By Paul Keane

We can only presume Graeme Mulcahy has plenty more to offer but if the Kilmallock hurler took a notion to retire right now, he'd bow out on the highest of highs.

An All-Ireland winner with Limerick in August and the driving force behind his club's county SHC title win just weeks later, it surely won't get much better than this for the ultra experienced forward.

Mulcahy was the first substitute introduced by John Kiely in the MacCarthy Cup final win over Cork and played an even more central role for his club yesterday, scoring 0-7 from play in their 1-24 to 0-19 defeat of Patrickswell.

The scoreline suggests a comfortable county final win for Kilmallock, their first since 2014 and their 12th in total.

The reality is that, a point down at the second water break to a Patrickswell side captained by Diarmuid Byrnes and with Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane in their ranks, they had to conjure a magical spell of play, outscoring the 2019 champions by 1-9 to 0-3 from there on.

Oisin O'Reilly's goal five minutes from the hour was the decisive strike, elevating them from two to five points clear and they would stretch the gap to eight by full-time.

Mulcahy's work isn't quite done either as he and Kilmallock will host the Cork representatives in the AIB Munster club semi-finals at a Limerick venue on November 11/12.

Ballyhale Shamrocks, the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland club title holders, will be hopeful of entering the provincial title race too.

Powered on by TJ Reid at UPMC Nowlan Park, and watched by club legend and new Galway manager Henry Shefflin, they overcame James Stephens 2-20 to 1-17 to set up a November 7 county final date with O'Loughlin Gaels.

Reid struck 1-11 in total as Ballyhale, level at half-time, pulled away in the second-half.

Shamrocks will chase a fourth consecutive Kilkenny title with the first two of those coming under Shefflin's watch before the reins were passed over to James O'Connor.

"They're an extraordinary club, being honest with you," said Waterford man O'Connor after watching his team simmer for a while before coming to the boil. "How do they keep that hunger the whole time? I'm lucky enough to see it from week to week in training, the way they drive each other on. Everyone in the village is down there, willing them on, each and every night. It's absolutely brilliant to see it."

Owen Wall's 15th minute goal was decisive in the other semi-final as O'Loughlin Gaels overcame Tullaroan 1-18 to 0-18.

Slaughtneil remain the dominant force in Derry after completing a remarkable nine-in-a-row of county title wins, beating Kevin Lynch's 1-17 to 2-9 at Owenbeg.

Leading by 11 points at half-time, the south Derry men endured a speed wobble of sorts in the second-half with the gap cut to just four on a number of occasions.

Two Conor Kelly goals in the second-half ignited Kevin Lynch's while Slaughtneil were further rocked by injuries to captain Cormac O'Doherty (shoulder) and Chrissy McKaigue (knee) though the holders held out.

A London SHC final replay will be required after St Gabriels and Robert Emmetts finished up all square at 1-22 apiece.

Meanwhile, 12 years after winning an AIB All-Ireland club football title with Kilmacud Crokes, ex-Dublin hurler Ross O'Carroll came up short with Coolera-Strandhill in the Sligo SFC final.

They were bidding to halt Tourlestrane's bid for a six-in-a-row of county crowns but a third quarter burst from the holders set them on their way to another landmark win.

With O'Carroll in defence, Coolera-Strandhill led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time but 1-4 without response from Tourlestrane after the restart put them in a winning position.

James Leonard scored the Tourlestrane goal and then turned provider for their second in the closing moments, scored by John Kelly.

Around the country, various county final pairings were decided with Micheal McDermott's Wolfe Tones overcoming holders Ratoath in Meath to set up a date with St Peter's, Dunboyne.

Ramor United and Gowna will contest the Cavan decider following weekend wins, Gowna enjoying a 3-12 to 0-11 win over Kingscourt while Sean McEvoy's 46th minute goal was decisive in Ramor's 1-9 to 0-11 win over Cavan Gaels.

Sarsfields came from behind in Kildare to beat Celbridge and secure a November 7 final date with Naas, the first between the clubs since the early 1900s.

Star studded Scotstown overwhelmed Inniskeen, winning by 2-16 to 1-10, to set up a Monaghan final clash with Truagh, building on a six-point half-time lead with second-half goals from Matthew Maguire and Shane Carey. Late goals from Aaron Mohan and Cormac McKenna did the trick for Truagh who beat Ballybay 2-10 to 1-7.

Holders Kilmurry Ibrickane remain the team to beat in Clare and will retain the title if they can beat Eire Og in the final. Keelan Sexton and Darren Callinan were prominent in Kilmurry Ibrickane's 0-17 to 0-8 semi-final win over Lissycasey while Eire Og's 0-11 to 0-5 win over St Breckan's keeps their hopes of a SFC/SHC double alive.

It'll be a novel Armagh final between Clann Eireann, in their first final since the 1960s, and perennial heavyweights Crossmaglen Rangers. 

The draw for the Dublin semi-finals is as follows; Kilmacud Crokes v Ballyboden St Endas and St Judes v Lucan Sarsfields.