Shock Club Hurling Final Four Draw Confirmed As Ballygunner Bow Out

It was a busy weekend of hurling up and down the country as all four of the All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-finalists were confirmed.

With an upset in Munster taking Ballygunner out of the picture, Dublin's Na Fianna are now the heavy favourites to reign victorious come January, however, if the upsets in this weekend's provincial finals are anything to go by, anyone could be climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand in six weeks time.

Leinster

In Leinster, Na Fianna delivered an emphatic six-point win over Offaly's Kilcormac/Killoughey to book their spot in the last four. The North Dublin outfit had enjoyed a five-point lead heading in at the break, but a strong third quarter from Kilcormac saw the gap narrowed to one, and a come-back well and truly on the cards.

However, it wasn't to be as Colin Currie and Donal Burke's combined fifteen points saw the Dubliners claim a 2-22 to 2-16 win and the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship. Na Fianna's win not only booked their spot in the All-Ireland semi-final but also made it two from two for the Dublin clubs in Leinster, with Na Fianna emulating Cuala's provincial football success.

30 November 2024; Na Fianna players celebrate after their side's victory in the AIB Leinster GAA Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Kilcormac Killoughey of Offaly and Na Fianna of Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Connacht

Na Fianna will now meet Galway's Loughrea in January. Loughrea automatically qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final after beating Cappataggle by two points in the County Final back at the start of November. Owing to the lack of a senior provincial hurling championship in Connacht, the Galway Champions automatically qualify for the All-Ireland semi-final.

10 November 2024; Loughrea players celebrate with the cup after their side's victory in the Galway County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Cappataggle and Loughrea at Kenny Park in Athenry, Galway. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Munster

Sarsfields delivered one of the great upsets in Munster hurling on Sunday, beating favourites Ballygunner 3-20 to 2-19 in an absolute thriller in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

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Having come into the fixture as underdogs, the Cork Champions were up against a Ballygunner side that nothing came easy against. After their starting fifteen kept the Waterford side toe-to-toe, it was super-sub Shane O'Regan who proved to be the winning formula.

After entering play in the forty-fifth minute, O'Regan waved away any potential Ballygunner comeback with the two goals and three points he claimed. Sarsfield's win marked the first time a Cork club has won the title since 2009 and ended Ballygunner's run of four consecutive Munster Championships.

1 December 2024; Sarsfields players and supporters celebrate with the cup after their side's victory in the AIB Munster GAA Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Ballygunner and Sarsfields at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Ulster

Ulster was the last county to crown their champion, with Derry's Slaughtneil overcoming Down Champions Portaferry under the lights on Sunday evening.

Despite Portaferry building up a nearly insurmountable lead in the opening forty-five minutes of hurling that had them eight points ahead, the Derry champions mounted one of the great provincial championship comebacks, adding two goals and nine points in the closing twenty-five minutes to pip their opponents by a single goal.

They'll meet Cork and Munster champions Sarsfields in an All Ireland semi-final in January.