Doonbeg have Connacht date

With Clare side Doonbeg emerging as Munster club football champions, the line-up for the All-Ireland semi-finals in February next has become clearer.

Eire Og and Kilmacud Crokes will do battle again on January 31st for the rights to Leinster, the one provincial final yet to be decided. The winner of that clash will face the Ulster champions Crossmaglen, who will undoubtedly use the second replay to study their prospective opponents.

While the Ulster champions and both Leinster finalists have caused a stir nationally in recent times, the pairing in the other football semi-final contains a more novel element. Neither the Connacht champions, Ballina Stephenites, nor Doonbeg have ever represented their provinces before and their emergence indicates the levelling of standards in the club game.

Indeed, Doonbeg are the first Clare team to reach this stage of the competition, while Ballina defeated last year's champions, Corofin, on their way to the Connacht title.

Both of those semi-finals are scheduled for February 21st, a week before the hurling match-ups.

Leinster champions Rathnure, who overcame Portlaoise in appalling circumstances a fortnight ago, will be listed as favourites to progress past Down and Ulster champions Ballygalget.

The other semi-final has wonderful promise, with Athenry from Galway facing Clare and Munster champions St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, a side which has three current All Stars in Jamesie O'Connor, Ollie Baker and Seanie McMahon.

All matches will be contested on neutral venues yet to be decided upon by the Central Council.