PREVIEWS: Time to crown the 2025 ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 champions

THE 2025 ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 champions will be crowned on Saturday.

There are finals down for decision in the A, B and C grades, with all three games available to view online.

Cork take on Dublin in the A decider at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park, Birr (1.30pm) and that game is available to view via the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.

The B and C Finals will be streamed live on the LGFA Facebook Page and YouTube channel.

The B decider sees Clare up against holders Sligo at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, as reigning champions Waterford face up to Westmeath in the C decider in Baltinglass. Both of those games will have 2.30pm starts.

Saturday July 26

ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 Finals

A: Cork v Dublin; Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park, Birr, Co. Offaly, 1.30pm – Live on Spórt TG4 YouTube.

This promises to be an enthralling game featuring Cork, who were winners most recently in 2022, against Dublin, whose last title was achieved in 2012.

Cork last played in an All-Ireland U-18 A Final three years ago, while Dublin’s previous appearance at this stage of the competition was in 2016, when they were defeated by Cork.

Cork are aiming to win the A title for a 13th time, as Dublin chase their third crown, following on from successes in 2012 and 2008.

Cork and Dublin are coming into this one with plenty of confidence following semi-final victories over Cavan and Galway respectively – and this Final could be a game for the ages.

Cork: A Toye; O Drummey, A Tobin (capt.), A O’Sullivan; R Breen, M McRae, É Walsh; S Cunningham, J Foskin; S O’Connor, L Walsh, A McAuliffe; E O’Donovan, K Carey, A Sheehan.

Dublin: K Behan; K Hayes, T Walsh, A Pollock; C Sone Lenou, H Murphy, K O’Donovan; S McDonnell, L Tully; L Murtagh, M Bourke, C Murphy (capt.); E Reen, Z Flood, G Connolly.

B: Clare v Sligo; Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Pitch 1, Bekan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, 2.30pm – Live on LGFA Facebook and YouTube

Holders Sligo are back again and aiming for back-to-back crowns.

But they’ll face stiff opposition from Clare at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.

It’s a third successive B Final appearance for Sligo, who were runners-up in 2023 before defeating Tyrone last year, while opponents Clare can boast a 100 per cent record in B Finals after winning in 2017, 2013 and 2012.

Clare and Sligo are coming into this one with plenty of confidence following semi-final victories over Monaghan and Laois respectively.

Clare: N Clark; A Cahill, A Kelly, E Burke; A Kelly, H Keating, L Daly; A Talty, A Crowe; K Darcy, R Meaney, S Culleton; A Ryan, A McNamara, M Clancy.

Sligo: C Gallagher; K Feeney, L Galvin, C Morgan; A Durcan (capt.), T Hastings, R Killoran; L Henry, L McGuire; A Breheny, K Flynn, G O’Callaghan; K Smith, S McDaniel, E Giblin.

B: Waterford v Westmeath; Baltinglass GAA, Co. Wicklow, 2.30pm – Live on LGFA Facebook and YouTube

Holders Waterford will hope to retain their title when they take on Westmeath.

This is a third C Final appearance on the trot for Waterford, who beat Armagh last year after losing to Donegal in 2023, while Westmeath were A Shield runners-up in 2010.

Waterford and Westmeath are coming into this one with plenty of confidence following semi-final victories over Armagh and Leitrim respectively.

Waterford: G Corcoran; R Power, D Roche, G Carrigan; S Peters, R Walsh, E Campbell; S Condon, R Browne; C Power, M Kenneally, S Mernin; A Connolly (capt.), T Ní Chrotaigh, A Fitzpatrick.

Westmeath: K Kelly; R Ward, L Brogan, G Shortall; A Barry, M Donohue, Á Bracken; C Butler Clyne, A Keegan (capt.); S O’Sullivan, R Murphy, K Stuart Trainor; O Collins, S Breslin, K Kilmurray.