'Clare-Limerick final could finally become reality'

The yearly hurling carnival that is semi-final play is upon america pinch fans from each corners of nan land group to descend connected Ireland's superior metropolis to spot nan 4 champion teams of 2024 successful action.

One squad is already guaranteed to characteristic connected All-Ireland last time connected 21 July, of course.

The triumphant Cork broadside of 1999 will beryllium presented astatine half-time, but who will subordinate them? Limerick are chasing history pinch John Kiely's men 2 wins from completing their 'Drive for Five' and succeeding wherever Cork and Kilkenny fell short successful nan 1940s and 2000s.

But while Limerick look arsenic beardown - if not stronger - than successful erstwhile years, nan chasing battalion will consciousness they are adequately equipped to dethrone nan Treaty.

Limerick look Cork successful Sunday's semi-final pinch nan Rebels already nan proud owners of a title triumph complete nan holders this season, winning a rip-roaring Munster round-robin conflict 3-28 to 3-26 astatine Pairc Ui Chaoimh successful May.

Could nan arsenic expansive spaces of Croke Park suit nan diversion prowess of Cork this weekend?

Clare person arguably supplied nan template for putting it up to Limerick successful caller seasons but they must first flooded Kilkenny connected Saturday if they are to group up a first-ever All-Ireland last gathering pinch their fierce provincial rivals.

But while nan Banner's past All-Ireland last quality came backmost successful 2013, Kilkenny person nan mislaid nan past 2 deciders to Limerick.

Whatever measurement you look astatine it, nan semi-finals are not to beryllium missed.

For nan 3rd twelvemonth successful a row, these 2 counties look each different astatine nan penultimate shape of nan hurling championship.

Clare will consciousness they are good placed to avenge their 2022 and 2023 defeats. After losing nan Munster final, they bounced backmost good against Wexford successful nan quarter-final, pinch Shane O'Donnell adding to his hurler of nan twelvemonth credentials.

Tony Kelly looked backmost to afloat fittingness and shared nan scoring load pinch O'Donnell.

Kelly, of course, has been efficaciously man-marked by Kilkenny's tough-as-nails All-Star corner-back Mikey Butler.

I reckon we will spot that match-up again, but moreover if Kelly is kept quiet, Clare tin tie upon a divers group of scorers. David Fitzgerald pushing up to helping guardant has not only added a puck-out action but besides a immense scoring threat.

Peter Duggan connected nan different helping does not person nan line-breaking athleticism of Fitzgerald, but tin beryllium a maestro of nan skies and is tin of producing nan bonzer connected immoderate fixed day. With Mark Rodgers sandwiched betwixt these copy towers, nan half-forward statement is stacked.

But Kilkenny will look to a sturdy protect portion to stifle Clare's threat men. Huw Lawlor is nan champion full-back successful nan crippled and will relish a conflict connected nan separator of nan quadrate pinch O'Donnell.

The half-back statement of David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan and Richie Reid tin each break guardant to lend connected nan scoreboard for nan Cats. It will beryllium intriguing to spot if Mikey Carey's positioning allows Reid to beryllium successful nan pouch and protect nan wrong line.

If Butler is deployed retired nan pitch, it whitethorn good beryllium 2 connected 2 inside, opening up nan anticipation of a goalfest.

Kilkenny don't deficiency firepower, of course. With TJ Reid, nan top subordinate of each time, still pulling nan strings, nan Clare defence will beryllium tested to nan limit, pinch John Conlon perchance handed nan task of shadowing Reid.

Completing Kilkenny's hugely talented quartet are stars Adrian Mullen, who made his return pinch aplomb successful nan Leinster final, goal-getter Eoin Cody and nan understated John Donnelly, who has been shooting nan lights retired each year.

Donnelly has been Kilkenny's astir accordant performer this season. Not only does he lend importantly to nan scoreboard, but his activity complaint makes him a instrumentality favourite.

Having annihilated Dublin successful nan Leinster final, Kilkenny will spell into Saturday's semi-final arsenic favourites. But I consciousness that pinch Clare's improved spot successful extent and tightened defence, it will beryllium 3rd clip fortunate for nan Banner men this weekend.

When these sides met successful nan Munster round-robin stage, they delivered a high-scoring matter pinch a melodramatic precocious triumph for nan Rebels and nan ensuing transportation penetration reflecting what was astatine liking for Pat Ryan's side.

Limerick are good champions, however, and regrouped to yet seal their sixth Munster title connected nan spin.

Croke Park is sold retired for this 1 and if Cork and Limerick tin replicate that pulsating Pairc Ui Chaoimh encounter, we're successful for a treat.

Despite that scalp, Cork look a daunting task. Limerick person only mislaid 1 title crippled successful Croke Park since 2016 (a constrictive semi-final nonaccomplishment to Kilkenny successful 2019).

Limerick whitethorn good beryllium nan champion squad of each time. Their consistency is simply jaw-dropping, their strength and hunger simply excessively overmuch for nan chasing pack.

They person flooded adversity clip and clip again, delving into nan reserves database to switch injured players.

In summation to a playing group that features immoderate all-time greats, they person a managerial set-up that surpasses each that has gone earlier it, not only successful measurement of backroom squad members but successful their attraction to item and expertise to recalibrate nan group erstwhile they find themselves down successful games.

Which makes Cork's triumph 2 months agone each nan much impressive. They fought for illustration we person not seen this Cork squad conflict before. They matched nan athleticism of Limerick each complete nan transportation and delivered successful nan clutch moments - referencing Patrick Horgan's past 2 plays connected that evening will certify that!

Cork has a overmuch much balanced consciousness to it than nan 1 Limerick mauled successful nan 2021 All-Ireland decider. The Downey brothers, Robert and Eoin, person provided a steely spine successful nan Cork defence that has been missing for immoderate time, they person a Rolls Royce midfield pairing successful Darragh Fitzgibbon and Ciaran Joyce.

Most importantly, though, they person 3 men lining retired connected nan 40 who tin each triumph their ain shot successful Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett and Seamus Harnedy.

The conflict betwixt nan Limerick half-back statement and nan recently formed Cork half-forward statement gives america overmuch to ponder.

Limerick's Diarmaid Byrnes is returning to shape aft a fewer shaky performances by his incredibly precocious standards and will astir apt person Harnedy for company. On nan different wing, Dalton will person defending of his ain to do astatine times arsenic lightning-quick Kyle Hayes loves to burst up section and is truthful meticulous disconnected his left-hand side.

Cork will beryllium hoping that Barrett's direct, pacey runs tin origin Declan Hannon problems successful nan cardinal channel, but nan Limerick skipper has had nan answers for each comers to date.

Eoin Downey’s duel connected nan separator of nan quadrate pinch Aaron Gillane could determine nan destiny of this lucifer arsenic Gillane is truthful often nan go-to man erstwhile Limerick’s request is greatest. Cian Lynch is ever tin of coming to life connected nan large shape and will request typical attraction from nan Cork rearguard arsenic he tin unpick defences pinch sublime imagination and skill.

But erstwhile this play of hurling is reviewed galore years from now, I judge that Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid whitethorn guidelines taller than each others.

From nan Quaid goalkeeping dynasty, nan elder statesman of Limerick has produced saves aplenty on nan travel - who could hide his 2018 artifact connected Seamus Harnedy to commencement this roll?

His puck-out strategy and execution are nan envy of each squad successful nan land. He is coolness personified and whitethorn good conscionable extremity nan equilibrium for Limerick again this weekend, for illustration truthful galore times before.