Sixteen clubs went into the weekend still dreaming of an All-Ireland club title, and only eight remain over both codes, as the line up for hurling and football's, AIB All-Ireland Club Championship finals, at Junior and Intermediate level, worked itself out.
After Charleville booked their spot at HQ for the Intermediate Hurling showpiece on Saturday night, Sunday proved an afternoon of high drama right across the island, as the remainder of semi-finals came to conclusion.
We've managed to condense things into four quickfire need-to-knows for your convenience:
Joe Maskey Is A New Cult Hero
That’s a wrap folks! All Ireland final for @NaomhEannaCLG pic.twitter.com/6fF18xSB5q
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) January 20, 2019
So good he comes with his very own chant, St. Enda's, Glengormley midfielder Joe Maskey, has ensured that his mop of curly black hair will forever be synonymous with arguably, the most outrageous goal that Gaelic Football has ever seen.
Until the North Belfast side's heroics with the size five this season, Maskey was more renowned for his exploits with Antrim hurlers, having starred for the Saffron county over recent seasons, despite his tender years.
But his time mastering the sliothar could well pale into insignificance, as an inspired stroke of momentary genius from his right foot, has become a social media sensation today.
If you haven't seen it yet, check out the footage below, as Maskey capitalises on An Spidéal goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach's moment of madness.
Críoch iontach ó Joe Maskey inné. @NaomhEannaCLG @AontroimGAA @UlsterGAA. @AIB_GAA #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/pGD6q4FOAf
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 21, 2019
Easkey Triumph Breaks New Ground for Yeats County
Junior side Easkey's one point victory over Donegal outfit Red Hugh's yesterday in Ballinamore may not have caused much of a stir nationwide, but it marked a special first for Sligo football.
James Lindsay's goal, halfway through the second-half, was the pivotal score, as the westerners became the first club from the Yeats County to reach an All-Ireland club final at any level.
Perhaps more interesting, however, is this cryptic tweet that references club legend Noel McGuire that appeared on the club's Twitter page last night.
Let us know everything's all OK, Noel.
Great performance from Noel Maguire today considering he hit a deer last night. It died instantly. He felt awful but when he’s out for a run he’s in a world of his own. @EaskeyGAA
— SligoStats (@SligoStats) January 20, 2019
Eye-Catching Mix of Minnow Counties Make Finals
Whilst heavyweights Kerry are to be well represented in the footballing finals, and Kilkenny, Cork and Galway each have interests in the hurling deciders, the Club Championships have, once again, thrown up some finalists from counties that rarely enjoy the spotlight.
Whilst the aforementioned St. Enda's and Easkey hail from Antrim and Sligo respectively, maybe the biggest fairytale comes from the Junior Hurling competition, where Castleblayney have reached the February 10th decider. Despite the success of the county's footballers, it's not often the Farney enjoy any hurling success. Well, that could be fit-to-change in the not too distant future, as the border side, who have won a staggering sixteen county championships since 1999, will meet Noel Hickey and Dunnamaggin at Croke Park.
The nine time All-Ireland winning Cat, lined up at full-back for the Kilkenny outfit in their epic extra-Time win over Cloughduv of Cork.
Semi-Finals Are All About Getting Over The Line
A quick peruse of the weekend's results will tell anyone that was wondering, just how nerve-jangling an affair a semi-final can be.
St. Enda's and Oranmore-Maree's sizeable victories aside, the other six ties were decided with margins no greater than two points. If to underline the tension on show, the low scoring nature of these affairs was also an anomaly of interest.
Heavy favourites Kilcummin only scraped past Two Mile House by 0-11 to 0-10 in the Intermediate Football semi, whilst both Junior semis between Easkey and Red Hugh's, and Beaufort and Dundalk Young Irelands were noticeably low scoring affairs.
The score shyness wasn't exclusive to the footballers, as the hurling clashes were a long way from free flowing exhibitions of marksmanship. Catleblayney's 1-08 to 0-10 victory over Carrick is truly the stuff nightmares are made of! Not for Castleblayney, admittedly!
