Antrim 1-17 London 2-7

AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL:

They’re from different divisions and renowned traditional hurling towns, so it’s hard to believe this is the first time Kilmallock and Adare meet in a Limerick SHC final.

Cuchullians, Dunloy 1-7 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-11

How focused is Kieran Bermingham, Na Piarsaigh team captain, as his side prepares for Saturday’s clash with Antrim and Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks in the All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final?

The GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was launched today at the Dunloy GAA club in the Glens of Antrim by GAA President Christy Cooney.

WHAT is it about Kilkenny teams, be they club or county, that once in the national arena and no matter what the circumstances, they just don’t panic?

AISAKE Ó hAILPÍN has signed a two-year contract to play Aussie Rules with Essendon District Football League side Maribyrnong Park Lions.

Championship debutant Thomas McCann will lead the Antrim attack for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final showdown with Offaly at Parnell Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

WHATEVER about the quality of the match – and it wasn’t the classic generally forecast – let no-one be in any doubt about the quality of this Ballyhale Shamrocks team, nor their right today to call themselves the best hurling club in Ireland.

PORTUMNA are now just 60 minutes from completing an historic three-peat of All-Ireland club titles after this win in the capital yesterday afternoon.

PORTUMNA manager Johnny Kelly has admitted that Ballyhale Shamrocks will lack for nothing in terms of motivation when the two sides meet in the AIB All-Ireland club championship decider at Croke Park next month.

THE bookmakers have installed them as heavy favourites, their whole side is dripping with talent, yet Portumna will approach tomorrow’s All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final against Dunloy with a degree of wariness.

WHO would envy Paddy Richmond this Sunday as his club, Dunloy Cuchullains, take on reigning champions Portumna in the All-Ireland club hurling semi-final, in Dublin’s Parnell Park?

There was early cause for celebration for seven of the AIB GAA Club Championship semi-finalists ahead of this weekend's fixtures, with players from each of the clubs receiving accolades for outstanding performances in the Championship in 2009.

THEY could finally relax in Newtownshandrum and Ballyhale yesterday, their respective provincial titles won, hurling season over for 2009.

HE has played in two finals, winning one (back in 2004), will be facing Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields this Sunday in Thurles in yet another campaign, but Newtownshandrum’s Ben O’Connor is not in favour of the All-Ireland club hurling championships as currently constituted.

Dunloy (Antrim) 2-16 Ballycran (Down) 2-11

THE process to appoint a new Antrim hurling manager has encountered a major stumbling block with the county board remarkably not receiving a single nomination for the position from the Saffron clubs.

HOW do you predict a winner from these two? Three years ago, in 2006, a Ballyhale Shamrocks side whose talents had been flagged inside Kilkenny for some years finally made the breakthrough, winning the club its first county senior title in 15 years.

The line-up for this year's All-Ireland club finals have been completed following yesterday's semi-final action.

Despite some observers pointing to a current crisis in Clare hurling, Antrim half-back Ciaran Herron has a different perspective on today's All-Ireland SHC qualifier between the Glensmen and the Banner at Casement Park (throw-in 2.30pm).

Experienced Dunloy forward Paddy Richmond will hope to spearhead the Antrim attack when they meet on-form Dublin in tonight's historic NHL Division 1B tie (Casement Park, throw-in 7pm).

TWO years later than players and supporters would have wished for, or expected, Portumna hurlers have made it to Croke Park for St Patrick’s Day.

BEWARE - that’s the clear message for the Cork and Munster champions after Portumna’s highly impressive victory over holders James Stephens last Sunday.

EOIN LARKIN smiles when recalling the 2004 Kilkenny county hurling final.

YOU want contrast? Down’s Ballygalget meet Newtownshandrum of Cork on Sunday in the All-Ireland club senior hurling semi-final.

WISER, more experienced and not exactly lacking in confidence - that is Portumna's approach to Sunday's AIB All-Ireland club hurling semi-final against holders James Stephens in Semple Stadium.

ULSTER’S representatives in Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland SHC club semi-final, Ballygalget, have one thing in common with their illustrious opponents Newtownshandrum.

Beleaguered Antrim have made six changes and a number of positional switches as they bid to stave off relegation to the Christy Ring Cup against Laois on Saturday (Páirc Tailteann, Navan, throw-in 3.30pm).

Ulster champions Antrim have made four alterations for tomorrow's (Saturday's) All-Ireland SHC relegation semi-final against Offaly at Croke Park.

IT WON’T matter to Athenry or James Stephens, but after three poor contests in succession, hurling needs a good AIB All-Ireland club final today.

LIKE their counterparts on the intercounty stage, the Ulster champions are the perennial underdogs of the All-Ireland club hurling championship; a lot of patronising guff in the national media beforehand but, when it comes down to picking the probable champion, never given a real chance.

RIGHTLY or wrongly, the general perception of next weekend’s All-Ireland semi-finals of the AIB club hurling championship would be that Kilkenny champions James Stephens will advance at the expense of Ulster standard-bearers O’Donovan Rossa, while Athenry may have a slight edge over Toomevara.

Waterford champions Mount Sion take on Tipperary kingpins Toomevara in today's Munster club hurling final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

FEARS that Mount Sion centre-forward Eoin McGrath fractured a thumb in Sunday’s Munster Club championship semi-final victory over Kilmaley have been allayed.

O'Donovan Rossa lifted the Four Seasons Cup this afternoon at Casement Park and kept the Ulster Hurling title in Antrim as they defeated Down champions Ballygalet 0-16 to 0-14.