User blog comment:Laquearius/Cú Chulainn vs Fionn mac Cumhaill/@comment-422690-20170711151040

Appel, that link you gave was to an entirely different spear. The other one led me to a good collection for the Mythological and Fenian cycles, so I forgive you.

Short Range: Cruaidin Catutchenn and Duban wins. While Fionn's shield is poisonous, that can also work against him. If the shield is splintered or shattered by the blow, guess where the splinters are headed first. Further, Cu Chulainn's sword does have a special property, namely that it can produce a bright light. This can be used to blind Fionn, which gives it a tactical edge. Physically, Duban is a superior shield. I have found no mention of Sgiath Gailbhinn having any metal covering; it's literally just a slab of wood. Duban does have a metal cover; even if it is silver, it's better than nothing. As for the swords, they're very different in shape and function. I will operate under the assumption that they are shaped similarly to the standard sword of their time here. The Ulster cycle, from with Cu Chulainn originates, takes place in the 1st century AD. The typical Celtic sword at the time was flared near the tip, and used primarily for slashing and hacking. The Fenian cycle, where Fionn originates, is in the 3rd century AD. By this point, Celtic smiths would have adopted Roman sword stylings and shapes for their blades, resulting in a form more similar to a gladius. Ulster-era swords had an unsharpened tip, while Fenian=era swords would have been designed more for thrusting than hacking. I'm partial to the Ulster-era sword, personally, but neither is at a glaring disadvantage structurally. Edge: Cu Chulainn.

Mid Range: Spear of Fiacha wins. The Gae Bolg is a very powerful weapon, but - as in all Ulster cycle stories - its power is proportional to the difficulty of use. Cu Chulainn has to hurl the spear with his toes in order to utilize its special properties; otherwise, it's a simple javelin. While he is a skilled warrior, the act of throwing it in such a manner will leave him vulnerable in battle. Fionn will look a little silly touching his spear on his forehead, but he's not leaving himself open to attack. Edge: Fionn mac Cumhaill

Long Range: Sling wins. Cu Chulainn might be the only warrior to escape the curse of the sling, due mainly to his skill and the Riastrad.

Ovrall: Cu Chulainn takes this, honestly. Fionn might be two centuries more modern, but Cu CHulainn's inherited the prowess and skill of his father, Lugh the Long-Handed. Cu Chulainn is one of the fiercest and most skilled warriors in Irish mythology, and all of this is further enhanced by the Riastrad, or Warp Spasm. Not only does it increase his skill and strength my orders of magnitude, it also makes him look quite fierce and intimidating. To quote:

Basically, Cu Chulainn could turn into a monster at will. He has enough skill and strength to take on Fionn and win handily.