Croke Park will play host to two of #TheToughest games of the season this Saturday, February 12th, as the AIB GAA Hurling and Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championships reach their Final stage.
The AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship final gets the double-header action underway on Saturday, February 12th from 3 pm, with reigning All-Ireland Club champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks facing Ballygunner of Waterford.
Ballygunner comes into their maiden All-Ireland club final this Saturday following an impressive 2-19 to 1-17 win over Slaughtneil (Derry) in the All-Ireland semi-final and they will be hoping to cause an upset against Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks.
The reigning club champions epitomised the attitude of the tournament and #TheToughest campaign with a dramatic come from behind win over St Thomas’ of Galway in their semi-final showdown. TJ Reid’s goal in the dying seconds saw them secure a one-point win and make it to a back to back final with just the year of Covid in between.
The Football decider follows at 5 pm, with Kilcoo of County Down going head-to-head with Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin.
Kilcoo come into the clash following a rollercoaster All-Ireland semi-final against St Finbarr’s of Cork that saw the Mourne County side having to dig deep in extra time to win on a final scoreline of 1-18 to 1-13.
Kilmacud meanwhile booked their spot in this Saturday’s final following a solid six-point win against Padraig Pearses of Roscommon in their All-Ireland semi-final.
“As sponsors of the GAA Club Championships since 1990, we know the dedication that club players across the country give to their club and their community every single week,” said AIB CEO Colin Hunt.
“On behalf of AIB, I would like to congratulate all four teams contesting the finals this weekend on making it to the GAA All-Ireland finals. It is a true testament to their dedication, commitment and perseverance. This year’s GAA Club Championships have been extremely exciting once again, and it is fantastic to see the fans return to Croke Park in their numbers over the last few weeks. We thank you for your continuous support of your players and management and hope you enjoy this weekend’s matches.”
“All of us at the GAA are thrilled to be welcoming the players, management and supporters of all four finalists to Croke Park for the culmination of the AIB GAA Hurling and Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championships,” added GAA President Larry McCarthy.
“It has been another superb year of GAA Club Championship action. The provincial finals and All-Ireland semi-finals were extremely exciting, tough and hard-fought games, and I’m sure this Saturday’s finals will be no different. I would like to thank our sponsors AIB for their unwavering support of this great competition, a testament to what the GAA is all about – community.”
Both games will be broadcast live on TG4, with coverage ahead of the hurling final starting at 2.35 pm, and for the football from 4-45 PM.
Sport for Business Perspective
Having been to the top of the mountain with my own team Cuala twice in recent years, I completely get the power of this competition to change the very nature of a club. For a big urban club-like Kilmacud the journey will have bonded the more than 100 individual teams that wear the kit week in week out into one single unit. The trips down the country and the celebrations after each win along the way create memories that will last long after the final whistle this Saturday. AIB’s involvement is one of the longest-standing sponsorships in Irish sport and one of the strongest in the GAA.
