We enter the latter stages of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship this weekend with five games remaining in an exhilarating 2023 intercounty season.
The quarter-finals take place on Saturday evening before the two semi-finals and final next month.
Find out below the details for the remainder of the championship and when Kilkenny will be in action again.
Clare v Dublin – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final – Saturday, June 24th, 4pm – TUS Gaelic Grounds
Munster finalists Clare will be hoping to bounce back from their agonising one-point defeat against Limerick in the provincial decider in the same stadium earlier this month.
Brian Lohan’s side have been among the standout teams in this year’s championship having claimed victories over Cork, Limerick and Waterford on their way to another quarter-final appearance.
While the Banner County topped their group in Munster, Saturday’s opponents Dublin have progressed to this stage after a third-place finish in the Leinster championship.
They withstood a partisan atmosphere and strong Carlow team in last weekend’s preliminary quarter-final, but have also claimed disappointing results against Antrim, Kilkenny and Galway this summer.
Galway v Tipperary – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final – Saturday, June 24th, 6.15pm – TUS Gaelic Grounds
Galway come into this highly anticipated encounter off the back of a last-second defeat to Kilkenny in the Leinster final.
Henry Shefflin’s men will have to respond if they are to at least equal last year’s All-Ireland semi-final appearance and continue in this year’s championship.
Tipperary were ruthless in their defeat of Offaly last time out but have been inconsistent in their first year with Liam Cahill at the helm.
The 2019 champions began their Munster championship with an eye-catching victory over Clare before securing two draws with Cork and Limerick and losing to Waterford.
It’s expected to be tight and tense with little between the teams.
Limerick v Galway/Tipperary – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final – Saturday, July 8th, 6pm – Croke Park
Whoever comes out on top in the second quarter-final on Saturday evening faces the daunting prospect of taking on All-Ireland champions Limerick in the last-four two weeks later.
Not only are they the reigning league and Munster champions but John Kiely’s side are looking to become the first team since Kilkenny in 2009 to seal a fourth consecutive All-Ireland title.
They showed their character to get to another Munster final as they followed up a defeat to Clare with a hard-earned point against Tipperary before a one-point victory over Cork in the final round-robin game.
Whether it’s Galway or Tipperary who advance to Croke Park, Limerick will be the favourites to make a fifth final since 2018.
Kilkenny v Clare/Dublin – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final – Sunday, July 9th, 4pm – Croke Park
Kilkenny’s next outing will be an attempt to return to the biggest day in the sport following their narrow defeat to Limerick in last year’s showpiece event.
They were not at their best throughout the Leinster championship, throwing away leads against Galway and Wexford respectively on their way to a sixth consecutive provincial final appearance.
In the most dramatic of those six games, the Cats secured their fourth title in as many years thanks to Cillian Buckley’s dramatic late goal.
It’s been a successful first year under Derek Lyng and they once again find themselves two victories away from ending their wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Leinster rivals Dublin or last year’s semi-final opponents Clare will be the next roadblock on their path to glory.
Kilkenny/Clare/Dublin v Limerick/Galway/Tipperary – All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final – Sunday, July 23rd, 3.30pm – Croke Park
The All-Ireland final takes place on the second last Sunday in July this year.
There’s a long way to go before we know who will be facing off for the Holy Grail of hurling, but it will attract huge interest as always.
Can Kilkenny claim a 37th title? Will Limerick retain their crown? Or will an unlikely candidate spring a surprise?
