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The Nine Best GAA Games To Watch This Weekend

The Nine Best GAA Games To Watch This Weekend
Liam O Laoide
By Liam O Laoide
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We're just a few weeks away from Christmas but there's still some big club GAA games to be played.

This weekend sees the All-Ireland finals in the ladies club championship as well as semi-finals in the All-Ireland hurling and camogie championships take place.

Here's info on how to watch all of the big GAA games this weekend.

Saturday

Russell Rovers v Ballinascreen, All-Ireland JHC Semi-Final, 13:00, Spórt TG4

The first big clash of the weekend sees East Cork's Russell Rovers take on Derry's Ballinascreen in the All-Ireland Club Junior hurling semi-final.

Rovers, with hurling legend Dónal Óg Cusack as part of their coaching ticket, enter this clash following a strong Munster championship campaign, which culminated in an 11-point win over Waterford's Kilrossanty at the end of November.

Ballinascreen will also be full of confidence, however, the Derry outfit coming off the back of a thumping victory over London Fr. Murphy's in the Ulster Junior Twinning final.

Tynagh Abbey Duniry v Rathnure, All-Ireland IHC Semi-Final, 13:00, Spórt TG4

In the first intermediate hurling semi-final of the weekend, Galway side Tynagh Abbey Duniry will take on Wexford's Rathnure.

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Tynagh Abbey Duniry, managed by former Dublin boss Mattie Kenny, managed to dethrone dominant Mayo side Toreen in this year's Connacht final, a win that will imbue them with confidence as they enter the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship.

Wexford champions Rathnure will also have their sights on an All-Ireland final, as they aim to build on their first Leinster Intermediate club hurling championship title, which they won versus Kilkenny's Lisdowney a forthnight ago.

Annaghdown v Bennekerry/Tinryland, All-Ireland Ladies IFC Final, 15:00, TG4

Our first final of the weekend sees Galway's Annaghdown face Bennekerry/Tinryland of Carlow, in the All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate Championship.

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Leinster champions Bennekerry/Tinryland produced a strong performance to see off Mullahoran of Cavan in their semi-final. Connacht winners Annaghdown are vying to become the first club to win a second All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate football crown, having previously claimed the title in 2016.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne v Kilmacud Crokes, All-Ireland Ladies SFC Final, 17:00, TG4

All eyes will be focussed on Croke Park on Saturday evening, as Kilkerrin-Clonberne do battle with Kilmacud Crokes for the All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship crown.

Galway champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne are the club standard bearers in ladies football - seeking their fourth All-Ireland crown in succession, a win versus Kilmacud on Saturday will see them extend their winning championship run to 44 consecutive games.

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However, Stillorgan outfit Kilmacud Crokes will have plenty of motivation for Saturday's clash, as they look to avenge the defeat they suffered to the East Galway side at the semi-final stage of last year's competition.

Sunday

Easkey v St Lachtain's, All-Ireland JHC Semi-Final, 13:00, Spórt TG4

Sligo side Easkey will take on Kilkenny St Lachtain's in Ballinasloe this Sunday, as they do battle for a place in this year's All-Ireland Junior Hurling final.

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Easkey secured a Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship three-in-a-row with victory over Ballinasloe in November, and will be gunning for a return to the All-Ireland final, having finished as runners-up two years ago.

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They will face firm opposition in Kilkenny's St Lachtain's, however, who progressed to the semi-final stage with a one-point victory over Wexford's Castletown Liam Mellows in the Leinster Final.

Watergrasshill v Carey Faughs, All-Ireland IHC Semi-Final, 13:00, Spórt TG4

The second All-Ireland Intermediate hurling championship semi-final of the weekend sees Cork's Watergrasshill take on Carey Faughs of Antrim.

'The Hill', managed by Tipperary All-Ireland winner Eddie Enright, won this year's Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship having failed to register a win in the competition in the previous two years - this uptake in form, coupled with a strong Munster campaign, will give them plenty of confidence in Navan on Sunday.

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Antrim's Carey Faughs claimed their first Ulster Intermediate hurling championship title in 20 years with a win over Derry's Swatragh, at the start of December.

Slaughtneil v Sarsfields, All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final, 13:30, TG4

In perhaps the match-up of the weekend, Derry's Slaughtneil take on Sarfields of Cork in the first of weekend's All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling semi-finals.

A powerful second-half comeback against Down's Portaferry saw Slaughtneil claim the Ulster Senior hurling crown, following consecutive final defeats in 2022 and 2023, against Dunloy and Cushendall respectively.

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Glanmire's Sarsfields, with Diarmuid 'The Rock' O'Sullivan as a selector, produced what may reasonably regarded as the upset of this year's club hurling championship with a historic victory over Waterford's Ballygunner in the Munster Senior final.

Loughrea v Na Fianna, All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final, 15:30, TG4

The second All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling semi-final of the weekend pits Galway champions Loughrea against Dublin powerhouses, Na Fianna.

Loughrea, who beat Cappatagle in the Galway  senior final and automatically progress to the All-Ireland semi, will aim to make it two-in-a-row for Galway clubs, with St. Thomas having claimed last year's All-Ireland Senior crown.

Standing in their way are Dublin super-club Na Fianna, who overcame an Adam Screeney-led Kilcormac Killoughey in the Leinster final.

Sarsfields v Truagh Clonlara, All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final, 16:15, RTÉ 2

And so, our final game of the weekend - the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final, where Galway champions Sarsfields take on Truagh Clonlara of Clare.

Last year's beaten finalists, Sarsfields secured a comeback victory over Antrim's Loughiel Shamrock to progress to this weekend's final, where they'll look to reclaim the All-Ireland crown they last won in 2022.

On the other hand, Truagh Clonlara's semi-final win over Dublin's St Vincent's will make them the first ever Clare club to contest the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final.

There we have it, folks. Put the feet up, throw the kettle on, and keep the box of Roses to hand - there's a blockbuster weekend of GAA action to get stuck into.

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