2 p.m.: SF B SF Cavan vs. St. Barnabas

THE winner goes on to meet Donegal/Four Provinces in the final of this championship on September 28. Cavan had problems in the second half of games this season and it cost them a chance at the A championship.

Kevin Smith, Michael Smith, Alan Carolan, Martin O'Connor and Brian Newman have been very consistent this year, with Kevin Smith, who played for Longford in Ireland, well deserving of a call up for the New York vs. Galway FBD game in October.

St. Barnabas had an up and down season with a huge victory over Four Provinces, but then had losses at inopportune moments to knock them out of the top four. Declan Garvey, Ronan Garvey, Brian Montgomery, Darren Petit, Barry Lynch, Sean Carbin and Thomas McGovern will certainly give them a chance against the Cavan lads, but will it be enough?

Cavan by four as they finally break the second half hoodoo.

4 p.m.: SF A SF Down vs. Leitrim

THE league encounter between these sides was a robust one to say the least. It ended with Leitrim ahead and they have progressed nicely since then, including a 1-16 to 0-8 win over Four Provinces two weeks ago in a playoff contest.

Alan Foley, Barry Kennedy and Michael Mulcahy have found their niche at the back. Adrian O'Connor is playing his best football right now; Donal Hartnett and Dan Doona are the leading scorers with Robbie Moran enjoying the corner. It amounts to a well settled team that is on an up curve.

Down were brilliant to begin the year, but they have back to back losses against Cavan in the knockout and Leitrim. Eugene O'Hagan, Brian Murray and Gary Cornyn are dogged defenders; you need to be on top of your game to get anything from each. Sean Munnelly is having an all-star season at this level. Kevin Anderson, Mark Dobbins, Fergal Shannon, and Paddy Cunningham, if he returns, can score at this level.

Should be a close contest to the wire. Leitrim to prevail perhaps in extra time.