SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER
AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final
St Thomas' [Galway] v Ballygunner [Waterford], Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 7.30pm
SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER
AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final
O'Loughlin Gaels [Kilkenny] v Ruairí Óg Cushendall [Antrim], Páirc Tailteann, 1.30pm
ONLINE
Live blog of O'Loughlin Gaels v Ruairí Óg Cushendall on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Both semi-finals will be broadcast live on TG4, with coverage beginning at 7.15pm on Saturday and 1.25pm on Sunday.
RADIO
Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra and then on RTÉ Radio 1 will have live updates on St Thomas' v Ballygunner.
WEATHER
Saturday will be mostly cloudy, but it will be mainly dry. There'll just be a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times. A breezy day with moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, strong in some coastal parts. Continuing mild with highest temperatures of 11-13C.
Sunday is likely to be cloudy with the chance of some rain in Connacht and Ulster and maybe west Munster too, possibly heavy at times, but drier elsewhere with just a little patchy drizzle. Very mild again with highest temperatures of 11-13C and it will be breezy or rather windy for a time with fresh to strong south to southwest winds, decreasing a little later. For more go to met.ie.
Recent champs Ballygunner eye big prize again - ten years on and St Thomas' can also dream
The first of the semi-finals, under lights in Portlaoise, is likely to be played in ideal conditions for mid-December. It's set to be mild and dry, as the favourites meet the Galway champions.
Ballygunner are certainly masters of all they survey in the land of the Déise by winning ten county titles on the spin. On 3 December, they completed a hat-trick of Munster wins when seeing off Clare's Clonlara.
Two first-half goals in the space of five minutes from Dessie Hutchinson and a wonderful team move finished by Kevin Mahony opened up a gap which grew to 13 points by the final whistle.
Their record-equalling fifth O'Neill Cup also brings the Gunners joint-top of the roll of honour alongside Blackrock of Cork, who they beat to win their first crown back in 2001.
While their attack was led by the Mahony brothers, Pauric [0-10] and Kevin [1-04], Dessie Hutchinson [1-01], and man-of-the-match Peter Hogan [0-04], their defence has been equally exceptional.
In their three games, they have held the cream of Cork, Limerick, and Clare club hurling to an average of under 13 points per game.
A tough nut to crack, with Philip Mahony providing the extra cover in defence.
Harry Ruddle's goal at the death, enough to see them edge Ballyhale Shamrocks, brought about Ballygunner's only All-Ireland success in 2022. A year on and the Kilkenny side got their revenge, but the tables were turned again when the Kilkenny city side prevailed by the bare minimum in this year's county finale.
Thomas' last saw action on 29 October, completing a Galway six-timer with a hard-fought victory over Turloughmore.
It completes a remarkable run by the south Galway side who have now won all eight finals they have appeared in since reaching their first decider in 2012.
And it also rounds out an astonishing run for captain Conor Cooney who has skippered them to each of their six in a row titles.
The 2013 All-Ireland champions have fallen short at the penultimate stage for the last three years but will be boosted by David Burke returning to full fitness after an anterior cruciate knee ligament tear.
The 33-year-old, who captained Galway to Liam MacCarthy success in 2017, came off the bench late on in the county final. Brother Eanna chipped in with 2-02, with David sending in a sideline cut that led to Eanna's second goal.
Another of the clan, Kenneth, is the team manager. Speaking to the media in advance of this semi-final, he said he hoped their plan to cut down the space afforded to Ballygunner will reap some dividends.
"We know it's going to be very difficult. We have to perform and everything has to go right.
"Guys have to be tuned in and ready to go to try and get the better of their man. There will be battles all over the field.
"We’ll have to try and shut down the space and not let them run at us. "That’s easier said than done but that will be the plan, to try and shut them down.
"If guys empty the tank, which I know they will, and try to perform to their best, that’s all we can do. If that’s not enough, we’ll have to hold our hands up and say we just weren’t good enough on the day."
Cushendall out to put poor semi-final record to right - O'Loughlin Gaels eye next step after Leinster final drama
All roads lead to Navan for this encounter, where the Ulster champions will be looking to reach a first All-Ireland final since 2016.
O'Loughlin Gaels, after dismissing Ballyhale Shamrocks from this year's race, then plotted a path towards Leinster glory. And glory it was after a one-point win over Na Fianna.
"Lifts. Strikes. The response is positive."
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 2, 2023
Mark Bergin slots over what did indeed turn out to be a Leinster title-winning point. A cracking provincial Club SHC final at Croke Park.
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Former Kilkenny captain Mark Bergin struck 11 points, including the winner, in what was a tense contest at Croker.
Cushendall also had a few nervy moments reaching this stage, winning their county title by a point against Loughgiel and then needing extra-time to see off Portaferry in the Ulster semi-final. It was a bit more clearcut in the provincial decider, defeating Slaughntneil by four points.
Ed McQuillan, who picked up the player-of-the-match award, Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell and Ryan McCambridge, all produced big displays.
Neil McManus will no doubt lead Cushendall's scoring charge; he's deadly accurate from placed balls, while teenager Joseph McLaughlin, who contributed 0-03 against Slaughnteil, is a player with huge potential.
On paper you would have to fancy the Kilkenny side here, with county stars Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler a strong presence in the full-back line. Paddy Deegan, on the '40, is an invaluable score getter, while Mark Bergin's markmanship is bound to be key again as side from the Marble County aim to be back in Croke Park on then third weekend in January.
