The first year of the Covid-19 pandemic meant no 2020-21 All-Ireland Club Championships but Slaughtneil clinched what was effectively a fourth provincial title in five seasons the following year by avenging their 2018 Ulster defeat by Ballycran when earning a 1-14 to 0-10 over the Ards men.

That set up another All-Ireland campaign for Michael McShane’s side but for the third time, the Derry side were downed by the eventual Tommy Moore Cup winners as Billy O’Keefe’s two goals helped Waterford club Ballygunner clinch a 2-19 to 1-17 victory at Parnell Park.

O’Keefe’s fourth-minute goal helped the Waterford men to a slender 1-8 to 0-9 lead at the interval and the key moment of the contest came just after the resumption when his second goal put them six up.

Slaughtneil couldn’t get any closer than four in arrears during the remainder of the contest with Shane McGuigan’s injury-time goal coming too late for the Emmet’s.

Ballygunner celebrated the most dramatic of All-Ireland Final victories over three-in-a-row seeking Ballyhale a fortnight later as substitute Harry Ruddle’s last-puck goal from 25 metres earned a 2-17 to 1-19 victory.

The Waterford men were strongly fancied to be Slaughtneil’s opposition once again in Newbridge this weekend but Cork side Sarsfields had other ideas as they denied Ballygunner’s four-in-a-row ambitions in Munster by clinching a shock 3-20 to 2-19 provincial final triumph two weeks ago.

Sarsfields, who were beaten by divisional team Imokilly in their county final, did not have any starters in Cork’s All-Ireland Final team in July although Jack O’Connor and Cathal McCarthy are part of the Rebels squad.

Their Munster Final matchwinner was Shane O’Regan who plundered 2-3 after being introduced as a second-half substitute.