GAA All-Ireland Hurling semi-finals: Neil McManus previews Clare vs Kilkenny and Limerick vs Cork

The annual hurling carnival that is semi-final weekend is upon us with fans from all corners of the island set to descend on Ireland's capital city to see the four best teams of 2024 in action.

One team is already guaranteed to feature on All-Ireland final day on 21 July, of course.

The triumphant Cork side of 1999 will be presented at half-time, but who will join them? Limerick are chasing history with John Kiely's men two wins from completing their 'Drive for Five' and succeeding where Cork and Kilkenny fell short in the 1940s and 2000s.

But while Limerick look as strong - if not stronger - than in previous years, the chasing pack will feel they are adequately equipped to dethrone the Treaty.

Limerick face Cork in Sunday's semi-final with the Rebels already the proud owners of a championship win over the holders this season, winning a rip-roaring Munster round-robin clash 3-28 to 3-26 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in May.

Could the equally expansive spaces of Croke Park suit the athletic prowess of Cork this weekend?

Clare have arguably supplied the template for putting it up to Limerick in recent seasons but they must first overcome Kilkenny on Saturday if they are to set up a first-ever All-Ireland final meeting with their fierce provincial rivals.

But while the Banner's last All-Ireland final appearance came back in 2013, Kilkenny have the lost the last two deciders to Limerick.

Whatever way you look at it, the semi-finals are not to be missed.

For the third year in a row, these two counties face each other at the penultimate stage of the hurling championship.

Clare will feel they are well placed to avenge their 2022 and 2023 defeats. After losing the Munster final, they bounced back well against Wexford in the quarter-final, with Shane O'Donnell adding to his hurler of the year credentials.

Tony Kelly looked back to full fitness and shared the scoring burden with O'Donnell.

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

I reckon we will see that match-up again, but even if Kelly is kept quiet, Clare can draw upon a diverse group of scorers. David Fitzgerald pushing up to wing forward has not only added a puck-out option but also a huge scoring threat.

Peter Duggan on the other wing does not have the line-breaking athleticism of Fitzgerald, but can be a master of the skies and is capable of producing the extraordinary on any given day. With Mark Rodgers sandwiched between these twin towers, the half-forward line is stacked.

But Kilkenny will look to a sturdy defensive unit to stifle Clare's danger men. Huw Lawlor is the best full-back in the game and will relish a battle on the edge of the square with O'Donnell.

The half-back line of David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan and Richie Reid can all break forward to contribute on the scoreboard for the Cats. It will be intriguing to see if Mikey Carey's positioning allows Reid to sit in the pocket and protect the inside line.

If Butler is deployed out the pitch, it may well be two on two inside, opening up the possibility of a goalfest.

Kilkenny don't lack firepower, of course. With TJ Reid, the greatest player of all time, still pulling the strings, the Clare defence will be tested to the limit, with John Conlon possibly handed the task of shadowing Reid.

Completing Kilkenny's hugely talented quartet are stars Adrian Mullen, who made his return with aplomb in the Leinster final, goal-getter Eoin Cody and the understated John Donnelly, who has been shooting the lights out all year.

Donnelly has been Kilkenny's most consistent performer this season. Not only does he contribute significantly to the scoreboard, but his work rate makes him a fan favourite.

Having annihilated Dublin in the Leinster final, Kilkenny will go into Saturday's semi-final as favourites. But I feel that with Clare's improved strength in depth and tightened defence, it will be third time lucky for the Banner men this weekend.

When these sides met in the Munster round-robin stage, they delivered a high-scoring affair with a dramatic late win for the Rebels and the ensuing pitch invasion reflecting what was at stake for Pat Ryan's side.

Limerick are fine champions, however, and regrouped to ultimately seal their sixth Munster title on the spin.

Croke Park is sold out for this one and if Cork and Limerick can replicate that pulsating Pairc Ui Chaoimh encounter, we're in for a treat.

Despite that scalp, Cork face a daunting task. Limerick have only lost one championship game in Croke Park since 2016 (a narrow semi-final loss to Kilkenny in 2019).

Limerick may well be the best team of all time. Their consistency is simply jaw-dropping, their intensity and hunger simply too much for the chasing pack.

They have overcome adversity time and time again, delving into the reserves list to replace injured players.

In addition to a playing group that features some all-time greats, they have a managerial set-up that surpasses all that has gone before it, not only in volume of backroom team members but in their attention to detail and ability to recalibrate the group when they find themselves behind in games.

Which makes Cork's win two months ago all the more impressive. They fought like we have not seen this Cork team fight before. They matched the athleticism of Limerick all over the pitch and delivered in the clutch moments - referencing Patrick Horgan's last two plays on that evening will certify that!

Cork has a much more balanced feel to it than the one Limerick mauled in the 2021 All-Ireland decider. The Downey brothers, Robert and Eoin, have provided a steely spine in the Cork defence that has been missing for some time, they have a Rolls Royce midfield pairing in Darragh Fitzgibbon and Ciaran Joyce.

Most importantly, though, they have three men lining out on the 40 who can all win their own ball in Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett and Seamus Harnedy.

The battle between the Limerick half-back line and the newly formed Cork half-forward line gives us much to ponder.

Limerick's Diarmaid Byrnes is returning to form after a few shaky performances by his incredibly high standards and will most likely have Harnedy for company. On the other wing, Dalton will have defending of his own to do at times as lightning-quick Kyle Hayes loves to burst up field and is so accurate off his left-hand side.

Cork will be hoping that Barrett's direct, pacey runs can cause Declan Hannon problems in the central channel, but the Limerick captain has had the answers for all comers to date.

Eoin Downeyâ€TMs duel on the edge of the square with Aaron Gillane could decide the fate of this match as Gillane is so often the go-to man when Limerickâ€TMs need is greatest. Cian Lynch is always capable of coming to life on the big stage and will need special attention from the Cork rearguard as he can unpick defences with sublime vision and skill.

But when this period of hurling is reviewed many years from now, I believe that Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid may stand taller than all others.

From the Quaid goalkeeping dynasty, the elder statesman of Limerick has produced saves aplenty along the journey - who could forget his 2018 block on Seamus Harnedy to start this roll?

His puck-out strategy and execution are the envy of every team in the land. He is coolness personified and may well just tip the balance for Limerick again this weekend, like so many times before.