Camogie/All-Ireland Senior A semi-finals: Galway face a massive test today when they take on reigning champions Cork - who have looked unstoppable this year - at Nowlan Park in the first of the Gala All-Ireland senior A championship semi-finals.

Galway, whose lone All-Ireland success came in 1996, face the kingpins of camogie who can boast 21 senior titles. But the Tribeswomen can take encouragement from the fact they drew with Cork this season at the round-robin stage.

They will be looking to in-form forwards Veronica Curtin and Lourda Kavanagh to fire them to victory, while captain and centre back Therese Maher will be marshalling the defence against a potent-looking Cork attack.

But wing forward Una O'Donoghue has been in great form for Cork this season and, with the assistance of dual stars Rena Buckley and Mary O'Connor, she can fire the strong favourites into their fifth consecutive All-Ireland final.

The second of today's semi-final double-header pits Kilkenny against the might of Tipperary. Tipp have contested every All-Ireland final since 1999 and a place in this year's decider will be the least Paddy McCormack's determined team expect.

The odds are stacked against the Cats despite their home advantage. Tipperary have already beaten Kilkenny twice this year, in both the league and championship.

Kilkenny will hope star forwards Marie O'Connor and Imelda Kennedy can inspire a shock win. But Tipperary captain Philly Fogarty has excelled at the heart of the Premier County's defence and, with Emily Hayden in goal-scoring form in a slick forward line, Tipperary will be confident of booking a place in the final on September 10th.