SUNDAY 9 JULY
Kilkenny v Clare, Croke Park, 4pm
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app. Highlights also available across the weekend.
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.
Watch highlights on The Sunday Game, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm
RADIO
Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport - and on Ráidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an Lae.
WEATHER
Sunday: After a dry start Sunday afternoon showers will be widespread and heavy with possible spot flooding. Highest temperatures 17 to 21 degrees, in light to moderate southerly breezes. For more go to met.ie.
Banner on a mission
They didn't see it coming. After pushing Limerick to the pin of their collar in the Munster final, hindsight would suggest that the extra-time defeat drained Clare to a greater event than was thought at the time.
Yes, Brian Lohan's side were sluggish against Wexford, but the performance against Kilkenny was a gut punch. Brian Cody's last win at Croke Park was effectively sealed at the interval, a 14-point lead against a Clare side that registered 11 wides.
The form-line to date would suggest a repeat performance is most unlikely. Clare again fell to Limerick in the Munster decider by a point, but were architects of their own downfall again in front of the posts. Crucially, a mental barrier of sorts was broken with the round-robin win over John Kiely's men.
Throw in edging out Cork with the game in the melting pot, plus the demolition of Dublin last time out, and Clare fans have every reason to be confident.
Yet Kilkenny's ability to get the job done, plus their record in the fixture will give pause for thought. The Cats looked to be heading for a disappointing, though far from fatal, Leinster final defeat when they pulled the most Kilkenny-esque finish out of the bag to down Galway in dramatic circumstances.
It will be just the 10th time the sides have crossed paths in the heat of championship; Clare's 1997 semi-final win is the only time they have come out the right side of the fixture. Lohan policed the edge of the square that day as Davy Fitzgerald's penalty save propelled the Banner to the penultimate step on their journey to a second Liam MacCarthy in three years.
Looking at today's crop, Eoin Cody (3-16) and Martin Keoghan (5-09) have had their shooting boots on for the Stripeymen, even allowing for the fact the Cats had 39 points to spare over Westmeath and Antrim respectively in Leinster, while Clare too are spreading their scores around more than ever.
Mark Rodgers looks perfectly at home at this level, the ever-green Shane O'Donnell continues to lead by example, while the rampaging David Fitzgerald has picked off 11 points and counting in the championship.
However, it could all boil down to the talismans on show.
Not surprisingly, Tony Kelly and TJ Reid lead the scoring charts for their teams, with the Ballyea man more prolific from play, but the Ballyhale man more consistent from placed balls.
Indeed the Banner have had their issues over the course of the campaign from frees, with Aidan McCarthy (injured) and Mark Rodgers also shouldering that responsibility on occasions.
In a game of fine margins - three of Clare's five provincial games were decided by the bare minimum, while the Cats shocked Galway at the death of the Leinster decider having drawn with the Tribesmen in Salthill - accuracy from frees could have a major say in who marches into the final.
Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final, Clare v Kilkenny (Sunday at 4pm), this Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
