All-Ireland hurling semi-finals - all you need to know

Following last weekend's football quarter-finals, it is time for the small ball to take over Croke Park with the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals, where Limerick aim to move even closer to completing an unprecedented five-in-a-row.

In the first semi-final, Leinster champions Kilkenny take on Clare in a repeat of last year's thrilling last-four encounter.

Then on Sunday, Limerick face Cork, a fixture that served up one of the games of the season during the Munster Championship in May.

With history at stake and revenge to be had, here's all you need to know ahead of the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals.

When are the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals?

Kilkenny v Clare is at 15:00 BST on Saturday with Limerick v Cork at 16:00 on Sunday.

How can I watch Clare vs Kilkenny and Limerick vs Cork?

You can watch both semi-finals on BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

The BBC Sport website will also have live text commentaries of both games, as well as reports, highlights, analysis, reaction and in-play clips, while you can also stay up to date across the BBC Sport NI social media accounts.

Television coverage of Kilkenny v Clare will start at 14:30 and build-up to Limerick v Cork begins at 15:30.

On Saturday, presenter Mark Sidebottom will be joined in the studio by Antrim great Neil McManus, Waterford's Austin Gleeson and Kilkenny's four-time All-Ireland winner Paul Murphy, with the same line-up joining presenter Sarah Mulkerrins on Sunday.

Thomas Niblock will be joined in the commentary booth by Clare legend Jamesie O'Connor.

Are replays possible?

No. There must be a winner on the day, so extra-time and penalties are possible.

Team news - Nash ruled out for Limerick

Limerick have been dealt a blow with defender Barry Nash (hamstring) ruled out. He is replaced by four-time All-Star Sean Finn, while Seamus Flanagan - who hit 3-3 against Cork in the Munster round-robin game - takes Shane O’Brien's place in the full-forward line.

Cork make one change from their win over Dublin with Robert Towney replacing Luke Meade.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; Will O'Donoghue, Cathal O'Neill; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, David Reidy.

Subs: Jason Gillane, Conor Boylan, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Richie English, Graeme Mulcahy, Shane O'Brien, Aidan O'Connor, Fergal O'Connor, Donnacha O Dalaigh, Darragh O Donovan.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O'Donoghue; Tim O'Mahony, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Ciaran Joyce, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Mellerick, Tommy O'Connell, Luke Meade, Ethan Twomey, Conor Lehane, Jack O'Connor, Shane Kingston, Padraig Power, Robbie O' Flynn.

In Clare's only change, Aidan McCarthy starts in place of Aron Shanagher while Ryan Taylor is in line for a long-awaited return from a cruciate injury after being named on the bench.

Kilkenny's XV is unchanged from their Leinster final win over Dublin.

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O'Donnell, David Reidy.

Subs: Cian Broderick, Rory Hayes, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor, Ian Galvin, Aron Shanagher, Shane Meehan, Keith Smyth, Seán Rynne.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, John Donnelly; Martin Keoghan, Billy Ryan, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Aidan Tallis, Conor Delaney, Shane Murphy, Jordan Molloy, Cillian Buckley, Conor Fogarty, Tom Phelan, Walter Walsh, Owen Wall, Conor Heary, Gearoid Dunne.

Kilkenny vs Clare - Semi-final saga continues

For the third year in a row, Kilkenny and Clare will lock horns at Croke Park in the semi-finals.

Kilkenny are the most successful county in All-Ireland history, with a staggering 36 Liam MacCarthy Cups to their name.

However, their search for a 37th All-Ireland title has reached a ninth year.

Despite falling short in last year's final, manager Derek Lyng - who succeeded the legendary Brian Cody - impressed in his debut season with victory in the Leinster Championship.

Now in his second season at the helm, where pressure and expectations naturally grow, Lyng has guided the Cats to their fifth provincial title in a row and finds himself in a repeat of last year's semi-final showdown against Clare.

Kilkenny booked their spot in the semi-finals as they cruised to victory over Dublin in the provincial decider last month with a whopping 3-28 to 1-18 scoreline.

Brian Lohan's side will be out for revenge after Kilkenny ran out 2-22 to 1-22 winners in 2023 to deny the Bannermen a first appearance in the final since their triumph in 2013.

In recent years, Clare have emerged as one of the favourites to end Limerick's dominance in the All-Ireland series.

Could this finally be their year?

Clare will feel fit for the challenge having already defeated Kilkenny in a 3-16 to 1-20 victory in the National Hurling League final at Semple Stadium in April. That was their first league triumph since 2016.

They come into Saturday's semi-final off the back of a dominant 2-28 to 1-19 quarter-final display against Wexford, with Shane O'Donnell hitting 1-4 and talisman Tony Kelly notching 0-6.

Limerick vs Cork - Can anyone stop the Treaty?

In 2023, Limerick established themselves as one of the greatest hurling teams of all time as they matched the record of four All-Ireland's in a row, only previously achieved by Cork between 1941 and 1944 and Kilkenny between 2006 and 2009.

This year, they can go one better and crown themselves the very best and win the five-in-a-row.

However, Cork will have other ideas.

The Rebels, in search of their 31st Liam MacCarthy Cup, will have the woes of 2021 in the back of their minds as they look for revenge over Limerick who ran out 3-32 to 1-22 winners in the decider that year.

Pat Ryan's side have built momentum on the way to Sunday's semi-final after offloading Offaly by 4-25 to 3-19 in a preliminary quarter-final and Dublin by 0-26 to 0-21 in the quarter-finals in June.

And we must not forget the treat that was served up at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the Munster Championship where Cork hit 1-04 with four minutes to play to stun the Treaty County to a 3-28 to 3-26 defeat.

Limerick, however, secured themselves a spot in this year's semi-finals following a record-breaking sixth straight Munster final victory against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds last month.

The road to the final is becoming routine for this unstoppable Limerick side.

Can The Rebels find a way to crush Treaty hopes of immortal glory?

When is the final?

The All-Ireland Hurling final will take place on Sunday 21 July at Croke Park. The match will be shown on the BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.