Hurling history will be made in Croke Park on Sunday 14th August when Cork and Clare clash for the first time in the Guinness All-Ireland semi-final. Throw-in will be at 3.30pm with Dickie Murphy (Wexford) in charge. Cork, the reigning All-Ireland champions are bidding to reach the final for a third successive year while Clare, who last won the title in 1997, are seeking a first final appearance since 2002 when they lost to Kilkenny. CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 - HOW CORK AND CLARE HAVE FARED CORK Cork 2-17 Waterford 2-15 (Munster semi-final, Thurles, May 22) Cork scorers: Joe Deane 1-3, Brian Corcoran 1-2, Niall McCarthy 0-4, Ben O'Connor 0-4, Jerry O'Connor 0-2, Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields) 0-1, Diarmuid O'Sullivan 0-1. Cork 1-21 Tipperary 1-16 (Munster final, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, June 26) Cork scorers: Ben O'Connor 0-6, Joe Deane 0-5, Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields) 1-2, Neil Ronan 0-3, Jerry O'Connor 0-2, Brian Corcoran 0-1, Niall McCarthy 0-1, Kieran Murphy (Erin's Own) 0-1. Cork 1-18 Waterford 1-13 (All-Ireland quarter-final, Croke Park, July 24) Cork scorers: Joe Deane 0-5, Brian Corcoran 1-1, Ben O'Connor 0-4, John Gardiner 0-3, Jerry O'Connor 0-1, Tom Kenny 0-1, Sean Og O hAilpin 0-1, Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields) 0-1, Neil Ronan 0-1. Played 3, Won 3. CLARE Tipperary 2-14 Clare 0-14 (Munster semi-final, Limerick, June 5) Clare scorers: Niall Gilligan 0-5, Diarmuid McMahon 0-2, Seanie McMahon 0-2, Barry Nugent 0-2, Tony Griffin 0-2, Tony Carmody 0-1. Clare 1-23 Dublin 0-9 (Qualifiers, Parnell Park, June 18) Clare scorers: Niall Gilligan 0-6, Tony Carmody 0-5, Diarmuid McMahon 0-4, Daithi O'Connell 1-0, Tony Griffin 0-2, David Forde 0-2, Seanie McMahon, Brian O'Connell 0-1, Declan O'Rourke 0-1, Darragh Clancy 0-1. Clare 1-12 Offaly 1-11 (Qualifiers, Portlaoise, July 2) Clare scorers: Niall Gilligan 0-7, Tony Griffin 1-0, Sean McMahon 0-2, Colin Lynch 0-1, Alan Markham 0-1, Gerry Hoey 0-1. Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21 (Qualifiers, Ennis, July 10) Clare Scorers: Niall Gilligan 0-6, Alan Markham 2-0, Tony Griffin 1-2, Diarmuid McMahon 1-1, Sean McMahon 0-2, Brian O'Connell 0-1, Frank Lohan 0-1, Declan O'Rourke 0-1. Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final, Croke Park, July 24) Clare scorers: Niall Gilligan 0-5, Diarmuid McMahon 0-4, Alan Markham 1-1, Tony Griffin, Tony Carmody 0-3 each, Sean McMahon 0-2, Colin Lynch 0-1, Brian O'Connell 0-1. Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1. LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES 2003 - Cork 1-18 Clare 0-10 (Munster semi-final) 1999 - Cork 1-15 Clare 0-14 (Munster final) 1998 - Clare 0-21 Cork 0-13 (Munster semi-final) 1997 - Clare 1-19 Cork 0-18 (Munster semi-final) 1995 - Clare 2-13 Cork 3-9 (Munster semi-final) Clare 3, Cork 2. LAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH Cork 1-18 Clare 0-10 (Munster semi-final 2003) Cork ran out easy winners on a day when Joe Deane scored 1-8. Clare, who were without the suspended Sean McMahon, never really got into the game and finished 11 points adrift of the rampant Leesiders. Cork: Donal Og Cusack; Wayne Sherlock, Pat Mulcahy, Diarmuid O'Sullivan (0-1); Tom Kenny, Ronan Curran, Sean Og O hAilpin; John Gardiner (0-1), Mickey O'Connell (0-1); Ben O'Connor (0-1), Niall McCarthy (0-2), Timmy McCarthy (0-1); Setanta O hAilpin (0-3), Joe Deane (1-8), Alan Browne. No subs used. Clare: Davy Fitzgerald; Brian Quinn, Brian Lohan, Frank Lohan; Conor Plunkett (0-1), Diarmuid McMahon, Gerry Quinn; Ollie Baker, Colin Lynch; Alan Markham (0-1), Tony Griffin, Tony Carmody (0-3); Niall Gilligan (0-4), Andrew Quinn, Jamesie O'Connor. Subs: Barry Murphy (0-1) for Andrew Quinn; Daithi O'Connell for Baker; Gearoid Considine for Markham, John Reddan for Carmody. ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL SHORTS *Cork have won their last two Guinness All-Ireland semi-final appearances, beating Wexford (replay 2003) and 2004. Their last semi-final defeat was in 2000 when, as defending All-Ireland champions, they lost to Offaly by four points. *Clare have a reasonably good record in All-Ireland semi-finals over the past ten years. They beat Galway in 1995, Kilkenny in 1997 and Waterford in 2002. They lost to Offaly in an epic three-match clash in 1998 and went down to Kilkenny in 1999. *Niall Gilligan is Clare's top scorer in this year's championship, having notched a total of 0-29 in five games. Joe Deane is Cork's top marksman on 1-13 from three games. *Cork have remained unbeaten in the championship since losing to Waterford in last year's Munster final. Since then, they have beaten Tipperary (twice), Waterford (twice), Wexford, Kilkenny and Antrim. DOWN v WESTMEATH While the main focus will on be on Cork v Clare next Sunday, the curtain-raiser in Croke Park (1.30) will be very significant as the clash between Down and Westmeath will decide who wins the Christy Ring Cup (Tier Two) and earn promotion to Tier One (Liam McCarthy Cup) next year. Westmeath beat Down 3-21 to 3-14 when the sides clashed in the group stages last month. Both sides enjoyed big semi-final wins, with Westmeath beating Kildare by 7-14 to 1-12 while Down ousted Carlow by 4-23 to 1-11. GUINNESS HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 LEINSTER: May 22: Quarter-final: Laois 4-14 Dublin 0-14, Nowlan Park. June 12: Semi-finals: Kilkenny 6-28 Offaly 0-15, Wexford 0-24 Laois 1-10, Croke Park. July 3: Final: Kilkenny 0-22 Wexford 1-16, Croke Park. MUNSTER: May 15: 1st Round: Limerick 2-14 Tipperary 2-14, Thurles. May 21: (Replay): Tipperary 2-13 Limerick 0-18 (after extra-time), Gaelic Grounds. May 22: Semi-final: Cork 2-17 Waterford 2-15, Thurles. June 5: Semi-final: Tipperary 2-14 Clare 0-14, Gaelic Grounds. June 26: Final: Cork 1-21 Tipperary 1-16, Pairc Ui Chaoimh. ULSTER: May 15: 1st round: Down 4-25 London 1-17, Casement Park. May 22: Semi-finals: Antrim 2-20 New York 2-14 (after extra-time), Gaelic Park; Derry 2-9 Down 1-12, Casement Park; May 29: (Replay): Down 3-21 Derry 4-9, Casement Park. 4-9 June 5: Final: Antrim 2-22 Down 1-18, Casement Park. ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS June 18: Round One: Group A: Galway 2-22 Laois 2-11, Portlaoise; Group B: Clare 1-23 Dublin 0-9, Parnell Park; Waterford 1-23 Offaly 1-15, Dr.Cullen Park. June: 25: Group A: Limerick 4-25 Antrim 1-9, Casement Park. July 1: Round 2; Group A: Limerick 2-15 Laois 1-9, Portlaoise. July 2: Round Two Group A: Galway 3-29 Antrim 0-10, Pearse Stadium; Group B: Waterford 4-17 Dublin 1-3, Walsh Park; Clare 1-12 Offaly 1-11, Portlaoise. July 9: Group A: Galway 1-18 Limerick 2-14, Gaelic Grounds; Laois 0-21 Antrim 1-16, Casement Park; Group B: Offaly 2-15 Dublin 2-14, Parnell Park; July 10: Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21, Ennis. RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS July 23: Offaly 5-17 Antrim 0-18, Croke Park; Dublin 3-13 Laois 1-10, Dr.Cullen Park. ALL-IRELAND QUARTER FINALS July 24: Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12; Cork 1-18 Waterford 1-13 (Both in Croke Park) July 31: Galway 2-20 Tipperary 2-18; Kilkenny 0-18 Limerick 0-13 (Both in Croke Park) ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS Next Sunday: Clare v Cork, Croke Park, 3.30pm August 21: Galway v Kilkenny ALL-IRELAND FINAL September 11, Croke Park Tweet

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