CLUB GAME ON CENTRE STAGE

THE club season is coming to the boil this weekend with 17 senior county finals down for decisions across both codes.

- BY PAT NOLAN

Here are five of the most eye-catching games that are taking place this weekend.

There’s a strong sense of poignancy on both sides with Midleton still reeling from the loss of Ger Fitzgerald, the former Cork star who managed them to their last county title in 2022, and Darragh McCarthy, and up and coming player in the club, who passed within days of each other last March.

Sarsfields, meanwhile, lost club stalwart Ray Ryan, brother of ex-Cork boss Pat, in February at the age of just 43.

Midleton will be without talisman and long-serving Cork star Conor Lehane and fullback Eoin Moloney, both of whom have Achilles injuries.

It surely tilts the balance in Sars’ favour, with the Munster cham-

pions keen to reclaim the county title which was denied them by divisional side Imokilly in the final 12 months ago.

Leitrim Gaels are playing in their first ever final after receiving an injection of quality with the three Jones brothers - Conall, Ryan and Garvan - having joined the club from their native Derrygonnelly Harps earlier this year following a fallout.