Shane Stapleton and Michael Verney preview the huge clashes coming this weekend: Galway v Tipperary, Clare v Waterford, Meath v Westmeath, Kerry v Carlow, Down vs Kildare, Donegal vs Mayo.
Given the miles on the clock of these Tipperary and Galway teams, who have dug so deep over so many years, there is a feeling that they may have just one last dance in them.
Shane O’Neill is in season one at the helm with the Tribal County and, after beating Wexford by 13 points, all seemed well for the Na Piarsaigh native.
Last weekend’s disappointing loss to Kilkenny has changed the mood, particularly after recovering from losing two goals to regain a winning position.
Rather than sitting pretty in an All-Ireland semi-final with a weekend off, they must go to O’Neill’s home town of Limerick and lock horns with the All-Ireland champions.
Liam Sheedy has been down this road before, leading Tipp to the Liam MacCarthy Cup through the back door in both 2010 and 2019.
Like Galway, his team is pockmarked with experienced players, and those are the ones most likely to decide the outcome of those game.
Tony Kelly’s form for Clare has been verging on the ridiculous, but the Banner may need others to step up if they are to see off Waterford.
There are huge games across all the hurling tiers — click play on the video at the top of the page to see the show
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FIXTURES (Saturday, unless stated)
All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals
Galway vs Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 13.15
Waterford vs Clare, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 15.45
Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Meath vs Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, 13.00
Kerry vs Carlow, Austin Stack Park, 13.30
Christy Ring Cup final
Down vs Kildare, Croke Park, Sunday 16.00
Nicky Rackard Cup final
Donegal vs Mayo, Croke Park, Sunday 13.30
Last week’s results (all hurling tiers):
Limerick 0-25 Waterford 0-21
Kilkenny 2-20 Galway 0-24
Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-17
Clare 1-21 Wexford 0-17
Antrim 3-18 Kerry 2-14
Down 2-20 Offaly 1-23 (Down win 3-2 on pens)
Kildare 3-24 Roscommon 1-09
Donegal 3-25 Tyrone 1-21
Mayo 3-23 Leitrim 1-11
