All Ireland Club Junior and Intermediate Hurling Finals - Too Close to Call

All Ireland Junior Hurling Final - Mooncoin v Mayfield. Throw-in 3.00pm

Since the inception of this championship in 2003, Kilkenny and Cork clubs have won this title 11 times from 13. Kilkenny clubs have won 4 of the last 5 renewals whilst Mayfield are aiming to bring this title home to Cork for the first time since 2011. Mooncoin go into this final after fairly comfortable Leinster Campaign and a facile All Ireland Semi Final win. In fact, their lowest winning margin since their own county semi final has been 7 points. Their successful campaign has been aided by an excellent defensive record(average point concession since and including county semi final has been 7.6 points and goals conceded a rarity also).

In opposition are the Cork Champions Mayfield. Unlucky not to have come out of Cork in recent years, they are aiming emulate the last club from Cork (Meelin in 2011) and bring home this cup. The impressive features to note from their campaign was their ability to put up big scores averaging 2-21 a game since their own County quarter final. Nicky Kelly and David O'Neill in particular have impressed. The bookies cannot separate these 2 sides in the betting. Both are Evens and the draw is 8/1. Maybe have a nibble at the draw!!

All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Final - Carrickshock v. Ahascragh-Fohenagh. 4.45

Like the Junior title, this competition has been dominated by Kilkenny clubs in recent years winning 3 of the last 4 titles. Carrickshock also have been here before, beaten in the first final in 2005. The Shocks backboned by a mountain of inter county and All Ireland winning experience come here as slight 5/6 favourites. Any team with John Dalton, John Tennyson, Michael Rice, John Power and Richie Power are a daunting opposition at Senior let alone intermediate. Despite this, they arrive at this juncture having rode their luck quite often during this campaign, in particular in their county semi win over Tullaroan and in the Leinster final where they made a miraculous recovery scoring 3 goals in the final 6 minutes.

In opposition are the Galway Champions Ahascragh-Fohenagh. No Galway side has ever won this title, losing on 4 occasions. They defeated a hotly tipped Lismore of Waterford in the semi-final, but quite like their opposition, they rode their luck in the Connacht Final, beating Ballyhaunis only after a replay. They possess in their ranks the Mannion brothers, Cathal and Padraig, who have been in inspirational form throughout this campaign. One worry for A/F is their slight over dependence on Cathal Mannion for scores. I have changed my mind on 3 occasions already on my prediction for this game, I'll go for the Galway Champions(5/6)