Another hectic session of AIB club hurling and football action is in store next weekend with major games scheduled in all four provinces. The Birr v UCD Leinster hurling quarter-final in Parnell Park will be shown 'live' on TG4 while the St.Peter's (Meath) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) Leinster football quarter-final will have a deferred showing immediately after the hurling game. SATURDAY AIB Connacht SF semi-final (replay) St.Brigid's (Roscommon) v Kiltubrid (Leitrim), Kiltoom (2.0) Dara McKiernan earned Kiltubrid a second chance with the equalising point in Carrick-on-Shannon last Sunday (0-9 each) so now it's back to Kiltoom for the replay. St.Brigid's led by three points at half-time but Kiltubrid, enjoying their first season in the AIB Connacht championship, battled back to earn a deserved draw. The winners will play Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway) in the final. SUNDAY AIB Leinster SF quarter-finals St.Peter's (Meath) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Navan, 2.30 Eire Og (Carlow) v Sarsfields (Kildare), Dr.Cullen Park, 2.30 Mattock Rangers (Louth) v Horeswood (Wexford), Drogheda, 2.30 Rhode (Offaly) v Stradbally (Laois), Tullamore, 2.30 ******** Kilmacud, who have been installed as favourites to win the Leinster title, will be without star Dublin forward, Mark Vaughan who is serving a one-match ban after being sent off in last year's semi-final against Portlaoise. However, they are still a very formidable outfit with plenty of proven big time performers in the Magee brothers, Darren and Johnny, Paul Griffin, Ray Cosgrove, Liam Og O hEineachain and Fermanagh's Liam McBarron. St.Peter's, Dunboyne began their Leinster campaign with an 0-16 to 1-5 win over Muckalee (Kilkenny) last Sunday, with Gerard Robinson and Stephen Moran each shooting 0-5. ****** Eire Og, who beat Dromard (Longford) by 0-12 to 0-4 in the first round last Sunday, will have home advantage in Dr.Cullen Park when they entertain Kildare champions, Sarsfields. Eire Og, five-times winners of the Leinster title, were in top form with Carlow star, Simon Rea shooting 0-9. Sarsfields took two attempts before beating St.Laurence's in the Kildare County final but looked a powerful outfit when winning the replay and will now be looking to Kildare stars, Dermot Earley and Alan Barry to provide the launch pad for a successful Leinster campaign. ******** Horeswood, who beat Adamstown (0-14 to 1-8) to win the Wexford county title for the first time this year, begin their Leinster campaign with a visit to Drogheda to take on Mattock Rangers (Louth), who beat The Downs (Westmeath) by two points (1-8 to 0-9) in the first round last Sunday. Wexford stars, PJ Banville and Leigh O'Brien are among Horeswood's main influences and will need to be at their very best against Rangers, who are managed by former Louth boss, Paddy Clarke. They withstood a great recovery by The Downs before edging home last Sunday. ******* Rhode were desperately disappointed last year when going down heavily to eventual champions, Portlaoise in the quarter-final but looked a much more effective outfit when easily beating Rathnew (Wicklow) by 2-6 to 1-3 in the first round last Sunday. Mark Cole (1-1), Niall McNamee (0-4) and Pascal Kelleghan (1-0) were hugely influential for the Offaly champions. Rhode will welcome Stradbally to Tullamore, aware that the Laois champions dethroned 2004 Leinster kingpins, Portlaoise (1-10 to 1-9) in the county final. It was Stradbally's first county title win since 1998 and they are now determined to make a major impact on the provincial scene. SUNDAY AIB Munster SF quarter-finals Monaleen (Limerick) v St.Senan's (Clare), Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 2.30 Ardfinnan (Tipperary) v Nemo Rangers (Cork), Ardfinnan, 2.30. ****** St.Senan's, Kilkee put down a real marker regarding their big time intentions when they dethroned Kilmurry-Ibrickane, the 2005 AIB Munster champions, in this year's Clare final. St.Senan's beat K/B by 3-8 to 1-9 on a day when Ger Keane, Jimmy Larkin and Gearoid Lynch all scored goals. Monaleen beat St.Kieran's by 0-13 to 2-5 in the Limerick final and with county stars, Muiris Gavin and Michael Crowley in attack, are certain to apply serious pressure to the Kilkee defence. ****** Nemo Rangers, who are clear leaders on the AIB All-Ireland honours list with seven titles, return to Munster action after easily beating Muskerry (1-14 to 0-7) in the Cork final. With Cork stars, Gary Murphy, Niall Geary, Derek Kavanagh, James Masters, Martin Cronin, Sean O'Brien, Alan Cronin in the side, Nemo have high hopes of not only regaining the Munster title but of also making a big impression in the All-Ireland series. Ardfinnan beat Loughmore-Castleiney by a point (1-5 to 1-4) in the Tipperary county final on a day when player-manager, Peter Lambert kicked the winner. It was Ardfinnan's first Tipperary county final win since 1974. SUNDAY AIB Ulster SF quarter-final Latton (Monaghan) v Cavan Gaels, Enniskillen, 2.30. Postponed last Sunday due to ground conditions in Clones, the game has been switched to Enniskillen. Latton, who bridged a 75-year gap when winning the Monaghan county title, are playing in their first Ulster SFC tie, against Cavan Gaels, who continued their dominance in Breffni-land. The Gaels had seven county players in action during their 0-12 to 1-6 win over Mullahoran in the Cavan final while Latton, who beat Magheracloone by 0-14 to 0-10 in the Monaghan final, will be looking to county star, Hugh McElroy for leadership. SUNDAY AIB Leinster SH quarter-finals Naomh Eoin (Carlow) v James Stephens (Kilkenny), Dr.Cullen Park, 1.0 UCD v Birr, Parnell Park, 2.0 ***** James Stephens, who won the All-Ireland title last March, were the only one of the 2004 provincial hurling winners to retain their county titles and have now set their sights on winning the Leinster and All-Ireland two-in-a-row. They will start as strong favourites to beat Carlow champions, Naomh Eoin who eliminated Celbridge in the first round. ******* The Birr v UCD clash, which will be screened 'live' by TG 4, promises to be one of the highlights of the provincial programme. Birr, who lead the All-Ireland honours list with four titles, are one of the most proven forces in the business but face a real test against the Babs Keating-managed UCD, who ousted Killyon (Meath) in the first round by 3-25 to 1-3 AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 2005/2006 FOOTBALL CONNACHT Oct 16: 1st round: Kiltubrid (Leitrim) 0-9 Coolera-Strandhill (Sligo) 0-4. Semi-finals: Nov 6: Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway) 0-9 Crossmolina (Mayo) 0-7; Kiltubrid (Leitrim) 0-9 St.Brigid's (Roscommon) 0-9. LEINSTER Nov 6: 1st round: Eire Og (Carlow) 0-12 Dromard (Longford) 0-4; St.Peter's (Meath) 0-16 Muckalee (Kilkenny) 1-5; Mattock Rangers (Louth) 1-8 The Downs (Westmeath) 0-9; Rhode (Offaly) 2-6 Rathnew (Wicklow) 1-3. ULSTER Oct 30: 1st round: Carrickmore (Tyrone) 2-10 Teemore (Fermanagh) 0-5. Oct 6: Quarter-finals: Mayobridge (Down) 0-10 Glenties (Donegal) 1-5; Bellaghy (Derry) 0-11 Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 0-9; St.Gall's (Antrim) 1-11 Carrickmore 0-8. HURLING LEINSTER Oct 30: 1st Round: UCD (Dublin) 3-25 Killyon (Meath) 1-3; Glenealy (Wicklow) 2-14 Castlepollard (Westmeath) 1-10; October 31: Knockbridge (Louth) 1-14 Clonguish (Longford) 1-5; Nov 6: Naomh Eoin (Carlow) 3-14 Celbridge (Kildare) 0-12 Quarter-finals: Nov 5: Castletown (Laois) 2-16 Glenealy (Wicklow) 2-10; Nov 6: Oulart-The-Ballagh (Wexford) 6-21 Knockbridge (Louth) 0-9. MUNSTER Nov 6: Quarter-finals: Ballygunner (Waterford) 2-12 Garryspillane (Limerick) 1-11; Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 2-15 Lixnaw (Kerry) 3-8. ULSTER Oct 30: Final: Ballygalget (Down) 1-18 Cushendall (Antrim) 3-8. CONNACHT Oct 30: Semi-final: Four Roads (Roscommon) 1-9 St.Mary's (Leitrim) 0-5. Tweet

Most Read Stories