The wonderful thing about our Gaelic sports is that every one of our 32 counties has their day in sun – their day to shine.

Last Saturday evening, footballers of Meath and Wicklow went toe to toe in Aughrim for a Leinster semi-final place against Wexford.  This game turned on 30 seconds of football late in first half.

Just moments after Meath’s goalkeeper saved a penalty, full back Kevin Reilly hit a clearance that carried with wind and bounced wickedly over Wicklow goalkeeper John Flynn into net. From that point on, Wicklow were always chasing game and Meath eventually ran out winners by 5 points. By way, watch out for Meath corner forward Eamon Wallace, he’s a cracking footballer full of pace .

At same time on Saturday evening, Dublin hurlers were beating Wexford in Parnell Park for dubious honour of playing Kilkenny in Leinster hurling semi-final next weekend. Sunday saw expected wins for Cork and Mayo’s footballers and for Galway’s hurlers while Cavan and Fermanagh played out a tight game with Cavan deserved winners to book a place against arch rivals Monaghan in Ulster semi-final.

And so to this weekend - sun will be shining on Leitrim (that’s on Leitrim and not in Leitrim) when they take on London in Connaught football semi-final in Carrick-on-Shannon. At stake is a place in Connaught final against Mayo and while I expect Leitrim to win, I have no doubt that London will put it up to them.  The game of weekend for me is Cork v Clare in Munster hurling semi-final - this promises to be a cracker. I think Clare and Limerick are up and coming teams in Munster and I expect Clare to prevail to book a place against Limerick in Munster final. Now that’ll be a day out!!

GAA fixtures this weekend

Hurling:

Saturday 22nd June

Wexford v Antrim            (15:00 GMT)                       Prediction – Wexford

Offaly v Waterford          (19:00 GMT)                       Prediction – Very close, but Offaly, just

Sunday 23rd June

Kilkenny v Dublin             (15:30 GMT)                       Prediction - Kilkenny

Clare v Cork                        (16:00 GMT)                       Prediction - Clare

Football:

Sunday 23rd June

Donegal v Down               (14:00 GMT)                       Prediction - Donegal

Leitrim v London              (15:30 GMT)                       Prediction - Leitrim

GAA results last weekend

Hurling:

Dublin                  1-17       Wexford              0-12

Laois                      1-13       Galway                 2-17

 Football:

Wicklow              1-12       Meath                  1-17

Fermanagh         0-11       Cavan                    0-13

Clare                      1-11       Cork                       1-20

Mayo                     0-21        Roscommon       0-09