Ah, the club championship.
Damp air, winter hats, teas and soup at half time.
The most important games of GAA players’ lives unfolding on a softening pitch and groundsmen, secretaries, retired players and family all waiting to invade and capture a moment that will last forever.
You can’t beat the club championship.
There were 18 different senior finals taking place in Ireland and in London on Sunday and, in Ulster, Slaughtneil continued to march towards a defence of their provincial gong and another potential stab at an All-Ireland tilt with a narrow win over Down champions Kilcoo.
A rare Patsy Bradley goal guided the cream of Derry home with just two points to spare after losing Paul McNeill to a red card.
But it was mostly a day for the county final and the magic of which was never bettered demonstrated than it was in Antrim as Lamh Dhearg edged out a tense decider.
CHAMPIONS @lamhdheargclg pic.twitter.com/S3OILIaNzE
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) October 15, 2017
It might not have been as thrilling in Donegal but it was definitely as tense as Kilcar bridged a gap back to the 90s and the days of Martin McHugh to claim the senior football title with 0-7 to 0-4 win over Naomh Conaill.
Ulster club SFC first round
Kilcoo (Down) 0-12 Slaughtneil (Derry) 1-11
Antrim SFC final
Lamh Dhearg 0-15 St John’s 0-13
Armagh SFC final
Armagh Harps 2-9 Maghery 0-11
Cork SFC final
Nemo Rangers 0-14 St Finbarrs 0-14
Donegal SFC final
Kilcar 0-7 Naomh Conaill 0-4
Galway SFC final
Corofin 2-14 Mountbellew-Moylough 0-10
Kildare SFC final
Celbridge 0-9 Moorefield 0-11
Laois SFC final
Ballylinan 0-10 Portlaoise 3-13
Louth SFC final
Dundalk Gaels 0-5 Newtown Blues 2-10
Monaghan SFC final
Magheracloone 0-13 Scotstown 2-17
Offaly SFC final
Clara 0-9 Rhode 0-12
Tipperary SFC final
Clonmel Commercials 2-9 Killenaule, Semple Stadium 0-8
Tyrone SFC final
Omagh 0-10 Errigal Ciaran 0-08
Wicklow SFC final
Blessington 0-12 Rathnew 3-8
Carlow SHC final
Mount Leinster Rangers 3-17 Naomh Eoin 0-17
Clare SHC final
Clooney-Quin 1-16 Sixmilebridge 0-19
Kerry SHC final replay
Ballyduff 4-13 Lixnaw 1-19
Limerick SHC final
Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Kilmallock 2-14
London SHC final
Robert Emmetts 0-14 Kilburn Gaels 1-16
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