After the excitement of Saturday’s action, we do it all again on Sunday with a further five games down for decision in the Hurling Championships with a final, three semi-finals and a dreaded relegation playoff all on the schedule.

Tickets for all games this weekend in the Club Championships are available here: Club Hurling Championship Tickets

The Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, SHC Semi-Final meeting of Ratoath and Kilmessan at 15:00 will be live-streamed by Clubber. This stream can be purchased here:Meath GAA Livestreams (Clubber)

Ratoath have been the nearly men in recent seasons in the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship, reaching multiple deciders and last four encounters before coming up marginally short.  They are once more back in the final four and today they take on the kingpins of Meath Hurling, Kilmessan who have 29 Senior titles to their name.

They themselves though have been going through something of a fallow period having not brought the Jubilee Cup back to the club since 2013, a veritable famine for them.

Ratoath have all the necessary tools to be champions of the county and if it all clicks for them then they are more than capable of going all the way and making history.  Their half back line of Conor McGill, Darragh Kelly and Ben McGowan is physically imposing and Stephen Clynch in the Kilmessan goals will have to be laser like with his long puckouts if he is to avoid these three.

Cormac Butler is as solid a full back as you will come across and behind him, Colin O’Riordan is a dependable figure between the uprights.  Liam Kelly has moved around the side this year but he brings a youthful energy to midfield and in the half forward line Cian Rogers and Padraig O’Hanrahan possess a big scoring threat, with O’Hanrahan punishing every defensive indiscretion.

Gavin McGowan returns from injury in the full forward line at top of the left as he forms one third of a dangerous line alongside brother Daithí and Sean Corbett.

The rise of Kilmessan this year appears to have been sparked by their success as the underdog against Trim in the U-21 Hurling Championship at the back end of 2023.  They have been a revelation this year, taking Trim down in Round 4 and only missing out on direct passage to the last four on score difference.

The afore mentioned Stephen Clynch has been superb in goals, bringing all of his experience to bear and in front of him Shane Brennan is as solid and dependable as ever.  Beside him, Harry Cahill brings a raw edge at corner back and he is rarely if ever beaten to the ball.  Kyle Donnelly has returned to the side after a spell abroad and again, he brings a power and aggression to the centre back role.

Kris Gorman didn’t start last week for Dunsany as rumours swirled around that he was carrying an injury, but a second half appearance as a substitute suggests that those rumours were either unfounded or greatly exaggerated and after a man of the match performance two weeks ago, he will be one to keep an eye on today.

Up front, the Horans (Luke, Darragh and Mark) take a lot of watching as does Sean Doyle in the corner while the outcome of an appeal into the suspension of Eoin Harkin was unknown at the time of typing.

In the JM Food Services IHC semi-final, Drumree and Donaghmore/Ashbourne meet for the second time in a month.  Four weeks ago, Drumree brought much more to the party than the ‘Moors as they defeated them comfortably but something suggests that the real Donaghmore/Ashbourne weren’t seen that day.

We can expect fire and brimstone from them in this encounter after a week spent in the committee rooms debating the eligibility of one of their players in the quarter final.

As is often the case, Michael O’Sullivan will carry much of their scoring threat but he was kept quiet a month ago and Drumree will be looking to replicate this once more.  If he is held, it’s difficult to see where a match winning tally will be built from.

David Reilly leads the Drumree attack from centre forward and his experience on the big day will be crucial while Keith Rooney at full back and Aidan Fraher at wing back will be other key men.

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Ratoath v Kilmessan – Páirc Tailteann (15:00)

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear Senior B Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Longwood v Dunderry – Trim (12:00)

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship Relegation Playoff

St. Peter’s Dunboyne v Blackhall Gaels – Ratoath (11:00)

JM Food Services Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Drumree v Donaghmore/Ashbourne – 13:00 (Páirc Tailteann)

K Windows & Doors Junior Hurling Championship Final

Drumree v Kilmessan – Páirc Tailteann (11:00)

Saturday’s Results

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior B Hurling Championship

JM Food Services Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

• *After Extra-Time

JM Food Services Intermediate B Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

K Windows & Doors Junior B Hurling Championship Final