No All-Ireland club hurling double-header as semi-finals scheduled for Portlaoise and Navan
Portlaoise and Navan have been announced as venues for the upcoming AIB All-Ireland club senior hurling semi-finals.
The mouth-watering clash of three-in-a-row Munster champions Ballygunner and Galway’s six-in-a-row kingpins, St Thomas’, has been fixed for Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday week, December 16 (7.30pm).
The second semi-final between O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny and Antrim’s Ruairí Óg Cushendall will take place in Páirc Tailteann the following afternoon, Sunday, December 17 (1.30).
This is a break from last year’s last-four arrangements, when both semi-finals – Dunloy v St Thomas’ and Ballyhale Shamrocks v Ballygunner – were part of a Croke Park double-header in the run-up to Christmas.
However, that was never likely to be repeated this year, with the All-Ireland ladies football senior club decider (Kilkerrin-Clonberne v Ballymacarbry) already pencilled in for GAA Headquarters on December 16 and the senior camogie club final (Sarsfields of Galway v Dicksboro) also earmarked for Croker the following day.
Two seasons ago, when Ballygunner created history as the first Waterford winners of the Tommy Moore Cup, their semi-final against Slaughtneil was held in Parnell Park with Semple Stadium hosting the Ballyhale v St Thomas’ showdown.