All-Ireland SHC semi-final previews: Cork aiming to upset Limerick again, Clare won't be fooled by Kilkenny

Elsewhere in the Ladies SFC quarter-finals, Cork clash with Waterford, Kerry meet Meath and Dublin face Galway on Saturday while Armagh will take on Mayo on Sunday.

WE MEET AGAIN: Cork's Patrick Horgan and Fergal O’Connor battle during the Munster championship. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo.

SATURDAY

All-Ireland SHC semi-final

Kilkenny v Clare

Croke Park 3pm

Referee: L. Gordon, Galway

RTÉ2

“Won’t be fooled again” has to be the mantra for Clare going into this All-Ireland semi-final.

They have already suffered a hat-trick of defeats to one team at the same stage of the championship. Another trifecta of losses to another in a third All-Ireland semi-final and the brickbats won’t take long to be thrown.

To give themselves the best chance of downing Kilkenny, Clare’s focus has to be on pointing their guns towards them and not at their feet.

Launching a sweeper system in their sixth championship game last year was bonkers and was rightly jettisoned at half-time.

The year before, a personnel change didn’t work out and a fall guy was made in Páidi Fitzpatrick but now Clare have to be concentrate on all they have been doing right. Their philosophy is “we’re going to score one more than you” and it has largely served them well but they have to protect their purple patches better.

Tony Kelly in midfield is a better fit but another body needs to drop from attack to cover behind him while Cian Kenny, who is in All-Star form, could be as sticky an opponent as Mikey Butler has proven to be for Kelly in the previous couple of semi-finals.

What is worrying for them is there are four, if not five players whose form has dipped – Adam Hogan, Diarmaid Ryan, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan and Aidan McCarthy (if he starts).

Can the same be said about Kilkenny? A lot can change in four weeks but their collective approach to dismissing Dublin was uber-effective.

If their attack is as mean in hunting down Clare backs as they were in that Leinster final, they will win.

Ger Loughnane once described a Kilkenny team that later won an All-Ireland as functional. This current clowder of Cats are better than that but they have been living in the shadow of a great team in Limerick.

They may be nine years without an All-Ireland title but in beating Clare these last couple of seasons they have taken great pleasure in dispelling the myth that Munster is the all-conquering championship. 

It will fuel them again here although their old guard could be required to help see out the victory.

A final word on the referee – Liam Gordon is indeed a leading official but this appointment raises an eyebrow given the wrong penalty decision for Kilkenny against Wexford and the finish to the Clare-Waterford game when a 65 was guessed by an umpire and struck from the wrong place.

He as much as Clare and Kilkenny need a big performance.

Verdict: Kilkenny.

All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-finals

Cork v Waterford

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 1.15pm

Referee: J. Murphy, Carlow

Live TG4

Boasting the second best record emerging from the groups, Cork fully deserve home advantage but will have to be wary of Waterford who are coming off a fine result against Donegal.

A date with Dublin in the semi-finals looks on the cards for Cork.

Verdict: Cork.

Kerry v Meath

Austin Stack Park 5.15pm

Referee: B. Redmond, Wexford.

Live TG4

There’s no question that Kerry were tested by Donegal in Group 2 and that will be a key factor for them against a Meath side who the Kingdom know are capable of upsetting them in Tralee. Kerry continue to knock at the door, though, and can take care of business.

Verdict: Kerry.

Dublin v Galway

Parnell Park 7.30pm

Referee: S. Mulvihill, Kerry.

Live TG4

Nothing Dublin have done in their two group stages would indicate that they are slipping. Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell present such strong attacking options and Galway, while high scorers, need to tighten up at the back.

Verdict: Dublin.

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC relegation qualifiers.

Laois v Tipperary

John Locke Park, Callan 2pm

Referee: S. McHugh, Donegal.

Tipperary were slightly unfortunate to find themselves out of the top and they should be able to avoid further trouble with a win here.

Verdict: Tipperary.

Donegal v Kildare

Kingspan Breffni 2pm

Referee: E. Cuthbert, Down

A real disappointment for Donegal not to make the quarter-finals and they will be keen to end their season on some sort of a high.

Verdict: Donegal.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final.

Dublin v Kilkenny

Croke Park 12.30pm

Live RTÉ

Kilkenny would agree that they could be going better but their graph is slightly higher than Dublin’s and they wouldn’t be holding much fear about the opposition or the venue.

Verdict: Kilkenny.

SUNDAY

All-Ireland SHC semi-final

Limerick v Cork

Croke Park 4pm

Referee: T. Walsh, Waterford

Live RTÉ2.

The Saturday All-Ireland semi-final would be considered the most physical of this weekend’s game but expect fireworks here.

Cork ruffled feathers with not just their victory in May but the way in which they were able to mix it with Limerick.

There will be plenty of activity on and off the ball particularly on Limerick’s left/Cork’s right flank and Thomas Walsh, a referee with a penchant for letting the game flow, may have to give a reminder or two early on that some behaviour won’t be tolerated.

Cork were deservedly criticised for how they let Clare upset them in the closing stages of their previous game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh but against Limerick they were the ones bringing it to the edge. More, much more of the same will be required.

Goals too. Yes, the two times Cork have beaten Limerick in championship over the last five years they have outpointed them as Kilkenny did in Limerick’s previous Croke Park defeat in 2019 but to take down giants boulders, not stones need to be the artillery.

Aaron Gillane has scored one point from play in his three last outings. Seán O’Donoghue has tagged him well in the past but to think Gillane’s paltry return outside of frees will continue is ambitious. Also, Séamus Flanagan truly loves facing Cork and his selection for tyro Shane O’Brien was expected.

Illness out of the camp, Cork will be emboldened. The expectations on Alan Connolly have dampened but he will love these environs.

Shane Barrett, whose last two performances have pushed him ahead as Cork’s best player in the championship, will find space dropping off the Limerick half-back line.

However, last month’s Munster final was the first time this season that vaunted triumvirate of the champions as a collective lived up to their stellar reputation.

Diarmaid Byrnes franked his iffy form, Declan Hannon was again his cool, calculating self while Kyle Hayes continued his brilliant form. Cork's half-backs have halls for improvement.

Where Cork have an advantage is in their reserves seeing as Limerick are now without Barry Nash as well as Peter Casey. Shane Kingston and Robbie O’Flynn have the power to transform Cork’s attack. Limerick aren’t without substitutes who can improve the team but game-changers perhaps not.

In May, Pat Ryan’s side were playing for their lives. Here, they are playing for it again but the terms have changed.

Limerick have as much skin in this game this time around and that should tell on the scoreboard around 5.30pm.

Verdict: Limerick.

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-final

Armagh v Mayo

Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5.45pm

Referee: B. Rice, Down

Live TG4

Were Aimee Mackin not sidelined with a cruciate injury, Armagh would have had things easier in Group 1. They finished top of it by a whisker and Mayo stand a great chance here. Armagh by a nose. 

Verdict: Armagh.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final.

Galway v Waterford

Croke Park

1.30pm Live RTÉ

Both teams reach this point with the same record from the groups. Waterford have shown they are not a flash in the pan yet Galway have more experience that will stand to them.

Verdict: Galway.