On Sunday 11th March, the Junior and Intermediate Club Hurling finals will be played in Croke Park. The Junior final sees Danesfort of Kilkenny play Antrim's Clooney Gaels in a game which gets underway at 2pm. In 2006, Danesfort captured the club's first Kilkenny Junior hurling championship in some 76 years. Not content with this breakthrough, their progress through Leinster featured impressive victories over Bray Emmetts and Knockbridge (Louth) before a very stern test against Cork rivals Kilworth in the All Ireland semi-final. Only two points separated the teams at the final whistle in a goalless game. The key scores for the Kilkenny men were provided by Richie Hogan and Robbie Walsh who scored 10 of their team's 12 points between them. Their opponents Clooney Gaels are a rural club from Ahoghill in the heart of South West Antrim and their win in the Antrim Junior final was their first since 1989. Having beaten Shamrocks of Strabane in a replayed Ulster final, their semi-final victory over Skehana of Galway was a nail biting affair. Level at the end of the second period of extra time, it took a crucial point from midfielder Dominic Neeson to see the Antrim Champions through to Sunday's decider. The Intermediate Final pits London's Robert Emmett's against Galway side Killimordaly at 3.40pm.Robert Emmett's have already made history as they become the first ever London club to participate in an All Ireland final in Croke Park. Captain Fergus McMahon, a Meath native, is no stranger to the sacred sod however, as he led the London hurlers to victory in the Nicky Rackard Cup at Croke Park in 2005. Another link with that team is manager Mick O Dea from Cork who was also in charge of the London hurlers on that occasion. He has an experienced group at his disposal and players such as Eddie Carey (Tipperary) and Cork quartet Jim Ryan, Tadhg Callaghan, Colum Buckley and Johnny Quinlan can boast intercounty experience at one level or another.  Their impressive march to the final saw them defeat both the Leinster Champions (Kildare's Ardclough) and Munster Champions (Clooney-Quinn of Clare) en route. Their opponents Killimordaly are the Galway Intermediate Champions and come from the heartland of Galway hurling, between Loughrea and Athenry. Boasting a proud history, they played in three Galway Senior hurling championship finals in a row in the 1980 s, winning their only senior crown in 1986 before being beaten by Rathnure in the All Ireland Senior Semi-Final. They captured this year's Galway Intermediate crown with victory over Kiltormer and looked impressive in the All Ireland semi-final when defeating Antrim Champions Gortnamona. Tickets for these games are currently on sale through the GAA Website, GAA Ticket Office (01-8658657), Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and are priced at Eu15 for adults, Eu5 for juveniles and Eu7 for Students and Senior Citizens (students and senior citizens must enter by stiles G8-10 only). The Hogan Stand only will be open for the finals Tweet

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