Match previews and programmes: 2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Club Championship semi-finals

THE 2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Club Finalists will be confirmed over the coming weekend – with semi-finals down for decision in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior grades.

There are two games fixed for Saturday, as Cork’s O’Donovan Rossa host Wexford’s Gusserane in the Junior semi-final, as Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins from Leitrim welcome Derry’s Steelstown Brian Óg’s to Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin for an Intermediate semi-final.

On Sunday, Mayo side Claremorris host Derry’s Lavey in the other Junior semi-final, while Mallow is the venue as Meath outfit Na Fianna make the trip south to face Cork champions Glanmire in the second Intermediate semi-final.

Both Senior semi-finals are also down for decision on Sunday, as holders Kilkerrin-Clonberne from Galway make the trip to Parnell Park for a clash with Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes, while Armagh’s Clann Éireann are on home soil for the visit of Waterford’s Ballymacarbry.

All six of the weekend fixtures will be streamed live at the LGFA’s live-streaming portal https://bit.ly/3uSXX5H

 

 

Saturday December 2

currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-final

O’Donovan Rossa (Cork) v Gusserane (Wexford); 1.30pm, O’Donovan Rossa GAA

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O’Donovan Rossa made the trip to Scotland last weekend for a quarter-final against Glasgow Gaels and it was a winning one as the Cork side were ruthless in a 2-14 to 2-0 win.

Éabha O’Donovan, Cork senior star Laura O’Mahony and Emma Hurley were in good scoring form for the Skibbereen outfit and now they face a battle-hardened Gusserane outfit, who are the reigning Wexford and Leinster champions.

Gusserane accounted for Baile Dubh Tíre after a replay in the Wexford county final before claiming victories over Muckalee (Kilkenny), St. Brigid’s (Carlow) and Walterstown (Meath) to land the provincial title.

Up front, Aisling Murphy and Aoife Cullen are proven scoring threats and with plenty of inter-county experience but this has been a supreme team effort to date from Gusserane.

The trip to O’Donovan Rossa should be a memorable one – with a huge crowd predicted to cheer on both sides.

O’Donovan Rossa: C Fitzgerald; M Donnellan, E McCarthy, A Tobin; F Leonard, S Hurley, L Harte (capt.); L O’Mahony, T Murphy; J Beechinor, E Hurley, K O’Connell; É O’Donovan, K O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll.

Gusserane: L Roche; R Power, A Power, A Breen; K Whelan, S Kehoe (capt.), S Whitty; Aisling Ryan, Aoife Ryan; C Ryan, A Cullen, A Whitty; F Ryan, A Murphy, S Hackett.

currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins (Leitrim) v Steelstown Brian Ógs (Derry), 1.30pm, Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin

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Steelstown Brian Ógs are fresh from landing a first Ulster Intermediate club title, following victory over Antrim outfit Glenavy, and now they’re on the road for an All-Ireland semi-final against Leitrim’s Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins.

Ballinamore are the reigning Connacht champions and will fancy their chances on home soil but Steelstown are a side laced with former and current inter-county stars.

Megan McGovern has been in good form at midfield for Ballinamore while Roisin McHugh up front will punish any Steelstown indiscretions from placed balls.

Steelstown were Junior semi-finalists in 2015 and now they find themselves in the last four of the Intermediate All-Ireland series with some survivors from eight years ago still on board, including former TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year, Emma Doherty.

Both teams possess a lovely mix of youth and experience and this fixture could go right down to the wire.

Ballinamore: L Flynn; D McGourty, A Sweeney, E Honeyman; L Maguire, M Murphy, G Prior (capt.); M McGovern, C O’Dowd; L Maguire, R McHugh, L Moran; A Flynn, S McLoughlin, L Murphy.

Steelstown: M McBride; O McGough, A McGough (capt.), N Friel; M Devine, K Canavan; K Holly; L Casey, N Gilmore; E Doherty, E McGeough, C McGurk, D McKeever, A Collins, C O’Kane.

Sunday December 3

currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-final

Claremorris (Mayo) v Lavey (Derry); 1.30pm, Canon Gibbons Park, Claremorris.

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The recent victory for Claremorris in the Connacht Junior Club Final was noteworthy for the fact that eight of their starting 15 were minors.

This youthful exuberance has been a key factor in the Claremorris march to county and provincial honours and now they’re one step away from a potential All-Ireland Final appearance on December 17.

In their Connacht Final victory over St Brigid’s of Leitrim, Claremorris had a number of outstanding individual performances, with the likes of Ellie Maguire, Siómha McNulty, Alana Fitzpatrick, Bree Hession, Ashleagh Salmon and team captain Laura Kelly all shining.

For Lavey in their Ulster Final victory, meanwhile, captain Caitriona Toner led by example with a crucial goal midway through the second half of their victory over Dungloe, and a late winning point.

Other shooting stars on the day for Lavey were Aoife Shaw and Carla Collins and this semi-final could be a game to savour.

Claremorris will look to make home advantage count but Lavey have been on the road plenty during their campaign and will fancy their chances of making another journey count.

The winners will face O’Donovan Rossa or Gusserane at Parnell Park on Sunday December 17 (2pm).

Claremorris: C Keane; S Shaughnessy, E Maguire, Aisling Cummins, Amy Cummins, S McNulty, S Hughes; A Fitzpatrick, J Regan; M Cawley, R Kean, B Hession; A Sammon, N Wallace, L Kelly (capt.).

Lavey: N McKenna; C Diamond, L Scullion, M Mulholland; A Mulholland, A Rafferty, C Lynn; S McGill, M Rafferty; E Toner, S Rafferty, C Toner (capt.); A Shaw, C Collins, N McBride.

currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final

Glanmire (Cork) v Na Fianna (Meath); 2pm, Mallow

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Glanmire were made to battle for victory in the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate quarter-final against Tir Chonaill Gaels in Ruislip.

And that game could stand them in good stead as they prepare for the visit of Meath champions Na Fianna to Mallow.

Glanmire were All-Ireland Junior champions in 2018 and now they’re on the cusp of a Final appearance in the Intermediate grade but they’ll get nothing easy from a Na Fianna side with Meath captain Shauna Ennis listed at full-forward.

Captain Ellen Twomey and Abbie O’Mahony led the way for Glanmire on their visit to London as they eked out a 2-5 to 0-9 win and they’ll be looking to build on that gritty performance, as Orlaith Roche and Eibhlis Dillon scored the crucial goals.

In Leinster, Na Fianna got the better of an excellent Shelmalier outfit with just a point to spare, as Kerrie Cole led the way with 1-3 in a 2-8 to 1-10 win.

The prize for the winners is a Final appearance at Croke Park on Saturday December 16 (3pm) and this is one that could well require extra-time to decide it.

Glanmire: A Carey; C Murphy, M Barry, K O’Connor; C O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey (capt.), E Dillon; A O’Mahony, E Murphy; A McCarthy, N McAllen, A McCarthy; Evie Twomey, O Roche, M Dullea.

Na Fianna: C Gallagher; A Slattery (capt.), C Coffey, H Geraghty; A Flynn, E Regan, S Payne; K Queeney, R O’Keeffe; D Flynn, M Downey, K Cole; M Kirby, S Ennis, L Devine.

currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-finals

Clann Éireann (Armagh) v Ballymacarbry (Waterford); 1.30pm, Clann Éireann GAC

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An intriguing tussle lies in store at Clann Éireann GAC on Sunday as first-time semi-finalists Clann Éireann play host to former champions Ballymacarbry.

The Armagh champions are fresh from landing a first Ulster Senior title for the county and now they’ll pit their wits against ten-time winners Ballymacarbry from Waterford.

Ballymac secured back-to-back Munster crowns recently against Clare outfit Banner Ladies and now they’re targeting a first All-Ireland Senior Final appearance since 1998.

It’s a novel semi-final pairing and Ballymac will feel they have unfinished business to attend to after they were outclassed by holders Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the 2022 semi-final, losing out by 0-2 to 2-10.

Lessons will have been learned from that one but it’s another really tough assignment in store for Ballymac against a Clann Éireann side, managed by former Dublin and Monaghan boss Greg McGonigle, who will take charge of the Armagh county team in 2024.

There are a number of inter-county senior stars on both sides, most notably All Star nominee Clodagh McCambridge at full-back for Clann Éireann, who has carried her summer inter-county form into the club campaign, along with the likes of Cait Towe and Niamh Coleman.

Ballymac will look to Tipperary goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick to produce more heroics similar to the Munster Final, with former Waterford ace Michelle Ryan named on the bench as she looks to overcome an injury concern.

Dangerous forward Aileen Wall captains Ballymac, who will also look to Kellyann Hogan at midfield for inspiration.

Clann Éireann: C Lawless; A Fleville, C McCambridge, G Carville; R Mulligan, M Moriarty, C Towe; T Grimes, A Henderson; D Coleman, N Henderson (capt.), N Coleman; M McCambridge, N Murray, A Donohue.

Ballymacarbry: L Fitzpatrick; G Nugent, M McGrath, Maeve Ryan; K McGrath, L Ryan, B McMaugh; K Hogan, A Barron; A Wall (capt.), S Peters, M Boyce; S Hallinan, C Walsh, R Browne.

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway); 2pm, Parnell Park

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Three-in-a-row chasing Kilkerrin-Clonberne put their All-Ireland title on the line against Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday .

The Galway champions have been superb in recent times, claiming back-to-back All-Ireland crowns on the back of county and provincial dominance.

The Wards, Divillys and Noones are household names now but team manager Willie Ward has fostered an incredible team ethic in the group and that’s stood them in good stead.

Kilmacud Crokes came up short in their 2022 All-Ireland semi-final, losing out by 0-7 to 1-11 against Donaghmoyne, and they’ll be keen to right the wrongs of that defeat.

Crokes won their first Leinster crown last year and backed that up with another provincial success in 2023, scoring an emphatic victory over Offaly opponents Naomh Ciaran.

Only a brave punter would back against Kilkerrin-Clonberne but they’re facing a very talented Kilmacud Crokes outfit on Sunday.

Crokes have recently-crowned TG4 All Star and All-Ireland Senior winner with Dublin, Lauren Magee, pulling the strings at midfield while the presence of Galway’s Ailbhe Davoren in the forward line should add some further intrigue.

The likes of Aoife Kane, Michelle Davoren and Éabha Rutledge have plenty of inter-county experience under their belts with Dublin – while Cork native Niamh Cotter is another key player to look out for.

Parnell Park is the setting for what promises to be a cracking semi-final, with the winners going through to a Croke Park Final on Saturday December 16 (5pm).

Kilmacud Crokes: R Fleming; P Greene, E Sweeney (capt.), C Regan; S O’Donoghue, K Murray, A Kane; L Magee, G Kós; N Cotter, A Davoren, M Jennings; J Buckley, M Davoren, É Rutledge.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; C Costello, S Gormally, C Dunleavy; K Mee, N Ward, L Finnegan; S Divilly, H Noone; O Divilly, L Ward (capt.), L Noone; E Noone, C Miskell, N Divilly.

Ends