THE LIAM MCCARTHY Cup will be resting in Clare this winter while Sam Maguire will reside in Dublin.
This year’s All-Ireland senior championships drew to a close last Saturday after a dramatic summer of action.
Now the GAA spotlight falls on the club action with a hectic schedule of county championship games around the country this week.
There’s four county titles up for grabs this week in football with finals on in Derry, Fermanagh, Longford and Roscommon next Sunday.
Big names like Dr Crokes, St Vincent’s, Crossmaglen Rangers and St Brigid’s are also in action.
Here’s the main Gaelic football action.
FOOTBALL
Wednesday
Dublin SFC second round: Raheny v Fingal Ravens, Balgriffin, 6.45pm; UCD v St Judes, Iveagh Grounds, 7.30pm.
Thursday
Dublin SFC second round: St Vincent’s v Na Fianna, St Margaret’s, 7.30pm.
Friday
Armagh SFC semi-final: Crossmaglen Rangers v Maghery, Athletic Grounds, 8pm
Dublin SFC second round: Ballinteer St John’s v St Sylvester’s, Balgriffin, 7.30pm; St Brigid’s v Thomas Davis, Newcastle, 7.30pm; Erins Isle v Ballymun Kickhams, Parnell Park, 8.15pm.
Monaghan SFC semi-final replay: Clontibret v Monaghan Harps, Emyvale, 8.15pm.
Tipperary SFC quarter-final: Loughmore-Castleiney v Arravale Rovers, Clonoulty, 8.15pm.
Michael Murphy will be in action for Glenswilly this weekend
Pic: INPHO/Kieran Murray
Saturday
Armagh SFC semi-final: St Patrick’s v Ballymacnab, Athletic Grounds, 7pm.
Donegal SFC semi-final: Ardara v Glenswilly, MacCumhaill Park, 7.30pm.
Dublin SFC second round: Kilmacud Crokes v Ballyboden St Enda’s, O’Toole Park, 4.30pm; Parnells v Templeogue Synge Street, 5.30pm.
Mayo SFC quarter-finals: Castlebar Mitchels v Ballina Stephenites, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 3.30pm; Charlestown Sarsfields v Garrymore, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 5pm.
Waterford SFC semi-final: Stradbally v An Rinn, Fraher Field, 7.30pm.
Westmeath SFC semi-final replay: Mullingar Shamrocks v Tyrrellspass, Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm.
Wicklow SFC semi-final replay: St Mary’s v Rathnew, Aughrim, 3.30pm.
Sunday
Derry SFC final: Ballinascreen v Ballinderry, Celtic Park, 3.30pm.
Donegal SFC semi-final: Killybegs v Malin, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm.
Fermanagh SFC final: Roslea v Belcoo, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 3.30pm.
Kerry SFC semi-finals: Dr Crokes v Kerins O’Rahilly’s, Austin Stack Park, 2pm; Austin Stacks v Feale Rangers, Austin Stack Park, 3.30pm.
Dr Crokes Colm Cooper
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Laois SFC semi-finals: Portlaoise v Arles Kilcruise, O’Moore Park, 2.30pm; Graiguecullen v Arles Killeen, O’Moore Park, 4pm.
Longford SFC final: Dromard v Longford Slashers, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3.30pm.
Mayo SFC quarter-finals: Ballaghaderreen v Breaffy, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 2pm; Ballintubber v Knockmore, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 3.30pm.
Roscommon SFC final: St Brigid’s v Western Gaels, Dr Hyde Park, 4pm.
Tipperary SFC quarter-finals: Moyle Rovers v JK Brackens, Boherlahan, 12.30pm; Clonmel Commercials v Éire Óg Annacarty, Leahy Park, Cashel, 3.30pm; Aherlow Gaels v Galtee Rovers, Cahir, 3.30pm.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
In hurling there are county finals down for decision in Limerick, Meath and Offaly.
Some of the other big clubs in action include St Thomas, Portumna, Sarsfields and Oulart-The-Ballagh.
HURLING
Saturday
Clare SHC Group 1: Newmarket-on-Fergus v Tulla, Clarecastle, 2pm. Group 2: Cratloe v St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, Cusack Park, 4.30pm. Group 3: Sixmilebridge v Clooney-Quin, Carran, 3pm.
Cork SHC quarter-final: Na Piarsaigh v Glen Rovers, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.15pm.
Kilkenny SHC relegation final: Fenians v Graigue-Ballycallan, Palmerstown, 1.30pm.
Sunday
Carlow SHC semi-finals: Naomh Eoin v St Mullins, Dr Cullen Park, 2.15pm; Mount Leinster Rangers v Ballinkillen, Dr Cullen Park, 3.4p5m.
Clare SHC Group 1: Kilmaley v Tubber, Cusack Park, 1.30pm. Group 2: Inagh-Kilnamona v Crusheen, Cusack Park, 3pm. Group 3: Clonlara v Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge, 4.30pm.
Cork SHC: 4th round: Bishopstown v Carrigtwohill, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.15pm; Sarsfields v UCC, Páirc Uí Rinn, 6.30pm. Quarter-final: Ballymartle v Douglas, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.30pm.
Limerick SHC final: Na Piarsaigh v Adare, Gaelic Grounds, 3.30pm.
Galway SHC semi-finals: Beagh v Loughrea, Athenry, 2pm; Portumna v St Thomas, Athenry, 3.30pm.
Meath SHC final: Kilmessan v Longwood, Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 3.30pm.
Offaly SHC final: Kilcormac-Killoughey v Birr, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 3.30pm.
Tipperary SHC semi-final replay: Kildangan v Éire Óg Nenagh, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 3.30pm.
Wexford SHC semi-finals: Ferns St Aidan’s v Glynn Barntown, Wexford Park, 3.30pm; Oulart-The-Ballagh v Shelmaliers, Wexford Park, 5pm.
Oulart-The-Ballagh’s Keith Rossiter
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Jesus it’s starting to turn into an exodus! Having said that with the state of Gaelic football in Ireland and the extremely limited playing time for F. A. reward for weaker counties it’s no surprise
@jl: around 8 players spread over 32 counties is hardly an exodus and let’s not forget most return
This is a killer for Derry, Conor Glass, Tohill and now Browne. These are the kind of players you build an Ulster championship winning side around. While I wish the lads all the best in life as a GAA fan I would be delighted to see the them decide AFL is not for them after a few years of being trained up and end up being a loss making venture for their AFL club.
Lads picking soccer, rugby, hockey or what ever is grand, they get trained as kids by coaches from those sports but there is something that doesn’t sit right about cash rich aussie clubs swiping a a player that GAA volunteer coaches have given years of coaching.
I know people may say I’m daft, but is it time to have these guys sign a simple contract. So when this does happen the AFL have to compensate the club/county?? Or do they already get compensation?
@Anthony Corcoran: excellent question
@Anthony Corcoran: Why would anyone sign a contract that has zero benefit to them? Clubs and counties should be proud of their players that manage to make a career out of sport.
@Anthony Corcoran: hahahaha the players have to sign a contract??? So it’s not enough they work all day, train 3 times a week, their diet is a 24/7 thing so let’s not forget that, match day to contend with, pay their own membership costs and when the player eventually plays gets their performance judged by every hasbeen there so thats not enough and thats just bloody club level….increase it ten fold for county level. So what are the benefits to the player if they sign this contract? Please explain.
@Patrick McHugh: maybe have is a bit strong, and I did say some people would think I’m daft. The benefits are purely for a small club county who has in vested time and energy for the AFL to come in when they are 18 to hand pick the best players, thus making county’s weaker. So yeah maybe not a contract but the GAA needs to do something. The AFL employ our former players to go around and do all the camps.