Thursday, September 11 8 p.m.:

Annie Kearney Cup Final Na Fianna vs. Cavan

A REMATCH of the county championship final pits the top two ladies teams in New York head to head again. This time it is for the Annie Kearney Cup. The Kearney family, well known in New York circles donated it in her memory.

Paddy is the current New York manager, while Mary played for years in the colors of Kerry/Donegal. It is a knockout tournament which does not include the summer players.

Cavan are going for three in a row. All are expecting another thrilling encounter with hopefully all the behind the scenes stuff left exactly there.

With players of the caliber of Mary Maguire, Linda McKeon, Rosie O'Reilly, who had her scoring shoes on in the other final, and Kelly McArdle for Cavan, and Jesse Garcia, Joanne Monaghan, Molly and Mary O'Rourke for Na Fianna, it promises to be a brilliant evening at the Mecca.

Cavan to do the double with five to spare in a close contest.

Sunday, September 14

2:30 p.m.: SF B SF Donegal vs. Four Provinces

A BATTLE of the Donegals, the New York squad is coming off a somewhat successful year. They reached the final of the Junior B last week and will look to go a step further in this competition. Mark Duggan, Anton Diver, C.J. Molloy and Eunan Doherty, alongside Kevin Lilly, will want to annex some silverware before the year is out, and this will be a glorious opportunity.

Four Provinces were hurting last week and it showed against Leitrim when they were basically wiped off the field by 11 points. Mike Higgins was brilliant, with Marty Swift and Michael Grimes also prominent, but they will need help to get over this hurdle. Add to the injury that Ciaran Donnelly received and it does not bode well for Four Ps.

Donegal can squeeze this one out with a narrow two point win.

4 p.m.: SF A SF Cork vs. Kerry

AFTER the saga in Ireland when these two counties played in three games, the New York end of the story now resumes.

In the league encounter between these two clubs Kerry won the game on the field by a point, but then lost it in the boardroom because Gearoid O'Sullivan was not eligible. He in fact played in three games for Kerry without his paperwork being correct and Kerry lost all three (Down beat them on the field).

Now the rematch is upon us with Cork getting through the regular season in fantastic shape. They ended in the second slot with their home base in impressive form.

Dennis McCarthy, Paddy Harrington, Pat Mahoney and Nicky Dineen are all on inside tracks for all-star recognition in New York this season. Mahoney has sat out the last couple of games, but assume he will be back for this one.

Kerry will counter with Anthony Glacken, Niall Corbett, Declan Griffin, the aforementioned O'Sullivan, Stephen Kavanagh and Kevin20Walsh on fire. Walsh might be the best of the lot as he is by far the most consistent.

At this stage of the season players that returned to Ireland are allowed to return as weekenders if they played in Ireland. Croke Park gives them a sanction. If the paperwork is not in, then they sit on the sideline. Paddy Curran was in that predicament last season when this stage of the season arrived for Kerry.

It will be close at the end with extra time possible. Kerry to prevail by three when all is done.