The honour of staging the first AIB senior provincial final of 2007 falls to Ulster who have their hurling decider between Dunloy (Antrim) and Kevin Lynch’s (Derry) at the top of their agenda next Sunday. The game takes place in Casement Park at 2.30.

Dunloy were taken to a replay by Ballycran (Down) in the semi-final before easing home by six points last Sunday on a day when captain, Gregory O’Kane scored 0-8 while Liam Richmond scored 1-5.

Kevin Lynch’s came mighty close to taking the title back to Dungiven last year when they drew with Cushendall (Antrim) in the final but couldn’t repeat the great effort in the replay where they lost by eight points.

Dunloy last won the title in 2003 and will need to be at their sharpest to beat a Dungiven side for whom Geoffrey McGonigle will pose a major threat in attack.

LEINSTER FOOTBALL TIE IN CARLOW

With defending champions, Moorefield having made a successful start to the defence of their AIB Leinster football campaign when beating Clongeen last Sunday, the focus switches to Dr.Cullen Park next Sunday when Carlow champions, Eire Og take on Tullamore (Offaly).

Eire Og clinched the Carlow title with a 4-9 to 1-9 win over Palatine in a replayed final last Sunday. Tullamore, captained by Cathal Daly and managed by Phil O’Reilly, are back in the Leinster championship for the first time for five years, having beaten Shamrocks by 1-12 to 0-12 in the Offaly final. The winners will play Tyrellspass (Westmeath) in the quarter-final.