With the county final season drawing to a close, the pace of the AIB provincial club campaign is set to quicken rapidly over the next few weeks. There's provincial action in Leinster and Ulster this weekend while some of the remaining county finals will also be played in order to pave the way for a hectic November. CROSSMAGLEN V GWEEDORE FIRST UP IN ULSTER Sunday: AIB Ulster SF first round: Gweedore (Donegal) v Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh), Ballybofey (2.30). The first action in the 2006 AIB Ulster football championship takes place in Ballybofey on Sunday when Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) take on Gweedore (Donegal) in the preliminary round to decide who faces Cavan champions, Mullahoran in the quarter-final on November 12. Donegal clubs have had a poor record in the Ulster club championship (St.Joseph's were their only winners back in 1975) so Gweedore face a massive test against Crossmaglen, who have won four provincial and three All-Ireland titles since 1997. They collected their 11th successive Armagh title in impressive style some weeks ago when beating Clan na nGael by 1-14 to 0-8. Managed by Donal Murtagh and captained by Oisin McConville, Crossmaglen are a very strong side which as well as ace marksman, McConville, also have top inter-county performers in the McEntee and Kernan brothers, Paul Hearty and Francie Bellew. Gweedore beat St.Eunan's by 1-5 to 0-6 in the Donegal final on a day when Stephen Cassidy scored 1-1 for the new champions while James Gallagher kicked 0-4. Managed by former Donegal All-Ireland medal winner and anchored by current Donegal stars, Neil and Eamonn McGee, Gweedore showed great resilience to edge out the Letterkenny men. LOCAL RIVALS LAUNCH LEINSTER FOOTBALL CAMPAIGN Sunday: AIB Leinster SF 1st round: Wolfe Tones (Meath) v St.Joseph's (Louth), Pairc Tailteann, Navan, 3.0 Can former Louth star, Stephen Melia capture an AIB Leinster club medal at the age of 44? The St.Joseph's veteran played a key role in the Louth county championship which ended in success when they beat St. Patrick's by 2-7 to 0-9. Current county star, Martin Farrelly is also a central figure at midfield while David Reilly, who scored 1-3 in the county final, and Ollie McDonnell have been doing well in attack. St.Joseph's head for Pairc Tailteann, Navan on Sunday to take on newly-crowned Meath champions, Wolfe Tones in the first round of what is certain to be a very keenly contested Leinster campaign. Wolfe Tones' rise has been nothing short of spectacular, having progressed from junior county champions (2003) to intermediate champions (2004) to senior title winners this year. They beat Navan O'Mahony's by 1-9 to 1-7 in the Meath final, with Cian Ward scoring 1-7. If Melia brings vast experience to St.Joseph's, Wolfe Tones have their own highly influential veteran in former Meath star, Tommy Dowd who won his first senior county medal with Dunderry in 1995. The winners will take on the Dublin champions (Kilmacud Crokes, UCD, St.Vincent's or Na Fianna) in the quarter-final. TWO NEW CONTENDERS IN AIB LEINSTER HURLING Sunday: AIB Leinster SH 1st round: Craobh Chiarain (Dublin) v Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow), Parnell Park (3.0); Rathnure (Wexford) v Rathdowney-Errill (Laois), Wexford Park, (3.0). Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) and Rathdowney-Errill (Laois) will be making their debut in the AIB Leinster hurling championship next Sunday, having won their respective county titles for the first time. Mount Leinster take on Craobh Chiarain (Dublin) in Parnell Park while Rathdowney/Errill travel to Wexford Park to take on newly crowned Wexford champions Rathnure. Mount Leinster came from five points down against St.Mullins to win the Carlow title by 0-17 to 2-8 while Craobh Chiarain, who are back in the Leinster championship after a three-year absence, beat Ballyboden-St.Enda's by 2-10 to 2-8 in the Dublin final. Alan McCrabbe scored 1-6 of the Craobh Chiarain total. The winners will play the Kilkenny champions (Shamrocks or O'Loughlin Gaels) in the semi-final. Rathdowney-Errill only came together two years ago but made a very quick impact, winning their first Laois title under the joint banner when they beat Tinnahinch by 1-11 to 1-7 in the county final. They face a tough away clash with Rathnure, who made no mistake at the second attempt in the Wexford final, beating defending champions, Oulart-The-Ballagh by 1-12 to 0-6 in a replay. AIB CLUB SNIPPETS *The 2006 AIB All-Ireland club hurling champions, Portumna (Galway) are out of contention for this year's crown, having lost their county title to Loughrea by a point (1-13 to 0-15) in last Sunday's final. It was Loughrea's first county success since 1941. Leinster champions, James Stephens (Kilkenny) are also eliminated, having been beaten by O'Loughlin Gaels (0-15 to 0-13) in the county semi-final. The Gaels will play Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final. *Mount Sion, powered by the McGrath brothers, Tony Browne, Eoin Kelly and Michael White, are back at the summit in Waterford, having beaten great rivals, Ballygunner by 0-15 to 0-13 on Sunday. They will face Ballyduff (Kerry) or Toomevara (Tipperary) in the semi-final. Toomevara, with five Dunne brothers aboard, beat Nenagh Eire Og by 1-21 to 2-14 in the Tipperary final. *Erin's Own won the Cork title for the first time in 14 years when they beat Cloyne in the final. Brian Corcoran's men will face the winners of the Bruree v Wolfe Tones Munster quarter-final. *Wolfe Tones captured their second Clare hurling title, ten years after taking their first. Captained by Barry Loughnane, son of new Galway manager, Ger Loughnane, they beat Newmarket by 2-11 to 0-13. *Ballyroan Gaels bridged a 14-year gap by taking the Laois football title with a win over Arles/Killeen (0-10 to 0-7) while Horeswood and Castletown must meet against after finishing level (1-6 to 0-9) in the Wexford football final. The Castledaly v Tyrrellspass Westmeath final also ended level. *Clontibret won their 12th Monaghan title, beating Magheracloone by a goal while Dr.Casey's took their 8th Limerick title with a two-point win over St.Senan's. *Moorefield set themselves up for a Leinster quarter-final tie against Horeswood or Castletown (Wexford) when they beat Wicklow champions, St.Patrick's (0-12 to 0-8) in Aughrim on Sunday. AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 2006/2007 FOOTBALL CONNACHT Oct 15: 1st round: St.Brigid's (Roscommon) 1-9 Curry (Sligo) 1-8. LEINSTER Oct 22: 1st round: Moorefield 0-12 St.Patrick's (Wicklow) 0-8. HURLING CONNACHT Oct 22: 1st round: St.Mary's (Leitrim) 1-13 Tubbercurry (Sligo) 1-9. ULSTER Oct 22: Semi-final: Kevin Lynchs, Dungiven 1-12 Portaferry (Down) 0-11. Tweet

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