GAA previews: Loughmore throw down gauntlet to fancied Ballygunner

Loughmore and Ballygunner set for mouthwatering Munster club SHC semi-final

After negotiating their respective provincial quarter-finals, Loughmore-Castleiney and Ballygunner will face off in the Munster club SHC semi-finals on Sunday. Both sides will be confident of progressing to the decider having impressed in their last-eight outings.

Loughmore see off Clonoulty-Rossmore after extra-time

Loughmore-Castleiney overcame Clonoulty-Rossmore in dramatic fashion in the Tipperary decider, prevailing 1-24 to 0-23 after extra-time. The sides were level at 0-16 apiece after normal time, but Loughmore pulled away in the additional period to book their place in the provincial series.

Ballygunner cruise past Passage

Meanwhile, Ballygunner eased past Passage in the Waterford decider, winning 2-18 to 0-11. The Waterford kingpins were in complete control from start to finish, with Dessie Hutchinson and Pauric Mahony finding the net in the first half. Ballygunner will be aiming to make it back-to-back Munster titles, having defeated Kilmallock in last year's decider.

Loughmore vs Ballygunner: A closer look

Loughmore-Castleiney will be hoping to maintain their impressive recent record in the Munster club SHC. They have reached the final in three of the last four years, winning the title in 2018. Ballygunner, on the other hand, are aiming to win their fourth provincial crown in five years. The semi-final clash between Loughmore and Ballygunner is expected to be a close encounter. Loughmore have shown great resilience in recent months, while Ballygunner possess a wealth of experience and quality. The game is likely to be decided by small margins, and either side could emerge victorious.

Key players to watch

**Loughmore:** John McGrath, Noel McGrath, William Maher **Ballygunner:** Dessie Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Barry Coughlan

Prediction

Both Loughmore and Ballygunner are evenly matched, so it is difficult to predict a winner. However, Ballygunner's experience and quality could be the difference on the day. The Waterford champions are likely to win by a narrow margin.