The road to Croke Park is open to all, and this weekend it belongs to clubs that have carried their communities with them every step of the way.
From Easkey in Sligo to Kilbrittain in Cork, Tooreen in Mayo to Upperchurch-Drombane in Tipperary, and from Tyrone, Derry and Kerry strongholds to the heart of Dublin 3, the finalists gathering this weekend represent thousands of training hours, countless volunteers, and generations of pride stitched into club colours.
Players including Finnian Cawley, Philip Wall, Fergal Boland, Keith Ryan, Ciaran Bogue, Daire Keane, Eoin Bradley and Aidan Walsh are the visible face of that effort, but they carry entire communities onto the pitch with them.
Saturday’s action opens with the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Junior Club Final, where Easkey meet Kilbrittain at 3.15 pm. Easkey’s dramatic semi-final victory over Burt, settled only after extra time, showcased both resilience and firepower, with Andrew Kilcullen delivering a remarkable individual scoring display.
Kilbrittain’s route was equally hard-earned, edging past Davidstown-Courtnacuddy by the narrowest of margins, where timely goals made the difference on a day when composure under pressure proved decisive.
That same theme of perseverance continues into the Intermediate hurling final at 5.15 pm. Tooreen, appearing in their second All-Ireland final in three years, showed championship maturity in pulling away from Éire Óg Carrickmore after a tight opening half.
Upperchurch-Drombane’s journey was defined by grit; their semi-final win over Danesfort was secured by just two points, and a crucial penalty save that underlined how small moments can shape entire seasons.
Sunday shifts the focus to football. The Junior final at 1.30 pm pairs Clogher Éire Óg with Ballymacelligott, two sides powered by early goals in their semi-final victories.
Later, at 3.30 pm, Glenullin and An Ghaeltacht close the weekend in the Intermediate decider, both having come through fiercely competitive ties that demanded patience, belief and, in the Kerry champions’ case, extra time drama settled by a single score.
This season marks 35 years of AIB’s support for the club championships, a commitment that now spans all four codes – Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies Football. Through its ‘Moments of the Championship’ campaign, AIB has celebrated the defining acts that capture what the club game represents: skill, sacrifice and shared experience.
As AIB Chief Customer Officer Orlaith Ryan noted at the launch, these finals are the natural climax of journeys filled with narrow escapes and dominant statements alike. GAA President Jarlath Burns echoed that sentiment, highlighting the unique spirit of the club game and the communities that sustain it.
All four of the games will be shown live on TG4’s various channels.
Sport for Business Perspective
This weekend, the biggest stadium in the country becomes a gathering place for the smallest units in Irish sport – clubs, parishes and neighbours – reminding everyone why the club championship remains the heartbeat of Gaelic Games.
Image Credit: AIB and Inpho.ie
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