Cork and Galway clash in All-Ireland hurling semifinal

Cork and Galway are set to meet in the first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semifinal at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, July 4. The match, scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. throw-in, will be broadcast live on RTÉ One and BBC Northern Ireland. The winner will advance to face either Clare or Limerick, who play their semifinal on Sunday.

Cork enters the contest as favorites, seeking a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance after losing the last two deciders. The team's last championship victory was in 2005. Galway, the Leinster champions, are aiming for their first final since 2018, when they lost to Limerick. The matchup is a relatively rare one in recent championship history, with Cork having lost their last five championship games against Galway, a streak dating back to 2008. The teams' only championship meeting this decade was a 2022 semifinal, which Galway won.

A significant subplot for Cork is the return of veteran full-back Damien Cahalane to a Croke Park starting role for the first time since 2018. The 33-year-old defender, who has often been used as a key option off the bench in recent years, is expected to be a central figure in Cork's defense. Team captain...