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Aidan and Seamus O'Shea line out for Breaffy this weekend. INPHO/James Crombie
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6 Talking Points before this weekend's GAA club action

There’s showpiece games on the agenda in Mayo, Kilkenny and Galway.

1. Mayo stars bid to ease pain

Mayo’s suffering on the September stage over the last two years has been tough for their players to absorb.

In the aftermath of such losses, clubs can provide a welcome sanctuary. Sunday’s county final between Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy offers the chance for some players to ease the pain from those inter-county reversals.

Barry Moran, Tom Cunniffe and Richie Feeney soldiered for Mayo this summer, and will now spearhead the Castlbear Mitchels challenge. While in the Breaffy ranks, goalkeeper Robert Hennelly and the imposing midfield duo of Aidan and Seamus O’Shea are recognizable figures.

2. Loughmore-Castleiney and Na Piarsaigh hungry for more

The first shots will be fired in this year’s Munster club SHC on Sunday afternoon in Semple Stadium. The province’s standing in hurling means it’s club combat is naturally competitive and difficult to succeed in.

It’s a tricky first test for both clubs after the high of their respective county title wins. Yet the key is that both are likely to be hungry for more given they have already had a taste of life in Munster.

In 2007 Loughmore-Castleiney won their first Tipperary hurling crown in 19 years and went on to win the Munster final against Tulla. The following February they lost out to Portumna at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

Two years ago Na Piarsaigh celebrated their first Limerick title and added a provincial accolade to it with a replay success against Crusheen. They will have nursed regrets since then about their extra-time defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final in February 2012 against Loughgiel Shamrocks.

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Ciaran McGrath lifts the Tipperary county senior hurling title for Loughmore Castleiney
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

3. Can Carrickshock finally become the lords on Noreside?

There is only four miles separating Carrickshock’s club grounds in Kilkenny and the pitch of their neighbors Ballyhale Shamrocks. Carrickshock’s recent county semi-final win over Ballyhale was a sweet one due to that proximity but also notable given that Carrickshock have had to be envious of their local rivals in recent years.

Of the last eight Kilkenny senior hurling finals, Ballyhale Shamrocks have had a presence in seven of them and have carried off the spoils on five occasions. Carrickshock have appeared in just the one decider in that time frame  and fell short that day in 2011 against O’Loughlin Gaels.

You have to go all the way back to 1951 for the last time that Carrickshock were the best senior hurling side in Kilkenny. On Sunday they attempt to scratch that 62-year itch. They have plenty household names like Richie Power, Michael Rice and John Tennyson. But an emerging Clara team must be overcome before they can land the coveted prize.

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Carrickshock’s Richie Power
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

4. St Brigid’s set out on the Connacht trail

You have to go back to the 2007 Connacht club final against Ballina for the last time St Brigid’s experienced the sensation of defeat in their province. In winning the last three Connacht titles, they have strung together eight successive victories over opponents from Galway (3), Mayo (1), Leitrim (2) and Sligo (2)

On Sunday they set forth on the 2013 campaign with a quarter-final tie against Sligo’s Tourlestrane. In 2011 when the clubs met, St Brigid’s had six points to spare.  The Roscommon club are the force that everyone else out west must seek to topple. Tourlestrane are first up.

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Shane Curran celebrates after the Roscommon county final
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

5. St Martin’s look to make history in Wexford

They have two club senior hurling titles to their name – collected in 1999 and 2008 – but it is on the football stage that St Martin’s hope to advance this Sunday in Wexford. It’s a novel occasion for the club from Murrintown and Piercestown as they face St Mogue’s (Fethard) in the county’s senior football decider.

But with Daithi Waters at midfield, who was involved with the Irish International Rules side this year, and a blue-chip attacker like Ciaran Lyng, they will head to Wexford Park with hope that they can make history.

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St Martin’s Ciaran Lyng
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

6. Galway hurling set for an emotional day

The meeting of Portumna and Loughrea in a Galway hurling final tends to generate plenty of intrigue and debate. The South Galway clubs are accustomed to being paired against each other and Monday’s decider will be their fifth meeting in 11 finals.

Yet the game is overshadowed by the tragic passing of Galway hurler Niall Donoghue. Plenty of the players in the Portumna and Loughrea ranks soldered alongside Donoghue at inter-county level between minor, U21 and senior hurling games. His funeral takes place on Sunday and Monday’s game is bound to be an emotional one.

Ballyboden St-Enda’s reach Dublin hurling decider with win over St Brigid’s

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Here’s the key GAA club fixtures for the week ahead