Saturday, February 6

AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final**

Sarsfields (Galway) v Ruairí Óg, Cushendall (Antrim), Navan, 2pm - Live on TG4

Although the experts may argue that the 2016 All-Ireland champions will come from the other semi-final, Cushendall and Sarsfields will seek to make their case for national honours when they meet in Navan on Saturday afternoon.

Cushendall have featured in eight All-Ireland semi-finals and lost every one of them. The closest they came to reaching a final was in 2009, when they were beaten by De La Salle of Waterford by a point in extra-time.

Of the four semi-finalists in action on Saturday, Sarsfields have the greatest tradition in the competition, winning back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1993 and 1994.

However, the club endured a fallow period after the glorious 1990s and their final replay defeat of Craughwell on November 22 yielded a first county title since 1997, having failed to reach a quarter-final in over 10 years prior to that.

Sarsfields arrive here battle-hardened after two immense games with Craughwell, having fought their way through a notoriously gruelling Galway Championship.

Perhaps Cushendall’s greatest issue to contend with is the fact that they secured the Ulster title a full month earlier, edging out Derry champions Slaughtneil after extra-time to claim provincial honours.

However, it would be unfair to suggest they haven’t faced big challenges, as they were nine points down at one stage in the county final against Ballycastle and came back to win by four.

Cushendall have survived on a diet of challenge games in recent weeks, though facing the Cork and Wexford inter-county sides should serve John McKillopp’s side well.

The Antrim and Ulster champions should also know exactly what to expect from Sarsfields, ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, who is a selector, having made the long journey south to watch the Galway county final knowing his charges would face them in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Sarsfields have match-winners in county man Joseph Cooney, the son of Galway and Sarsfields legend Joe, and free-taker Niall Morrissey. Kerril Wade is another attacker with lots of experience, while Cathal Murray, 38, serves both as a player and manager.

Cushendall’s stars are the brilliant Neil McManus, captain Arron Graffin and former county man Karl McKeegan.

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