Senior Hurling Championship final
For the third year in succession, Keady and Middletown will battle it out for senior hurling honours this weekend.
And for the third year in a row, Keady will be hoping to stop their old rivals from climbing the steps once again.
Middletown have been the dominant force in Armagh hurling over the course of the last decade. They have won seven of the last ten county titles.
Keady have been playing some great stuff this season however and overcame Middletown in the group stages.
They had to fight for their place in the decider however as they left it late to see off Derrynoose in the semi-final.
With seven minutes left, Keady trailed by one. But a late burst from the Lamh Dhearg side saw them win by seven in the end.
Dual stars such as Tomas Galvin, Shea Harvey, Odhran Fullerton and Fionntan Donnelly are key to their ambitions.
Captain Connor McAnallen is between the sticks while Barry Shortt and Conor Corvan are other star players.
Middletown came through their own tight tussle in the semi-final, eventually shaking off Cuchulainns.
Dean Gaffney has been a major boost since returning from Australia and was in superb form the last day out.
Kieran McKernan, Tiarnan Nevin and Odhran Curry remain the main men at the back for Middletown.
Up front, there’s a nice blend of youth and experience with the likes of Cahal Carvill and Ryan Gaffney alongside Sean Og McGuinness.
Junior Hurling Championship final
Sean Treacy’s are eyeing up a second Junior Hurling title this weekend when they take on Killeavy.
The Lurgan side have been the team to beat at this level all season, but no one has cracked that code yet.
They eased to the top of the group, although it was Killeavy who gave them their toughest test in round three.
Michael Doran and Anthony Carville grabbed the goals as Sean Treacy’s won 2-19 to 3-12 in the end.
They eased passed Middletown IIs in the semi-final as two second half goals saw them win 2-11 to 0-4.
Killeavy didn’t have things quite as comfortable on their way to securing their place in the Junior decider.
They came through a real challenge against Cuchulainns IIs and survived by the minimum of margins, 1-9 to 1-8.
However, they showed impressive form throughout the group stages, losing just once to Sean Treacy’s.
Outside of that, they picked up four impressive victories over St Malachy’s, Keady IIs, Middletown IIs and Cuchulainns IIs.
Sean Treacy’s will be the pre-match favourites, but this has the makings of a real close and competitive encounter.
