SATURDAY 20 JUNE
Dublin v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
Cork v Offaly, FBD Semple Stadium, 3:30pm
ONLINE
Live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Dublin v Clare is on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player from 6.35pm on Saturday.
Cork v Offaly on Sunday is on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player from 3pm.
Highlights on The Sunday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 and Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHER
Saturday: Early dry weather might just hold out with rain expected to hit Thurles in the evening, but not until after throw in at the earliest.
Sunday: Sunday in Tipperary will be showery with temperatures on both days hitting highs of 19C.
For a detailed forecast, go to met.ie.
It’s hard to comprehend that we only have three more weekends of inter-county hurling left in 2026, barring any replays, as the battle for Liam MacCarthy heats up.
With bumper crowds expected through the gates, the GAA have opted for a split doubleheader in Thurles, with trains, buses and cars expected to descend towards the birthplace of a game on the rise.
Saturday night is the perfect opener as Clare and Dublin do battle, with Cork and Offaly facing off on Sunday afternoon.
It’s finely poised for 140 minutes of pulsating action, with the prize of facing Galway or Limerick in Croke Park for the two victors. For those who fail to rise to the challenge, Monday will kickstart weeks of regrets.
That is the beauty of knockout action.
John Hetherton vs Conor Cleary will be a key battle should it come to pass
It’s a little over 70 days since we last saw the Banner and the Dubs face off, but with familiarity comes contempt. Clare won both of their Allianz League Division 1B ties in Ennis, but by a combined five points, which itself tells you all you need to know about these two teams.
Almost inseparable.
January’s first round clash was the catalyst for an unblemished league run for Brian Lohan’s men, winning six from six in the league before their 1B Final victory over their opponents this weekend. Since then however, momentum has stalled for the 2024 All-Ireland champions.
Unlike last year, they started on the front foot in Munster with a goal-infused victory over the Déise on home soil, but failed to kick on following their rest week, losing out by 15 points to a Limerick team who were without Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane.
To their credit, Clare responded well to turn over Tipperary in Thurles, the scene of Saturday evening’s grudge match, but followed that too with a less than impressive loss to Cork in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
That inconsistency is sure to be cause for frustration for Brian Lohan, and Brendan Cummins feels it could be related to their gung-ho style of play.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the former Tipperary goalkeeper said, “If Clare are going to have any success, they are going to change the way the play slightly.
“They didn’t learn the lessons from the game against Cork last year. But these games seldom go the way we expect which is Clare to win comfortably.
“I still think Clare will win but it will be very close.”
Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s side were beaten heavily by Galway two weeks ago
A contest between two enigmatic teams is always enthralling, with Dublin’s season mildly imitating that of their counterparts.
The Dubs went unbeaten in the league in their other games, and will be pleased with promotion despite the losses to Clare.
They rolled into the Leinster championship with an air of confidence, despite a near blip in round one, snatching a draw with Offaly in Tullamore.
Momentum picked up from there, with wins over Kildare, Wexford and Galway, before a resounding victory over Kilkenny, in Parnell Park, on the final day of round robin action.
The Leinster final was a letdown for the Dubs however, losing to Galway by 4-29 to 4-15 in front of a crowd of over 40,000 in Croke Park.
That loss could serve as motivation for Niall Ó Ceallacháín’s men, even if they will be disappointed not to win a provincial crown for the first time since 2013.
Should Dublin match the heroics of last year’s era-altering quarter-final win over Limerick, they will return to the semi-final in two weeks’ time, knowing they have every chance of making a run at an All-Ireland title.
Cork and Offaly also met in the league earlier in the year
Sunday’s return to the hallowed Tipperary venue sees Cork and Offaly face off in a repeat of the 1984 All-Ireland final, which was won by the Rebels.
Ben O’Connor’s men are overwhelming favourites to progress to yet another semi-final appearance, but Offaly’s rise through the ranks, and into the knockout stages, has not been without an impressive run of form.
Offaly lost just one of their five games in the round robin, that coming at the hands of Galway; as they secured vital draws against both Dublin and Kilkenny. That allowed the four-time All-Ireland winners to return to the last six for the first time since 2003.
These two sides faced off in the league back in March, which Cork won comfortably. The home side were 6-26 to 0-20 victors on the night with Darragh Fitzgibbon and Brian Hayes each finding the back of the net twice.
Cork lost their Munster crown to Limerick two weeks ago
Cork enter this game off the back of an agonising Munster final defeat a fortnight prior, but it has been a fruitful spring/summer under the stewardship of a new manager.
The Rebels finished the league tied at the top with Limerick, who they had lost to in the penultimate round before losing a home final to their rivals.
Munster championship was even smoother sailing however, with wins over Tipperary and Limerick over the opening fortnight paving the way to return to the final for the second straight year.
Wins away to Waterford and at home to Clare cemented their place in the final, which took place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but went the way of the Treaty county.
Speaking about the game to RTÉ Sport, pundit Brendan Cummins admitting he’s leaning towards Cork, but knows it’s going to be a phenomenal spectacle.
“It’s a real uphill battle for Offaly. The place is sold out which will tell you the appetite in both counties.
“A lot to build on. They are a little bit further back the road than Cork. Cork will be angry, very angry and looking to put out a statement.
“I expect them to do that in Thurles. Offaly will learn a lot but I would expect Cork to win. The crowd and atmosphere is going to be amazing.”
Watch Clare v Dublin in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals on Saturday from 6.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch Cork v Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship final on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.