All provincial first round fixtures confirmed as race for All-Ireland club hots up

Niall McIntyre

County final season has been and gone.

It was a tremendous season, full of surprises and sure things, but aside from the Galway hurling and the Limerick football, every other senior club championship in the country has been decided.

There were some marvellous stories – Westport in Mayo, Kilruane in Tipperary and Shinrone in Offaly all jump to mind – but now, whether you’ve won or lost, whether you’re still on the field or back in the gym, the fact remains the same.

All eyes now have now turned to the opening round of the provincial club championships because, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s one of the best competitions in the GAA. Palatine kicked it off last week when they defeated Wicklow champs St Patrick’s in the Leinster club SFC but the best is yet to come.

The county champions are known, the draws are made and while they’re all exciting in their own right, on paper anyway, very few of them can compete with that first round draw in the Ulster football championship.

Crossmaglen vs Ballybay should be a good one to kick it all off this Saturday night but there’s an absolute show-stopper coming down the tracks in a fortnight’s time when Derry’s Glen take on Tyrone’s Errigal Ciaran.

Meanwhile, Kilmacud Crokes have a chance to make up for last year’s disappointing defeat to Clough Ballacolla in the Leinster hurling when they meet on Sunday November 13 while this weekend coming, all eyes will be on Walsh Park in Waterford where All-Ireland champs Ballygunner take on Tipperary’s newly crowned kings Kilruane MacDonaghs.

It sure is a quick turn-around for the Magpies.

So without further ado, here are the respective draws.