Saturday
CONNACHT CLUB SFC SEMI-FINAL
Pádraig Pearse's (Roscommon) v Mountbellew-Moylough (Galway), Dr Hyde Park, 1.30
Val Daly's side got a fright in Leitrim in the quarter-final when a previously formidable defence coughed up two goals. But the experience of provincial championship football will presumably stand to them in this interesting tilt with their Roscommon counterparts.
Pearse’s stayed with serial All-Ireland winners Corofin in the provincial final two years ago without ever suggesting they were going to win. Their spiky running game can also cause problems for Mountbellew but the Galway side have a more convincing attack with Barry Daly’s reliable accuracy and also a match practice advantage as their opponents haven’t played for six weeks.
LEINSTER CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL
Clough-Ballacolla (Laois) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), O'Moore Park, 6.15 – Live RTÉ 2
Crokes will tread warily here given the Laois champions' impressive dispatch of Wexford's Rapparees two weeks ago at this same venue with Stephen Maher in great form. It was the Laois side's first win at provincial level. Kilmacud pose a different challenge in that they had to survive a near-death experience in the Dublin final before coming through and swatting aside Raharney in the Leinster quarter-final. Ronan Hayes has been in fine form and how the Laois side cope with him will have a big bearing on outcome. Being used to Parnell Park, Kilmacud won't be fazed by the Portlaoise dimensions and can advance to their first final.
Sunday
MUNSTER CLUB SHC SEMI-FINALS
Kilmallock (Limerick) v Midleton (Cork), TUS Gaelic Grounds, 1.15 – Live TG4
A fascinating contest in prospect between two surprise winners in Limerick and Cork, although both victories were emphatic and deserved. Ben O'Connor's influence has helped to create a Midleton team with great attacking verve, epitomised by the revived Conor Lehane. Kilmallock didn't give an inch to Patrickswell and got a man-of-the-match performance from the evergreen Graeme Mulcahy and Micheál Houlihan's free taking. Home advantage gives Tony Considine's men a slight edge but it promises to be well worth a watch.
Ballygunner (Waterford) v Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary), Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 3.15 – Live TG4
The Loughmore odyssey continues. Even last week's slightly foreseeable defeat of their footballers went all the way to extra-time and they go into what may be their final throw – after 19 successive weeks' hurling and football – against the provincial favourites.
Balancing the Tipperary double winners’ incredible competitiveness and Ballygunner’s untroubled progress over their past two matches gives Loughmore a bit of a shout.
They rely on John McGrath but there is probably more in brother Noel and Ciarán Connolly’s drive from centrefield was a revelation during the county final and replay.
The Waterford champions recorded an eighth straight title but were stretched in the semi-final against Mount Sion before having easy wins against Roanmore and Clare’s Ballyea in the Munster quarter-final. This will test them but their forward power, epitomised by Dessie Hutchinson, and all-round game can get them to the final.
ULSTER CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL
Dunloy (Antrim) v Slaughtneil (Derry), Athletic Grounds, 4.0
Slaughtneil have had the upper hand in this rivalry in recent years and with the footballers losing out in Derry, have had a clear run at this. Dunloy, however, have improved over the past couple of seasons and duly completed three Antrim titles in a row, Conal Cunning and Seán Elliot providing the cutting edge. Slaughtneil can point to their nine-in-a-row in Derry but maybe the lines on the graph are about to cross.
