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Final Four

Explainer - The permutations for this year's All-Ireland senior hurling semi-finals

There are six counties left in the race for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

THE ALL-IRELAND senior hurling championship race for 2017 will become clearer after next weekend’s action when only four contenders will be left in contention.

The redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh will host the quarter-final ties with Clare taking on Tipperary on Saturday afternoon and then Waterford meeting Wexford on Sunday afternoon.

Provincial champions Galway and Cork have both already booked their semi-final places.

Leinster kingpins Galway are in action on 6 August and then Munster winners Cork play on 13 August.

Repeats of provincial finals are avoided at the All-Ireland semi-final stage, so here are the potential semi-final pairings depending on the outcome of this weekend’s quarter-final ties.

1. If Tipperary and Waterford win next weekend…

There will be a semi-final draw next Monday morning with Cork and Galway in one bowl, and Tipperary and Waterford in the other. As Cork have faced both the Premier and the Deise in their Munster campaign this summer, we would have a repeat tie in this instance.

2. If Tipperary and Wexford win next weekend…

Tipperary will take on Galway on 6 August in what would be the third successive All-Ireland semi-final meeting between the counties. Galway won by a point in 2015 and Tipperary won by a point last August.

Then it would be a battle of Cork and Wexford on 13 August in the second semi-final. They met in the qualifiers last July with Wexford prevailing.

3. If Clare and Waterford win next weekend…

Galway and Clare would meet each other on 6 August in a repeat of their 2016 quarter-final clash in Thurles. The following week would see Cork and Waterford clash just under two months since their Munster semi-final meeting.

4. If Clare and Wexford win next weekend…

It would be straightforward as provincial final repeats would be prevented, meaning a Galway-Clare clash on 6 August and a Cork-Wexford encounter on 13 August.


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