Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals

All-Ireland SHC Semi-Finals

Saturday June 20

Clare v Dublin, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm, RTE

The stakes are piled high in Thurles on Saturday evening between two teams, who will believe that they can make a significant impact in the Championship.

Dublin's disappointing Leinster final display against Galway was a setback, but Niall Ó Ceallacháin will have his charges primed for this encounter.

Dublin have made three changes to the team beaten by Galway as Eoghan O’Donnell, Seán Currie, and Ronan Hayes come into the XV in place of Liam Rushe, Darragh Power, and Brendan Kenny.

All-Star Cian O’Sullivan, who missed the Leinster Final through injury, is named on the bench.

At the quarter-final stage last year Dublin delivered a defiant and dynamic display to defeat Limerick at Croke Park. Similar levels of intensity must be demonstrated against Clare, who had a mixed Munster Championship.

Brian Lohan's outfit eked out wins over Waterford and Tipperary, but the defeats to Limerick and Cork were heavy.

Summoning a response is precisely what Clare will want to achieve and they've enjoyed good success when generating momentum after quarter-final triumphs previously.

It’s four weeks since Clare last played in the championship - that heavy 16-point defeat to Cork – and the team they’ve named for Saturday shows a number of changes to that side.

Conor Leen, Ryan Taylor, Mark Rodgers, and Shane Meehan come into the XV in place of John Conlon, Diarmuid Stritch, David Fitzgerald, and Ian Galvin

Inevitably, Clare will be intent on involving a crafty forward unit that features Shane O'Donnell, Tony Kelly, and Rodgers, who have all demonstrated their ability again in 2026.

Rodgers registered 1-11 against Dublin in a quarter-final tussle three years ago.

At the opposite end of the field Eibhear Quilligan continues to impress, but Dublin carry a physical and potent threat when in the groove.

John Hetherton's skill was evident in Leinster, while midfielder Brian Hayes has been an influential figure for Dublin.

The victory over Kilkenny at Parnell illustrated Dublin's potential. In the two league games involving the counties earlier in the year, Clare prevailed.

Dublin, who have won only one of the last five Championship meetings against Clare back in 2010, will be hoping to avenge those losses.

CLARE: Éibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Leen, Darragh Lohan; Diarmuid Ryan, David McInerney, Niall O'Farrell; Sean Rynne, Ryan Taylor; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly, Peter Duggan; Shane Meehan, Mark Rodgers, Shane O'Donnell. Subs: Eamonn Foudy, Conor Cleary, John Conlon, Ian Galvin, Cian Galvin, Diarmuid Stritch, David Reidy, David Fitzgerald, John Conneally, Daithí Lohan, Senan Dunford

DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; Conor McHugh, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell; Chris Crummey, Paddy Doyle, Conor Burke; Brian Hayes, Conor Donohoe; Fergal Whitely, Donal Burke, Séan Currie; Ronan Hayes, John Hetherton, Conal Ó Riain. Subs: Sean Brennan, David Lucey, Darragh Power, Conor Groarke, Liam Rushe, John Bellew, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, Cian O'Sullivan, Andrew Dunphy, Cian Ó Cathasaigh, Brendan Kenny

Sunday June 21

Cork v Offaly, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.30pm, RTE

Offaly's emergence from Leinster is one of the encouraging GAA stories in 2026.

Johnny Kelly's team, though, will be fully aware that a wounded Cork will provide stern opposition in Thurles on Sunday afternoon.

The Munster decider didn't go according to plan for Cork, who lost a compelling encounter to Limerick.

Now, the mission for Ben O'Connor's outfit, is to secure a place in the last four of the All-Ireland SHC.

The Cork manager has made four changes to the team that was beaten in the Munster Final by Limerick.

With Tim O’Mahony (dead leg) and Tommy O’Connell (broken thumb) ruled out by injurry, the Rebels will have a new-look midfield pairing of Darragh Fitzgibbon and Brian Roche.

Team captain Fitzgibbon had missed the Munster Final due to an appendix operation.

The other two changes are in the forward line where Hugh O’Connor and Alan Walsh come in for Barry Walsh and William Buckley.

Brian Hayes remains a significant attacking threat with Alan Connolly also capable of netting goals.

Offaly have been well organised under Johnny Kelly, but they will need Eoghan Cahill, Adam Screeney, and the supporting cast to be clinical converting chances.

They've made just one change to the team that beat Kildare in their final match of the Leinster SHC as Dan Ravenhill replaces Conor Spain in midfield.

The Faithful last beat Cork in Championship fare way back in 2010 when Offaly prevailed 0-19 to 0-15. In the intervening years Offaly have lost five times to Cork.

Earlier in 2026, Cork cruised to a convincing 6-26 to 0-20 Alianz Hurling League victory over Offaly at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Damien Cahalane, Seán O'Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Brian Roche, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Hugh O'Connor, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes, Alan Walsh. Subs: Paudie O'Sullivan, Ger Millerick, Eoin Roche, Ethan Twomey, Micheál Mullins, Barry Walsh, Robbie O'Flynn, William Buckley, Shane Kingston, Séamus Harnedy, Padraig Power

OFFALY: Liam Hoare; Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, Patrick Taaffe; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan; Dan Ravenhill, Cathal King; Shane Rigney, Conor Doyle, Daniel Bourke; Eoghan Cahill, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney. Subs: Mark Troy, Colin Spain, Ruairi Kelly, David Nally, Oisin Kelly, Luke Watkins, Ciaran Cleary, James Mahon, Eoin Burke, Brecon Kavanagh, Ben Miller