All-Ireland SHC semi-final previews: Cork ahead of the curve, Limerick tread warily

Cork take on Galway on Saturday before Limerick face Clare on Sunday.

SEMI-FINAL COUNTDOWN: A general view of Croke Park. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

SATURDAY

All-Ireland SHC semi-final

Galway v Cork

Croke Park, 3.30pm (J. Murphy, Limerick)

Live RTÉ, BBC.

The typical All-Ireland semi-final that becomes closer the nearer we get to it.

Last week, Cork wouldn’t be touched and that remains the sentiment among people who are parting with their money on the outcome of the game.

But there’s a belief this coming Galway team have had the guts of four weeks to work on and implement a strategy to stymie Cork and it’s going to take the Munster runners-up some time to find ways in and around it. 

Galway will retreat for parts of the game, no question. If football’s rules were implemented, they would be guilty of regular breaches. It should be a more pronounced rearguard action than that demonstrated by Tipperary last July.

We heard mention this week of Galway aping the Waterford strategy as espoused in Derek McGrath’s time in charge. That doesn’t give enough credit to Micheál Donoghue’s first term when, with a more developed group, they were mean. 

While they didn’t score a single goal in the last four of the final championship games, no team scored more than 19 times against them. They will draw so many of their men back especially now that they have to factor the height of Alan Walsh and Brian Hayes at the same time be mindful of the strength of Cork’s long-range shooting.

Galway aren’t shrinking violets in that department either – Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan and Tom Monaghan to name but three – but getting ball to Jason Rabbitte might be difficult with the towering Downey brothers standing in the way and tracking back.

With 2024 hurler of the year candidate Darragh Fitzgibbon back in tow and Tommy O’Connell fit to hunt ball, Cork can condense Cathal Mannion’s possessions. Galway have the pace to offset Cork’s and complement Croke Park and despite what some say are conditioned enough to genuinely compete against this opposition.

Where they fall down is in the momentary lapses that come with being a developing side - Donoghue has fully acknowledged those blips. Cork are evolved, Galway are evolving. That contrast should manifest itself on the final scoreboard. 

Verdict: Cork.

SUNDAY

All-Ireland SHC semi final: Limerick v Clare, Croke Park, 4pm (T. Walsh, Waterford) Live RTÉ, BBC.

To say Limerick are treading warily would be an understatement. Why else would no less than three Limerick pundits on as many podcasts express concern about the speed of puck-out that will be allowed by referees this weekend.

Limerick’s poor record in games officiated by Thomas Walsh was mentioned too. TJ Ryan of our own parish even mentioned the cynicism of the Clare defenders, the singling out of which was rightly countered by Anthony Daly on his podcast.

Limerick may be Munster champions but they have lost their previous two visits to Croke Park and it seems nothing is being taken for chance. Team Limerick in full effect. Does that message represent diligence or desperation? 

It’s not like Limerick to do that and on paper they should be winning this game maybe not as comfortably as the previous meeting in Ennis but with a bit to spare.

They have the full deck to choose from and while Clare appear to have the same there are question marks over two of the defenders named to start. In that area where they are weakest, they are concerns. 

Clare can more than match Limerick in attack and Shane O’Donnell showed hints the last day that in what is now definitely his last season that he is showing some form.

The great Limerick teams tattooed teams with points, not goals but inside Aaron Gillane and Shane O’Brien are due large games after injuries beset part of their seasons. Cathal O’Neill’s fitness is significant not just for his fine displays in 2026 but how Tom Morrissey is able to affect a game coming on a substitute. 

Clare’s options from the reserves are decent too but it’s difficult to trust the veracity of this starting team. They have to seize Limerick at source. Barry Nash needs to be occupied, the in-form Diarmaid Byrnes foiled and Kyle Hayes stopped in his tracks.

Even if they achieve two of those missions, Darragh O’Donovan and William O’Donoghue recover so much ball that it’s difficult to see how they will hurt Limerick enough.

Verdict: Limerick.