All four provinces will be represented in the 37th AIB All-Ireland senior club finals in Croke Park on St.Patrick's Day, making it a truly national celebration in what has become the high point of the GAA's spring schedule. The full line-up is: Football: Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Dr.Crokes (Kerry), 2.0 Hurling: Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) v Loughrea (Galway), 3.40 (Both games will be shown 'live' on TG4) CROSSMAGLEN v DR. CROKES It's Ulster v Munster in a football final that has all the ingredients for a cracking contest. Crossmaglen are appearing in the final for the fourth time, having been successful in the previous three, beating Knockmore (Mayo), Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) and Na Fianna (Dublin) in 1997-99-2000. Dr.Crokes are appearing in the final for a second time, having won their first title in 1992 when they beat Thomas Davis (Dublin). One of the heroes of Dr.Crokes' win was right corner-forward, Pat O'Shea who scored the only goal of the game as the Kerry men won by 1-11 to 0-13. O'Shea is, of course, the current Dr.Crokes manager, a role he also fills with Kerry. The Killarney club were very disappointed when they lost last year's county final to South Kerry (who weren't allowed to compete in the provincial championship because of the divisional rule) but Dr.Crokes quickly set their sights on making amends by winning the Munster title. A great win over defending champions, Nemo Rangers set them on their way to a title which they clinched with a win over The Nire. The Colm 'Gooch' Cooper and Eoin Brosnan-inspired Dr.Crokes were held to a draw by Moorefield in the All-Ireland semi-final before winning the replay by seven points. Dr.Crokes, who are bidding to become the first Kerry club to win the title since Laune Rangers in 1996, head for Croke Park with an impressive defensive record, having yet to concede a goal in any of their five games. Crossmaglen also have a solid defensive record, having conceded an average of just 1-6 per game in their five games. They have a star-studded side which includes Armagh stars, Paul Hearty, Francie Bellew, John and Tony McEntee, Aaron and Stephen Kernan and Oisin McConville, who won the AIB Player of the Ulster championship award for his excellence during the provincial campaign. A Crossmaglen victory would see them move into second place on the All-Ireland honours table with four titles, one clear of St.Finbarr's (Cork) and three behind leaders Nemo Rangers (Cork) PATHS TO THE FINAL CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS Crossmaglen 0-12 Gweedore (Donegal) 1-4 Crossmaglen 2-13 Mullahoran (Cavan) 1-7 Crossmaglen 1-9 Clontibret (Monaghan) 0-11 Crossmaglen 0-5 Ballinderry (Derry) 0-3 (Ulster final) Crossmaglen 1-11 St.Brigid's (Roscommon) 1-9 (All-Ireland semi-final) Average For: 1-10; Average Against: 1-6. DR.CROKES Dr.Crokes (Kerry) 2-10 Nemo Rangers (Cork) 0-10 Dr.Crokes 2-5 The Nire (Waterford) 0-8 (Munster final). Dr.Crokes 2-12 St. Brendan's (London) 0-5 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Dr. Crokes 1-9 Moorefield (Kildare) 0-12 (Semi-final) Dr.Crokes 2-9 Moorefield 0-8 (replay) Average For: 2-9; Average Against: 0-9 PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN FINALS 1997 - Crossmaglen 2-13 Knockmore (Mayo) 0-11 1999 - Crossmaglen 0-9 Ballina Stephenites 0-8 2000 - Crossmaglen 1-14 Na Fianna (Dublin) 0-12 **** 1992 - Dr. Crokes 1-11 Thomas Davis (Dublin) 0-13 PREVIOUS KERRY WINNERS The Andy Merrigan Cup has been won by five Kerry clubs, including Dr.Crokes who are attempting to become the first club from the county to win it a second time. 1971 - East Kerry 1977 - Austin Stacks 1985 - Castleisland Desmonds 1992 - Dr.Crokes 1996 - Laune Rangers PREVIOUS ARMAGH WINNERS Crossmaglen Rangers, winners of the title in 1997-1999-2000, are the only Armagh club to have won the All-Ireland SF title. BALLYHALE v LOUGHREA Ballyhale chasing their fourth AIB All-Ireland title and their first since 1990; Loughrea seeking their first title. If Ballyhale win they will join Birr (Offaly) at the top of the AIB All-Ireland honours' list. Loughrea are bidding to become the sixth Galway club to win the title, following in the footsteps of Castlegar, Kiltormer, Sarsfields, Athenry and Portumna, who won the crown last year. Loughrea dethroned Portumna in the 2006 Galway final before winning their first Connacht title. They beat Cushendall in the All-Ireland semi-final. John Maher (0-11) and Michael Haverty (1-4) are their top scorers. Ballyhale beat Rathnure and Birr to land the Leinster title before staging an incredible comeback to beat Toomevara in the All-Ireland semi-final. They trailed by 12 points at one stage in the first half but staged a great recovery to win by three points (2-20 to 3-14). Henry Shefflin scored 0-8 to take his total for the campaign to 2-16 while fellow-county star, James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick has scored a total of 1-9. PATHS TO THE FINAL BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS Ballyhale 2-14 Rathnure (Wexford) 1-10 Ballyhale 1-20 Birr (Offaly) 1-8 (Leinster final) Ballyhale 2-20 Toomevara (Tipperary) 3-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Average For: 2-17; Average Against: 1-13 LOUGHREA Loughrea 2-16 Athleague (Roscommon) 2-3 (Connacht final) Loughrea 1-11 Cushendall (Antrim) 0-9 (All-Ireland semi-final) Average for: 1-15; Average Against: 1-6 PREVIOUS ALL-IRELAND FINAL APPEARANCES 1981 - Ballyhale 1-15 St.Finbarr's (Cork) 1-11 1984 - Ballyhale 1-10 Gort (Galway) 1-10 (draw) 1984 - Ballyhale 1-10 Gort 0-7 (replay) 1990 - Ballyhale 1-16 Ballybrown (Limerick) 0-16 PREVIOUS KILKENNY WINNERS 1981-84-90 - Ballyhale Shamrocks 1976-82-2005 - James Stephens 1985 - St.Martin's 1991 - Glenmore PREVIOUS GALWAY WINNERS 1997-2000-2001 - Athenry 1993-94 - Sarsfields 1980 - Castlegar 1992 - Kiltormer 2006 - Portumna GALWAY - KILKENNY AIB CLUB FINALS 1984 - Ballyhale 1-10 Gort 1-10 (draw) 1984 - Ballyhale 1-10 Gort 0-7 (replay) 1985 - St.Martin's 2-9 Castlegar 3-6 (draw) 1985 - St.Martin's 1-13 Castlegar 1-10 (replay) 2001 - Athenry 3-24 Graigue-Ballycallan 2-19 (after extra-time) 2005 - James Stephens 0-19 Athenry 0-14 PREVIOUS AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB WINNERS (1971-2005) FOOTBALL 1971 - East Kerry (Kerry) 1972 - Bellaghy (Derry) 1973 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1974 - UCD (Dublin) 1975 - UCD (Dublin) 1976 - St.Vincent's (Dublin) 1977 - Austin Stacks (Kerry) 1978 - Thomond College (Limerick) 1979 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1980 - St.Finbarr's (Cork) 1981 - St.Finbarr's (Cork) 1982 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1983 - Portlaoise (Laois) 1984 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1985 - Castleisland Desmonds (Kerry) 1986 - Burren (Down) 1987 - St.Finbarr's (Cork) 1988 - Burren (Down) 1989 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1990 - Baltinglass (Wicklow) 1991 - Lavey (Derry) 1992 - DR.CROKES (Kerry) 1993 - O'Donovan Rossa (Cork) 1994 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1995 - Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 1996 - Laune Rangers (Kerry) 1997 - CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS (Armagh) 1998 - Corofin (Galway) 1999 - CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS (Armagh) 2000 - CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS (Armagh) 2001 - Crossmolina (Mayo) 2002 - Ballinderry (Derry) 2003 - Nemo Rangers (Cork) 2004 - Caltra (Galway) 2005 - Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) 2006 - Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway) HURLING 1971 - Roscrea (Tipperary) 1972 - Blackrock (Cork) 1973 - Glen Rovers (Cork) 1974 - Blackrock (Cork) 1975 - St. Finbarr's (Cork) 1976 - James Stephens (Kilkenny) 1977 - Glen Rovers (Cork) 1978 - St.Finbarr's (Cork) 1979 - Blackrock (Cork) 1980 - Castlegar (Galway) 1981 - BALLYHALE SHAMEOCKS (Kilkenny) 1982 - James Stephens (Kilkenny) 1983 - Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) 1984 - BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS (Kilkenny) 1985 - St.Martin's (Kilkenny) 1986 - Kilruane McDonaghs (Tipperary) 1987 - Borrisoleigh (Tipperary) 1988 - Midleton (Cork) 1989 - Buffers Alley (Wexford) 1990 - BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS (Kilkenny) 1991 - Glenmore (Kilkenny) 1992 - Kiltormer (Galway) 1993 - Sarsfields (Galway) 1994 - Sarsfields (Galway) 1995 - Birr (Offaly) 1996 - Sixmilebridge (Clare) 1997 - Athenry (Galway) 1998 - Birr (Offaly) 1999 - St.Joseph's (Clare) 2000 - Athenry (Galway) 2001 - Athenry (Galway) 2002 - Birr (Offaly) 2003 - Birr (Offaly) 2004 - Newtownshandrum (Cork) 2005 - James Stephens (Kilkenny) 2006 - Portumna (Galway) WILL THE 40,000 MARK BE BEATEN? Only once before has the 40,000 attendance mark been beaten for the AIB All-Ireland club finals although hopes are high that it could happen again next Saturday. A crowd of 40,106 attended the St.Joseph's (Clare) v Rathnure (Wexford) and Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Ballina (Mayo) finals in 1999. It was a far cry from the early days of the competitions in the 1970s when the finals were watched by less than a thousand spectators for the first few years. The attendance figures for the past ten years were as follows: 2006 - 33,454 2005 - 31,236 2004 -38,500 2003 - 26,235 2002 - 16,112* 2001- 20,025 2000 - 31,965 1999 - 40,106 1998 - 36,545 1997 - 34,852 *Played in Semple Stadium, Thurles due to redevelopment of Croke Park. All the other finals were played in Croke Park. AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 2006/2007 FOOTBALL CONNACHT Oct 15: 1st round: St.Brigid's (Roscommon) 1-9 Curry (Sligo) 1-8. Nov 12: Semi-finals: Corofin (Galway) 1-11 Mohill (Leitrim) 1-2; St.Brigid's 0-13 Crossmolina (Mayo) 1-6. Nov 26: Final: St.Brigid's 1-10 Corofin 3-3. LEINSTER Oct 22: 1st round: Moorefield (Kildare) 0-12 St.Patrick's (Wicklow) 0-8. Oct 29: 1st round: Wolfe Tones (Meath) 0-12 St.Joseph's (Louth) 0-6. Nov 5: 1st round: Tyrrellspass (Westmeath) 1-10 Abbeylara (Longford) 1-6. Nov 5: Quarter-finals: Rhode (Offaly) 1-11 Palatine (Carlow) 2-7; Moorefield 0-10 Horeswood (Wexford) 1-7. Nov 12: Quarter-finals: Replay: Moorefield 3-8 Horeswood 1-5; Arles/Killeen (Laois) 0-10 Tyrrellspass 1-7; UCD (Dublin) 1-11 Wolfe Tones 0-11. Nov 18: Quarter-final replay: Tyrrellspass 0-7 Arles/Killeen 0-5. Nov 19: Semi-final: Rhode 2-6 UCD 1-8. Nov 26: Semi-final: Moorefield 0-8 Tyrrellspass 0-7. Dec 3: Final: Moorefield 3-6 Rhode 0-8. MUNSTER Nov 12: Quarter-finals: Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1-9 Eire Og (Clare) 0-3; Aherlow (Tipperary) 1-7; Fr.Casey's (Limerick) 0-6. Nov 26: Semi-finals: Dr.Crokes (Kerry) 2-10 Nemo Rangers 0-10; Aherlow 1-6 The Nire (Waterford) 1-6. Dec 3: Semi-final (replay): The Nire 1-10 Aherlow 0-6. Dec 10: Final: Dr.Crokes 2-5 The Nire 0-8. ULSTER Oct 29: Preliminary round: Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 0-12 Gweedore (Donegal) 1-4. Nov 12: Quarter-finals: Crossmaglen Rangers 2-13 Mullahoran (Cavan) 1-7; Cargin (Antrim) 0-12 Clontibret (Monaghan) 1-9; Ballinderry (Derry) 0-15 Mayobridge (Down) 0-1; Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone 0-7 Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) 0-6. Nov 19: Quarter-final (replay): Clontibret 3-8 Cargin 0-10; Semi-final: Ballinderry 0-10 Errigal Ciaran 0-10. Nov 26: Semi-finals: Replay: Ballinderry 1-15 Errigal Ciaran 3-7; Crossmaglen Rangers 1-9 Clontibret 0-11. Dec 3: Final: Crossmaglen 0-5 Ballinderry 0-3. ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Jan 28: Quarter-final: Dr.Crokes 2-12 St.Brendan's (London) 0-5. Feb 18: Dr.Crokes 1-9 Moorefield 0-12, Limerick Gaelic Grounds; Crossmaglen Rangers 1-11 St.Brigid's 0-11, Mullingar. Feb 24: Dr.Crokes 2-9 Moorefield 0-8, Nenagh (replay). Mar 17: Final: Crossmaglen Rangers v Dr. Crokes, Croke Park, 2.0 HURLING CONNACHT Oct 22: 1st round: St.Mary's (Leitrim) 1-13 Tubbercurry (Sligo) 1-9. Oct 30: 1st round: Athleague (Roscommon) 1-11 Ballyhaunis (Mayo) 1-7. Nov 4: Semi-final: Athleague 3-11 St. Mary's 1-7. Nov 19: Final: Loughrea (Galway) 2-16 Athleague 2-3. LEINSTER Oct 29: Quarter-finals: Craobh Chiarain (Dublin) 2-9 Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) 0-9; Rathnure (Wexford) 2-13 Rathdowney-Errill (Laois) 0-14. Nov 12: Semi-finals: Birr (Offaly) 2-14 Craobh Chiarain 1-10; Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 2-14 Rathnure 1-10. Nov 26: Final: Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-20 Birr 1-8. MUNSTER Nov 5: 1st round: Wolfe Tones (Clare) 1-14 Bruree (Limerick) 0-5; Toomevara (Tipperary) 3-16 Ballyduff (Kerry) 3-7. Nov 19: Semi-finals: Toomevara 1-10 Mount Sion (Waterford) 0-11; Erin's Own (Cork) 1-10 Wolfe Tones 1-5. Dec 3: Final: Toomevara 2-9 Erin's Own 2-8. ULSTER Oct 22: Semi-final: Kevin Lynchs (Derry) 1-12 Portaferry (Down) 0-11. Nov 4: Final: Cushendall (Antrim) 1-13 Kevin Lynchs (Derry) 2-10. Nov 12: Replay: Cushendall 1-15 Kevin Lynchs 1-7. ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Feb 10: Semi-final: Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 2-20 Toomevara (Tipperary) 3-14, Portlaoise. Feb 11: Semi-final: Loughrea (Galway) 1-11 Cushendall (Antrim) 0-9, Mullingar; Mar 17: Final: Ballyhale Shamrocks v Loughrea, Croke Park, 3.40. Tweet

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