ST PATRICK’S DAY is still a few weeks away. But for the hurlers of Loughgiel Shamrocks, O’Loughlin Gaels, Clarinbridge and De La Salle when this Saturday dawns they’ll know they are only 60 minutes away from a place in the AIB All-Ireland club senior hurling final at Croke Park on March 17.

This Saturday’s semi-finals represent an opportunity for these club heroes to take a step closer to sporting immortality.

Kilkenny’s proud hurling history and tradition is well known and their county and Leinster champions O’Loughlin Gaels are worthy carriers of that heritage and are inspired by Kilkenny stars Martin Comerford and Brian Hogan.

But for their opponents this Saturday, hurling is also not just a sport, but a way of life. Loughgiel Shamrocks, led by the talented Liam Watson, have the distinction of being the only Ulster club to have won the All-Ireland crown back in 1983 and are out to bridge that gap.

In Thurles, the mighty men of Clarinbridge are back in an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 2002 and will be up against Waterford champions De La Salle who are in their second semi-final in three years after they beat Cushendall after extra time in 2009 before being beaten by Portumna in the All-Ireland final.

Inspired by their charismatic manager Michael Ryan and their talismanic all star forward John Mullane, De La Salle are determined to go one step better this season but will be up against it in Thurles against a Clarinbridge side who boast talented former Galway hurlers in Liam Donohoe and Mark and Alan Kerins.

The AIB All-Ireland club hurling semi-final action promises to be a feat of hurling this Saturday at Parnell Park and Thurles.