Hopes high for big Kilkenny and Tipperary double clash in Croke Park

Kilkenny have learned their hurling championship fate with Tipperary confirmed as their opponents in the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final in Croke Park on Sunday July, 6.

The last four meeting will be the first time that the local rivals have met in the championship since the 2019 All-Ireland final with the Premier County returning to this stage of the competition on the back of a six-year absence.

Kilkenny and Tipperary also meet in the semi-final for the first time since 2012 when Kilkenny won by 4-24 to 1-15.

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Kilkenny reached this year’s All-Ireland semi-final as Leinster champions; Tipperary finished third in Munster, after which they beat Laois and Galway to claim a spot in the final four.

The mouthwatering semi-final affair has come about on the back of Dublin claiming a shock victory over Limerick that sees the side from the capital meet Munster champions Cork in the other semi-final while Tipperary ran out rather convincing winners over a disappointing Galway side.

The Kilkenny and Tipperary game will have a 4pm throw-in on the Sunday with a big possibility of the Kilkenny camogie team playing in an All-Ireland quarter-final beforehand having sealed their place in the knockout stages of the senior championship.

The Cats concluded the group stages of the camogie championship with two wins and two defeats and must await the result of Tipperary and Clare this Saturday to know their opponents.

The game in Semple Stadium, which is a curtain-raiser to the Waterford and Clare All-Ireland minor hurling final, is essentially a winner takes all affair and a victory for the Premier County would definitely add to the atmosphere in Croke Park on Sunday week.

If Clare get the job done, it means only one of Kilkenny and Tipp will play before their hurlers with the other last eight game down for decision a day earlier.

The Cork and Dublin hurling game will take place on the Saturday evening where there will be a 5pm start with big crowds expected on both days. The two All-Ireland hurling semi-finals, as well as the All-Ireland camogie quarter-finals, will all be screened live on RTÉ Television across what will be a bumper weekend of action.