ALL IRELAND CLUB FINALS LEINSTER TEAM PREVIEW

St. James have had a tough run in Leinster to book their place in this semi final game. Wins over Tinahely of Wicklow, St Margaret’s of Dublin, and Mullingar Shamrocks from WestMeath in the semi final to meet Castlemitchell of Kildare in the Leinster Junior final. The Model county club side ran out two point winners (1-7 to 0-8) over the lilywhites to claim a place in this weekends All Ireland semi final game.

On Saturday next, St. James captain Aisling Mullan will once again lead by example, as her side set out in search of the ultimate prize; a place in the All Ireland junior club championship final. Of coarse Drumcliff / Rossa will also have their eye on the same target, its ten years since a Sligo side reached an All Ireland junior club championship final, when Saint Nathy’s suffered at the hands of Rockchapel from the Rebel county. Clonakilty of Cork and Corduff of Monaghan will go head to head in the second semi final.

On Sunday next (8/11/09).

Timahoe of Laois will head North of the border to take on the 2006 All Ireland senior club champions Donaghmoyne of Monaghan on their home patch.

The Man in the middle will be Declan Corcoran of Mayo, and the game will throw in at 2pm.

This will be a tough test for the Laois club side, but in fairness to Timahoe they have been tested a number of times already in their quest for an All Ireland senior club championship title, and there is one thing for certain, when Timahoe are playing, nobody leaves the venue early.

Clonee of Wexford pushed them all the way at the semi final stages of the Leinster senior club championship, having drawn the first game after extra time, at home, Timahoe travelled to Clonee a week later, and once again the sides were deadlocked after sixty minutes. But Timahoe’s determination paid off when they had two points to spare when referee Tony Lennon called for the ball.

In the Leinster senior club final Timahoe came up against an experienced Senechalstown side, and once again a late rally from the Laois side gave them a two point winning margin ( 2-8 to 0-12) to put them in to their first all Ireland senior club semi final since 2000. For the record ‘The Heath’ club were the last Laois club to win the senior title on the double back in 1985 and 1986, and I’m sure the present Laois side would love to take a further step on Sunday next to bridge that twenty four year gap. In the second semi final game, Donaghmore of Cork play host to last years champions Carnacon of Mayo.

While Timahoe are battling it out with Donaghmoyne, St. Brigids of Dublin will also be in the West on Sunday next, where they will take on Breaffy of Mayo in their all Ireland Intermediate semi final game.

St. Brigids sailed through their Leinster qualifying games to meet Garrycastle of Westmeath in the final, but once again the Dublin club had too much fire power in their side, running out convincing winners ( 2-11 to 1-4 ) to be crowned Leinster Intermediate club champions for 2009.

Naomh Mearnóg / Sylvesters of Dublin were the last Leinster side to reach an all Ireland Intermediate club championship final back in 2006, where they beaten by Inch Rovers, of Cork. But on Sunday next St. Brigids captain Elaine Kelly will lead her charges in to the West with high expectations of booking their place in their first all Ireland Intermediate club championship final, to face winners of the second semi final, where St Paul’s of Antrim will go head to head with Brian Boru’s from the Premier county..