GAA fans have a lot to look forward to this weekend as ten games are covered live on TV and streaming services. The schedule begins tonight on TG4 with two Munster U20 hurling deciders.
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Ulster Football Semi-Finals
The Ulster Football Championship is the annual provincial senior football competition for teams in the Irish province of Ulster. It is organised by the Ulster Council of the GAA and culminates in a final in Croke Park on the third Sunday in July. The winners receive the Anglo-Celt Cup.
This year’s semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and both games will be broadcast live on RTE and BBC. The full list of fixtures and times is available here.
Armagh’s road to the Ulster decider has been far from straightforward. The Red Hands are back in Division 1 after a nine-year absence from the top flight and they’ll face a Derry side that won the 2023 title at Clones thanks to a dramatic one-point victory over their neighbours.
On the other half of the draw, reigning champions Glen and their neighbours Glenties will meet in an all-Ulster showdown at O’Neills Healy Park. Malachy O’Rourke’s Glen secured a four-point win over Cargin at Celtic Park in last weekend’s quarter-final while the Glenties champions required a late goal from Tomas McCann to see off Gowna at Kingspan Breffni.
In the other semi-final, Down’s Scotstown will take on Monaghan’s St Brigid’s in a game that should be a fascinating contest. The County Down side defeated Antrim in the quarter-finals and are aiming for a second straight Ulster title.
Munster Hurling Semi-Finals
If you’re looking for a break from the All-Ireland club football action this weekend then look no further than Munster hurling. The semi-finals of the senior club hurling championship are taking place and there are some intriguing encounters to be enjoyed.
All of the Munster hurling semi-finals will be broadcast live on TG4. The first game is set for 1pm and sees Kilmallock take on Midleton of Cork. The second match is a bit later at 3.15pm and sees Waterford’s Ballygunner take on Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney.
The winners of these two matches will advance to the All-Ireland club hurling final where they’ll play one of Ballyhale Shamrocks, Slaughtneil or St Thomas. It’s a great opportunity for these sides to lay down their marker and prove that they are worthy of playing in the All-Ireland club final this season.
The All-Ireland Club Hurling Final is held in Croke Park and is a major event on the GAA calendar. The winning team is presented with the O’Neill Cup at a special rostrum in the stand which is usually filled with GAA dignitaries and other special guests. The trophy is held by the team until the following year’s All-Ireland final. This has been the case for the past 69 years. This season’s winner will join Cork, Limerick and Galway on the list of All-Ireland winners.
Leinster Hurling Semi-Finals
It is not often that a sport produces a game that comes close to matching the movie script-like nature of hurling’s Munster final. However, this weekend hurling fans can look forward to two semi-finals that have all the ingredients to produce another blockbuster.
Kilkenny face a familiar foe in their quest for an All-Ireland hat-trick of titles when they take on Dublin at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday evening. The Cats have won the last three meetings between the sides, and they will be hoping to add another triumph to their impressive haul of trophies in 2023.
In the other semi-final, Galway host Cork in a game that will be keenly contested from start to finish. The Tribesmen are fresh off a disappointing Leinster final defeat to the Cats, but they will be eager to make amends and put in a good performance against their rivals from the south.
The club hurling championship kicks off on Friday evening with the first round of games in the Leinster Championship. Offaly champions Tullamore take on their Meath counterparts Summerhill in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Eire Og Carlow play Westmeath’s St Loman’s at Netwatch Cusack Park and Wexford play Laois’s St Josephs at Netwatch Cusack Park. All of these games will be broadcast on the GAA TV app and BBC Sport website.
All-Ireland Club Hurling Semi-Finals
Following an exciting weekend of club football – and one game that rivalled a movie script in terms of its drama – the hurling championship is under pressure to produce another blockbuster this Saturday. And it certainly has the opportunity to deliver.
The All-Ireland Club Hurling Semi-Finals will see defending champions Kilmacud Crokes take on Kerry champions Kerins O’Rahillys in what should be an intriguing encounter. The Crokes were beaten by Kilcoo in last year’s final decider, but have re-grouped and are capable of upsetting the odds once again.
Meanwhile, Dublin will be represented by a pair of clubs in the second semi-final, as group 1 winners Lucan Sarsfields take on beaten 2021 and 2022 finalists Na Fianna. The latter, who defeated St Pat’s by three points in their semi-final replay, have AJ Murphy and Colin Currie at their disposal and will be expected to push their opponents all the way.
In the other semi-final, a meeting of Ulster champions is on the cards with Glen (Derry) facing Scotstown in what should be an intriguing encounter. And the Leinster final on Sunday will see Junior champions Arva take on the winners of the Ulster final between Glyde Rangers and Milltown.