Your guide to all the weekend's action

Leinster club SHC semi-finals

Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) v Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin), Nowlan Park, 2.30pm

CHAMPIONS Ballyhale got a fright in Wexford Park two weeks ago when Oulart threw the kitchen sink at the Kilkenny club and came within seconds of a major upset.

Despite Boden’s respectable background (in 2007 rather than last year) in the championship – also beating Oulart and running eventual winners Birr to a point – circumstances aren’t favouring the south Dublin side this weekend.

Shamrocks will have been absolutely cured of any complacency and enjoy home-county venue advantage. On top of that the weather this weekend isn’t expected to be kind and Boden would prefer better conditions. So would Ballyhale, of course, but they’re also a big team and will be able to plough through whatever the elements conjure.

Stephen Hiney’s likely return is a welcome break for the Dublin team, as it works out how best to cope with the incandescent form of TJ Reid.

Competing around the middle is also a big challenge for Boden who need to prevent big-name damage from Fitzpatrick and Shefflin.

Conal Keaney and David Sweeney worked hard in the county final in this role but there must be a temptation to try to exploit the re-configured Shamrocks’ defence, where Aidan Cummins operates at full back with Eamonn Walsh in front of him.

On the other hand, newcomer Alan Cuddihy is very promising and will test Paul Ryan’s county final form. Ultimately though, it’s not hard to see why the champions are favourites.

Clonkill (Westmeath) v Tullamore (Offaly), Mullingar, 2.30pm

INTERESTING afternoon for Offaly’s All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin, who is Tullamore’s player-manager and has just been appointed manager of Westmeath.

He’ll have his work cut out on both fronts, as Clonkill gave a strong performance in becoming the first club from the county to beat Laois opposition in the last round.

Brendan Murtagh’s scoring exploits and Andrew Mitchell are well known on the intercounty scene and he was to the fore in the exciting tit-for-tat win over Clough Ballacolla.

Tullamore are on the verge of achieving what their footballers, with greater opportunity, have so far been unable to manage – reach a Leinster final. With a number of promising young players in their ranks it’s an opportunity the Offaly champions should take.

Munster club SHC semi-finals

Newtownshandrum (Cork) v Adare (Limerick), Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.00

NEWTOWN’S unexpected bounce out of Cork sets up an interesting clash with three-times Limerick champions Adare, who recovered from indifferent earlier form in the county to blow apart a shell shocked Na Piarsaigh in the final.

They will be haunted by how close they came to winning Munster a year ago when a below-par display in the final saw them lose out to De La Salle.

Defensively organised around Mark Foley and providing hard-working, in-depth cover they usually manage to stifle opponents. That won’t be easy tomorrow because the Cork champions have pace and accuracy, which they used to go to town on Sarsfields in the county final, as well as the doggedness to dig out a thrilling win against Thurles Sarsfields the last day.

The weather won’t suit their hard-running style this weekend either but with their intercounty contingent availing of a less demanding season with Cork to regain some serious club form it’s hard to see Newtown not taking a further step towards recapturing the title they last won four years ago.

Ballygunner (Waterford) v Cratloe (Clare), Walsh Park, 2.00

LIKE Newtownshandrum, Ballygunner are former champions making a slightly unexpected return to this level of championship, as they rebuild the great team of recent years. They still have plenty of experience, with Fergal Hartley, Paul Flynn, Andy Moloney, Alan Kirwan and Colin Kehoe still around from the title win of eight years ago but the infusion of younger talent has blended well and they showed impressive composure seeing off Lismore over two matches.

Cratloe are in the daunting position of having to resist the distraction of a first county title against opponents with considerable experience. They have some of the county’s under-21 All-Ireland winners, including Conor McGrath, who bagged 2-1 when Clare beat Waterford in the grade last summer.

At club level, however, the verdict should be reversed.

Ulster club SFC semi-finals

St Gall's (Antrim) v Clontibret (Monaghan), Athletic Grounds, Armagh, 2.30

GALL’S were more than a little fortunate to get past Pearse Óg, who missed a catalogue of chances but they held on for a narrow victory. On the face of it the defeat of Dromore should have brightened the landscape for the 2005 winners but Clontibret’s performance sounded a warning.

Having mobilised a full muster in the end despite reported injuries to key players they saw off the fancied Tyrone champions.

Paul Grimley’s influence has been significant in adding composure and their tight game will be suited to the Athletic Grounds pitch.

Gall’s have plenty of composure themselves as well as an intelligent, short game and the experience as this level but the Monaghan champions may have a bit more form and momentum.

Kilcoo (Down) v Loup (Derry), Casement Park, 2.30

KILCOO sprang a surprise on St Eunan’s in the quarter-final with their fast and lively football but the Loup will be more formidable and less susceptible to those tactics, particularly in the sort of weather conditions prevailing this weekend.

The Derry championship has been a more successful launching pad for provincial honours than its Down equivalent and the Loup had the tactical coherence, resilience and physical toughness to survive its rigours. The straightforward victory over Derrygonnelly didn’t test them to the extent Kilcoo will but they’re still strong enough to make the final.

Galway SHC final

Portumna v Loughrea, Pearse Stadium, 2.30

Who would have imagined the queasiness about these clubs meeting in the light of their controversial county final three years ago would have been forgotten about because of the contretemps over Loughrea’s semi-final with Mullagh?

Loughrea will battle hard and are unbeaten to date but the All-Ireland champions are on the trail of a three-in-row in the county as well as at national level. Their biggest scare should be seen in the context of being able to leak a quick 4-1 against Gort and still have enough in hand to win. They also have the chastening defeat by tomorrow’s opponents in 2006 as an aid in guarding against complacency. Lightning is unlikely to strike twice.