All-Ireland club hurling semi-finals: Seán Moran reports on how the semi-finalists are shaping upahead of Sunday's matches

Galway champions Portumna may be new at this level but they have a wealth of experience. As well as current All Star Ollie Canning, who was named Provincial Club Player of the Year earlier this week, former All Star Seán Treacy, 38 this year, is also available.

The trainer is twice Offaly All-Ireland medallist Joachim Kelly and he has had a major impact on what many in Galway see as a long overdue success for Portumna.

That impact is acknowledged by club secretary Walter Burke.

"Joachim's in his second year and has done very well. He gets on great with the fellas and is one of the best trainers we've ever had. This season was our first county final since 1992 and it's all completely new so it's good to have someone who's been involved at the highest level."

All levels. Only last year Kelly played for his home club Lusmagh in the Offaly junior B final, 30 years after he had appeared in his first.

Like most of the other semi-finalists, Portumna will defer their team announcement until later in the week.

"We were going to pick on the morning of the match," says Burke. "That's been our routine for all the matches last year. But we're travelling early on the morning so the team might be announced on Friday or Saturday. Everyone's okay. A couple of injuries have cleared up so we'll have a full panel."

Sunday's early start takes the team on a three-hour journey to Clones, which was rehearsed last weekend.

The club decided against making an overnight trip in order that the players would be as relaxed as possible on the day and because of their big panel.

Opponents Dunloy are the most experienced outfit left in the championship, as they press for a fourth All-Ireland final and a first title. Over the years they have defeated opposition from all of the other provinces: Athenry in 1995, Glenmore in 1996 and Mount Sion last year. Star Antrim forward Gregory O'Kane feels their familiarity with the closing stages will stand to them in Clones.

"We're looking forward to the game. Experience is definitely a bonus because nerves play a part and when you've been there before, it helps. The break over Christmas can be a problem for teams. When you come back the pitches can be heavy and the weather not great. Teams going well in the provincials can find their form has dipped by February."

Against that Dunloy are the one team with a definite major loss to injury. Talented attacker Liam Richmond had the ill-fortune after the team had taken a five-week break over Christmas to survive training and matches only for a workplace accident to rule him out.

"Liam fell off a ladder and chipped a bone in his elbow," says O'Kane. "He's in plaster now. Seán McLean (the manager) said, 'look, it's a terrible blow but it could have been worse. If it had happened a week later we'd have the team picked. At least now we're able to plan our way around it."

In the other semi-final Kilkenny and Leinster champions O'Loughlin Gaels named their team last night. "We've a few niggles but they should clear," said John Skehan, chairman of the club, who added that preparations were going to plan.

"They've been back in training since December 28th and have had five games. There's a big buzz in Kilkenny; all the clubs are running buses. They'll be coming from south of Glenmore. They're looking forward to Thurles. We played Sarsfields in a challenge there last year and our four county fellas would have good experience of it."

Opponents Newtownshandrum from Cork are waiting anxiously for news of county player Ben O'Connor. Club PRO Michael Morrissey said that the final selection wouldn't be until later in the week.

"We'll be giving Ben O'Connor as much time as possible to get himself right. He has ligament trouble that will probably need an operation but at the moment that's not allowed!"

Three of the team were on holiday with the county's hurlers but got stuck in on their return.

"The three lads went to Vietnam: Ben (O'Connor), Pat (Mulcahy) and Paul Morrissey. It was no harm that they got a break. Jerry O'Connor didn't go because he's with the Guards and couldn't get leave. They came back on a Saturday and we'd a match on the Sunday. They were frozen."

O'LOUGHLIN GAELS (SH v Newtownshandrum): K Cleere; B Kelly, B Hogan, B Murphy; A O'Brien, A Comerford (capt), S Dowling; N Berrigan, A Geoghegan; M Comerford, C Furlong, N Skehan; J Comerford, M Nolan, B Dowling.