs are that will need to against the ebullient Carlow champions. If there is a difference between O'Hanrahan's and Eire Og, it is that the former are steadier. They take points rather than go for goals and have survived a sequence of tight finishes. If their bench isn't as strong as their illustrious predecessors, they have the same cohesion and teamwork. O'Hanrahan's will not be at full strength. Although Niall English has a good chance of recovery, Mark Carpenter is still suspended and his ball-carrying ability will be missed. Mick Galvin is likely to be passed fit by Na Fianna whose individual talents and teamwork should be sufficient to see them past formidable opponents.

Munster club football final:

Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Glenflesk (Kerry), Gaelic Grounds, 2.00

Most of the pre-match publicity has centred on Colin Corkery's availability and whereas that is a matter of some concern to Nemo, it won't be decisive. Corkery is likely to make some sort of a contribution and the overall strength of the Cork champions looks too much for the surprise Kerry representatives. For all the inspirational qualities of Seamus Moynihan and John Crowley, Nemo are well enough covered at the back and sufficiently economical up front to resist any surprises. Nemo may have left it late to close the deal on their last match with Eire Og of Ennis but Glenflesk would have been more sorely put upon had Declan Browne been able to play a full role in the other semi-final. The Kerry club has done extremely well to get this far but the next step looks beyond them.

All-Ireland club hurling quarter-final:

Sixmilebridge (Clare) v Fr Murphy's (London), Ruislip, 12.45.

The Bridge are simply marking time before focusing on their All-Ireland semi-final with Athenry. Last week (pictured above) was a convincing performance with the attack looking far more varied and the defence for the most part in control. Fr Murphy's are unlikely to set the heather blazing in this one.

Connacht club hurling final:

St Mary's, Athenry (Galway) v Four Roads (Roscommon), Athleague, 2.0

Defending champions Athenry on the face of it have a pre-Christmas formality to negotiate. To be fair there are historical precedents to suggest that Four Roads may be more competitive than that. Eleven years ago, they were the last club to disrupt the Galway monopoly of this championship. Yet the champions looked so powerful in the excellent if submerged Galway final that a game display is as far this particular road stretches for the challengers.

National Football League:

Division 1A - Mayo v Derry, Charlestown, 2.00

Derry found the limitations of their experimental approach last week but it's unlikely to deflect them for this rearranged Allianz fixture. Mayo have survived experimentation reasonably well and can add to their points tomorrow.

All-Ireland club camogie final:

Michael Davitt's (Derry) v Pearse's (Galway), Mullingar, 1.30

For the neutral at least, the main hope for Sunday's All-Ireland camogie club championship final is that it will go the distance in Cusack Park, Mullingar. When Swatragh's Michael Davitt's and Pearse's from Galway met earlier this month referee Aine Derham had to abandon the game after 28 minutes due to worsening weather conditions.

This time referee Derham hopes to be in a position to say: "I've started so I'll finish."

If Derry's Swatragh achieve nothing more in this season's campaign, their triumph over Granagh Ballingarry, the Limerick favourites for a three-in-a-row title snatch, will remain as the surprise of the year. Pearse's beat St Anne's of Wexford to qualify.

Davitt's, managed by former Antrim hurler Kevin McNaughton and captained by Aileen Tohill, a sister of Derry footballing hero Anthony, are the first Ulster club to figure in the final in nine years. Derry left no doubt about the health of the game in Ulster earlier this year during a splendid intercounty campaign, culminating in the lifting of the All-Ireland junior title trophy. A key player among the seven stars of that All-Ireland success is Paula McAtamney but she has been ruled out after sustaining injury in an accident at home. Pearses, the favourites, will not be lacking in experience with 11 of their players having figured in the 1996 and '97 All-Ireland-winning sides, managed then, as now, by Michael Kennedy.

MICHAEL DAVITT'S (SWATRAGH) - M McAtamney; A McGuckian, C Scullion, J McKeagney; N O'Hagan, G Maguire, P McKenna; A O'Loughlin, B O'Loughlin; A Tohill, AN Other, M O'Kane; C McNicholl, O Mullan, D O'Doherty. PEARSE'S (GALWAY) - L Cully; A Divilly, A Ward, P Burke; M Haverty, T Laheen, M Harkin; M Glynn, V Sweeney; C Hannon, A Hilary, O Kilkenny; S Ward, S Glynn, A Forde.