All-Ireland semi-finals - all you need to know

After a pulsating double-hit of All-Ireland Hurling semi-final action, it's complete to nan shot arsenic 4 becomes 2 successful nan title for Sam.

In position of entertainment, Galway, Donegal, Armagh and Kerry are nether unit to present aft a mates of epic semi-final encounters successful nan mini shot code, pinch Clare beating Kilkenny and Cork toppling five-in-a-row seeking Limerick.

Free-flowing, attacking shot would besides beryllium a invited show this play aft a group of quarter-finals that lacked play extracurricular of Galway's epic triumph complete holders Dublin, though Derry's nonaccomplishment to Kerry did move retired to beryllium Mickey Harte's past stand pinch nan Oak Leafers.

There is plentifulness of intrigue, however, arsenic nan 4 contenders for Sam make their measurement backmost to Croke Park.

Saturday, 13 July - Kerry vs Armagh, 17:30 BST, Croke Park

Sunday, 14 July - Donegal vs Galway, 16:00 BST, Croke Park

Yes, you tin watch some semi-finals connected nan BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & BBC Two Northern Ireland.

Coverage of Armagh v Kerry connected Saturday originates astatine 17:00 BST, while nan build-up to Donegal v Galway originates astatine 15:40 BST connected Sunday.

In addition, nan BBC Sport website will person unrecorded matter commentaries, clips, reports, guidance and highlights from some games.

Few counties person endured arsenic overmuch heartache arsenic Armagh successful caller seasons. Penalty shootout defeats successful nan past 2 Ulster finals, pinch different 2 successful All-Ireland quarter-finals, nan Orchard men merit immense in installments for refusing to wallow successful self-pity.

After their latest shootout agony, Kieran McGeeney's broadside rebounded to apical their All-Ireland group earlier seeing disconnected Roscommon successful nan quarter-finals.

Saturday will beryllium Armagh's first semi-final since 2005, but they are wished to spell moreover further and scope nan decider for nan first clip since they were denied back-to-back titles by Tyrone successful 2003.

Standing successful their measurement are Kerry, who wore down Derry successful a desperately dull quarter-final to scope this stage.

The Kingdom person been acquainted opponents for Armagh successful nan convention successful caller years, but this is their first title tussle since 2006 (a quarter-final triumph for Kerry).

While Kerry are favourites, Armagh will not attack Saturday pinch fearfulness aft seeing really Derry managed to support a number of nan Kingdom's threat men quiet for periods successful nan quarter-final.

Derry's issue, of course, was scoring. Ten points was a paltry return for nan Oak Leafers, but Armagh person excelled astatine times successful onslaught this year, scoring 8 goals successful nan championship.

The counties' past gathering saw Kerry separator a tight Division One crippled successful Tralee 0-12 to 0-11 successful February 2023. That crippled will person small base connected this weekend, but if Armagh determine to spell aft Kerry, this could move into an breathtaking shootout.

The past clip Donegal contested an All-Ireland semi-final was 10 years ago. They hit Mayo that time earlier losing to Kerry successful nan final.

They were nan last days of Jim McGuinness' first spell arsenic Donegal boss, and a decade on, he is trying to spell 1 amended successful nan first twelvemonth of his 2nd coming.

Even nan astir ardent Donegal fans person been amazed by nan velocity pinch which McGuinness - who famously led nan Tir Chonaill to Sam successful 2012 - has breathed caller life into nan county.

After a disastrous 2023, he has already delivered promotion backmost to Division One, an Ulster title and a return to nan business extremity of nan All-Ireland series.

They were excessively beardown for Louth successful nan past 8 but 2022 beaten finalists Galway correspond a sizeable step-up successful opposition.

The Tribesmen, who past lifted Sam successful 2001, delivered nan daze of nan summertime truthful acold a fortnight ago, beating Dublin by a constituent connected nerve-shredding evening wrong Croke Park.

While Shane Walsh is an wounded doubt, successful Dylan McHugh, John Maher and Cillian McDaid, Galway person immoderate of nan astir in-form players successful nan championship, truthful if Donegal are to scope nan final, they will require their champion capacity of nan year.

McGuinness and Galway leader Padraic Joyce are bully friends, having played together connected IT Tralee's Sigerson Cup-winning squad successful 1998. Friendship will beryllium put to nan side, though, arsenic some men purpose to lead their counties into nan final.

"If we couldn’t triumph it, I’d beryllium delighted for Padraic and Galway," McGuinness said aft his side's quarter-final win.

"We had awesome times together, he is simply a awesome fella, a awesome shot man and is very driven. We person awesome memories down successful Tralee and person ever stayed successful contact."

This will beryllium Donegal and Galway's first title gathering since 2017. Galway won that 1 by 15 points, but Sunday will surely beryllium a overmuch tighter affair.