Saturday

All-Ireland SF B semi-finals

Fermanagh v Wexford, Navan, 3.30 - A bloodless victory over Carlow didn't tell us much about Wexford, the only semi-finalists not to have won this title. Fermanagh have been to two B finals in recent years - winning one - and may not be too worked up about this one. Still John Maughan set the stage for Clare's breakthrough nine years ago by winning the B competition and may invest this with enough urgency to win.

Louth v Wicklow, Tullamore, 3.30 - If Paddy Clarke hasn't been too distracted with international duty, Louth have the wherewithal to win here and progress in their attempt to add the B to their Division Two league title.

Leinster club SHC

Slashers Gaels (Longford) v St Mullins (Carlow), Longford Slashers, 4.00 - Home advantage notwithstanding, Slashers should find the visitors too cutting.

Ulster club SFC

Castleblayney Faughs v Crossmaglen Rangers, Castleblayney, 3.30 - The year goes around so fast. The All-Ireland wasn't won and Crossmaglen were out on the road again. The repeat of last year's Ulster final win over Enniskillen showed that the talent to grind out a result still remains. 'Blayney bring a bit of enthusiasm to the task, but not enough to suggest that they can overturn the clubs' semi-final meeting of four years ago when Cross were only a rumour waiting to happen.

Dublin SFC final

Kilmacud Crokes v Na Fianna, Parnell Park, 4.00 - This meeting of the two most recent winners should be tight, but the consensus seems to be that Na Fianna, the defending Dublin and Leinster champions, have the edge. With little change on either team, the northsiders' more creative and reliable attack should take more scores than their somewhat more erratic defence concedes. That and their greater strength as a unit should prove sufficient.

Hurling/Shinty International

Ireland v Scotland, Croke Park, 1.00 - Key to this curtain-raiser on international day at Croke Park is the attitude of the home side. Too often recently Ireland teams have treated this event as an excuse to roister - an approach as disastrous to their on-field chances as it was discourteous to the committed Scots. The visitors have developed a formidable team and stuck with it in recent years while the Irish have chopped and changed, depending on what team or players were felt deserving of a reward. Tomorrow's selection has been made on more serious grounds and, if they apply themselves, could halt the recent negative trend for Ireland.

Leinster Club SHC

Carnew Emmets (Wicklow) v Trim (Meath), Aughrim, 3.00; Loughlene Gaels (Westmeath) v Knockbridge (Louth), Mullingar, 3.00; Castletown (Laois) v Coill Dubh (Kildare), Portlaoise, 3.30 - Trim, Loughlene and last year's finalists Castletown should all progress.

Connacht Club SHC

St Mary's (Leitrim) v Tubbercurry (Sligo), Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.00 - Home win.

Ulster Club SHC

Dungannon (Tyrone) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Dungannon, 3.30 - Away win.

Wexford SHC final

St Anne's v Oulart the Ballagh, Bellefield, 3.30 - St Anne's chase a football and hurling double, but are long shots to secure it against the more accomplished Oulart, the county's most successful club in recent years. Oulart parade familiar names - even among the newcomers, with Michael Jacob (son of Mick) an addition to the ranks. St Anne's, with nearly all their successful footballers on board, will be pushed to deal with the outfit which eventually accounted for defending champions St Martin's by nearly 30 points.

Tipperary SHC final

Thurles Sarsfields v Toomevara, Semple Stadium, 3.30 - Now fairly seasoned, although by no means long in the tooth, Toomevara chase a three-in-a-row. Sarsfields are probably the most likely club to catch them, although it is now a staggering 26 years since they last won the county title. Neither side will fancy a heavy pitch, but Toomevara's slight forwards are particularly at risk. Paddy O'Brien has been their top gun to date and hopes to pocket a second county medal this season after already helping UCD to a rare Dublin title. Michael Bevans, another Fitzgibbon star, is also in the attack. Thurles haven't the same quality all around but will take comfort from how initially troubled the holders were by Loughmore, whom Sarsfields beat in the mid-Tipp final. Still the holders should win.

Cork SHC final

Erin's Own v Newtownshandrum, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 3.30 - Postponed from last week because of the death of Dan Mulcahy, father of Newtownshandrum's Donal, Brendan and Pat. Regarded as a coming team, Newtown lost last year's final and have been playing well this year. Erin's Own's surprise dispatch of holders and favourites Imokilly in the semi-final would appear to have given Newtown the edge this year. The match is expected to come down to a trial of strength between Erin's Own's defence and the opposing forwards, spearheaded by Ben and Jerry O'Connor. Brian Corcoran has bettered his flat county form, but former Cork player Timmy Kelleher has been the star of the defence. Hardly the puck of a ball in it, but Newtown are marginally preferred.

Clare SHC final

Eire Og v Sixmilebridge, Cusack Park, 3.30 - As in Wexford, the newly-crowned football champions are chasing the double and, as in Wexford, they'll have their work cut out. Although the shock win over Doora-Barefield in the semi-final was very impressive, the Munster champions and their A-list names were showing signs of savage wear and tear at both club and county level over the past four years. The 'Bridge haven't won since the season they went on to take the All-Ireland and lost last year's final, so their appetite should be equal to their opponents. On paper they look capable of preventing Eire Og taking the double.

Delayed relay, TG4 5.0 p.m.

Kilkenny SHC final

Graigue-Ballycallan v O'Loughlin Gaels, Nowlan Park, 3.30 - One feature of recent Kilkenny finals is the number of first-time winners: three in four years. Of the three, Graigue are back for another tilt. Their defence may be vulnerable, but five of the six forwards - Denis Byrne, Michael and John Hoyne, Eddie Brennan and Adrian Ronan - are county players. In the last two championship matches, the team has compiled an aggregate 8-27. O'Loughlin Gaels are a prosperous club but have yet to translate that on to the field. Andy Comerford is their best-known player and has moved from centrefield into the half lines to good effect during the campaign but Graigue's firepower looks more persuasive.