The AIB All-Ireland club semi-finals have the stage to themselves on Sunday, February 24 with the football and hurling ties fixed for Ennis, Navan, Limerick and Clones. Eight counties will be represented in what promises to be four great games which will pave the way for the finals in Croke Park on St.Patrick's Day. Crossmaglen Rangers, the reigning football champions, are back in another semi-final. So too are previous winners, Nemo Rangers, Ballina Stephenites and St. Vincent's. Of the hurling semi-finalists, Birr and Portumna are previous All-Ireland winners, whereas Dunloy and Loughmore-Castleiney have yet to win the title. Loughmore-Castleiney are, in fact, appearing in the semi-final for the first time. Next Sunday week's full semi-final line up is as follows: FOOTBALL Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) v Nemo Rangers (Cork), Ennis, 2.00pm Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v St.Vincent's (Dublin), Pairc Tailteann, Navan 2.00pm HURLING Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) v Portumna (Galway), Limerick Gaelic Grounds, 2.00pm Birr (Offaly) v Dunloy (Antrim), Clones, 2.00pm CROSSMAGLEN v ST.VINCENT'S It's Dublin v Armagh rivalry at its most intense as Crossmaglen Rangers, the reigning AIB All-Ireland club champions, go head to head with St.Vincent's who are back in the semi-final for the first time since 1985. Both clubs have an excellent record in semi-finals with Crossmaglen having won four of five while St.Vincent's won all three of their previous appearances. Both clubs won four games en route to the semi-final and can boast of a great defensive record, having conceded just three goals between them. Crossmaglen are anchored by several Armagh inter-county stars, including John and Tony McEntee, Aaron, Stephen and Tony Kernan, Francie Bellew, Paul Hearty and Oisin McConville, who was chosen as winner of the AIB Ulster award for his excellence in the provincial campaign. St. Vincent's top scorer, Tomas 'Mossy' Quinn has been very much to the fore in his side's progress, as have former Dublin All-Ireland medal winner, Pat Gilroy and centre-back Ger Brennan who was chosen as the Leinster winner in the AIB provincial awards. PATHS TO THE SEMI-FINAL CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS Crossmaglen 1-8 Clontibret (Monaghan) 1-7 Crossmaglen 2-6 Dromore (Tyrone) 0-11 Crossmaglen 1-9 St.Gall's 1-6 (Antrim) (Ulster final) Crossmaglen 0-10 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-6 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Average For: 0-12 Average Against: 0-9 ST.VINCENT'S St. Vincent's 0-11 Seneschalstown (Meath) 1-8 St.Vincent's 1-12 Seneschalstown 0-10 (Replay) St.Vincent's 3-12 Portlaoise (Laois) 1-8 St. Vincent's 2-8 Tyrrellspass 0-7 (Leinster final) Average For: 1-12 Average Against: 0-10 HOW THEY FARED IN PREVIOUS ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS CROSSMAGLEN 1997: Crossmaglen 1-8 Laune Rangers (Kerry) 1-7 1999: Crossmaglen 1-10 Eire Og (Carlow) 1-5 2000: Crossmaglen 2-16 UCC 3-6 2005: Portlaoise (Laois) 0-8 Crossmaglen 0-7 2006: Crossmaglen 1-11 St.Brigid's (Roscommon) 0-11 Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1. ST.VINCENT'S 1973: St.Vincent's 2-8 Clan na nGael (Armagh) 0-7 1976: St. Vincent's 0-10 Nemo Rangers (Cork) 0-3 1985: St. Vincent's 2-5 Burren (Down) 0-8 Played 3, Won 3. BALLINA v NEMO RANGERS When it comes to AIB All-Ireland football semi-finals no club can compare to Nemo Rangers. Next Sunday week's clash with Ballina will be their 15th appearance at the semi-final stages where they boast a great record of having won ten and drawn one of the previous fourteen. Ballina will be appearing in the semi-final for the third time, having won the previous two in 1999 and 2005. Managed by Galway man, Liam Higgins, Ballina beat Tourlestrane and St. Brigid's to win their third Connacht title. Inspired by well-known Mayo players, Ronan McGarrity, Ger and David Brady, Pat Harte and David Clarke, Ballina looked extremely impressive when winning the Connacht title and are now hoping to book a place in the finals in Croke Park on St.Patrick's Day. Nemo Rangers also have several high-profile players aboard, including Derek Kavanagh, James Masters, Alan Cronin, Martin Cronin and Niall Geary. PATHS TO THE SEMI-FINALS BALLINA STEPHENITES Ballina 1-8 Tourlestrane (Sligo) 1-4 Ballina 2-8 St. Brigid's (Roscommon) 0-12 (Connacht final) Average For: 1-10 Average Against: 0-10 NEMO RANGERS Nemo Rangers 1-14 v Moyle Rovers (Tipperary) 2-6. Nemo Rangers 2-15 Ballylanders (Limerick) 2-9 Nemo Rangers 1-10 Ballinacourty (Waterford) 1-7 (Munster final) Average For: 1-14 Average Against 2-7 HOW THEY FARED IN PREVIOUS ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS BALLINA STEPHENITES 1999: Ballina 0-8 Doonbeg (Clare) 0-4 2005: Ballina 0-10 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-8 NEMO RANGERS 1973: Nemo Rangers 0-17 Fr.Griffin's (Galway) 0-9 1975: Nemo Rangers 1-3 Clan na nGael 1-3 (Armagh) 1975: Nemo Rangers 2-5 Clan na nGael 0-6 (Replay) 1976: St.Vincent's (Dublin) 0-10 Nemo Rangers 0-3 1979: Nemo Rangers 3-6 Killererin (Galway) 1-6 1982: Nemo Rangers 1-10 Raheens (Kildare) 0-7 1984: Nemo Rangers 2-10 St.Mary's (Sligo) 1-7 1988: Burren 1-6 (Down) Nemo Rangers 0-6 1989: Nemo Rangers 1-4 Parnells (Dublin) 0-5 1994: Nemo Rangers 1-13 Errigal Chiaran (Tyrone) 0-11 2001: Nemo Rangers 0-12 O Hanrahan's (Carlow) 1-7 2002: Nemo Rangers 0-9 Charlestown (Mayo) 0-7 2003: Nemo Rangers 1-12 Errigal Chiaran (Tyrone) 0-11 2006: St.Gall's 0-10 (Antrim) Nemo Rangers 1-6 Played 14, Won 10, Drew 1, Lost 3 LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY v PORTUMNA Portumna, the 2006 AIB All-Ireland champions, will be appearing in the semi-final for the third time while Loughmore-Castleiney are in the last four for the first time. Portumna lost their first semi-final to Dunloy in 2004 but got it right second around when they beat James Stephens two later to reach the final where they beat Newtownshandrum (Cork). Portumna have several high-profile performers on their team, including the Canning brothers, Joe and Ollie, Damien Hayes and Eoin Lynch as they seek to win a place in the final for the second time in three seasons. They were easy winners in Connacht, winning just one game against the Mayo champions whereas Loughmore-Castleiney had a much tougher route, beating the Cork, Limerick and Clare champions to win the Munster title for the first time. With former Tipperary star, David Kennedy, who won the AIB Munster award, in fine form at centre-back, Loughmore-Castleiney improved with each outing. Evan Sweeney was their top scorer as they powered past Erin's Own, Adare and Tulla to clinch a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals. PATHS TO THE SEMI-FINALS LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY L/C 2-11 Erin's Own (Cork) 0-14 L/C 1-15 Adare (Limerick) 1-10 L/C 1-6 Tulla (Clare) 0-7 (Munster final) Average For: 1-12 Average Against: 0-12 PORTUMNA Portumna (Galway) 6-23 James Stephens (Mayo) 0-7 (Connacht final) HOW THEY FARED IN ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS PORTUMNA 2004: Dunloy (Antrim) 2-13 Portumna 2-10 2006: Portumna 2-17 James Stephens (Kilkenny) 0-11 LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY Appearing in the semi-final for the first time BIRR v DUNLOY Birr, who beat 2007 AIB All-Ireland champions Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Leinster semi-final, and Dunloy are two of the more experienced All-Ireland semi-final performers, having played in no less than fourteen between them. Birr have a better record, winning five of their six semi-finals, whereas Dunloy have three wins from eight appearances. The clubs clashed in the 2002 semi-final which Birr won by four points and again a year later when >Birr won by 1-19 to 0-11 in the All-Ireland final. Birr have several of the best known Offaly players of recent times on their squad including the three Whelahan brothers, Brian, Simon and Barry, Rory and Gary Hanniffy, Paul Cleary, Brian Mullins and Niall Claffey who was chosen as the AIB Leinster award winner for his performances against Ballyhale and Ballyboden-St.Enda's. Dunloy were taken to a replay by Ballycran in the Ulster semi-final before beating Kevin Lynch's (Dungiven) in the final. PATHS TO THE SEMI-FINAL BIRR Birr 1-13 Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 1-10 Birr 1-11 Ballyboden-St.Enda's (Dublin) 0-13 Average For: 1-12; Average Against: 0-13 DUNLOY Dunloy 2-16 Ballycran (Down) 3-13 Dunloy 1-19 Ballycran 1-13 (Replay) Dunloy 2-14 Kevin Lynch's (Derry) 2-8 (Ulster final) Average For: 2-15 Average Against: 2-12 HOW THEY FARED IN SEMI-FINALS BIRR 1992: Birr 2-9 Cushendall (Antrim) 1-6 1995: Birr 2-8 Kilmallock (Limerick) 0-9 1998: Birr 0-12 Clarecastle (Limerick) 0-11 2000: Athenry (Galway) 2-9 Birr 1-10 2002: Birr 2-12 Dunloy (Antrim) 1-11 2003: Birr 0-15 Athenry (Galway) 0-6 Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1 DUNLOY 1991: Glenmore (Kilkenny) 1-18 Dunloy 1-10 1995: Dunloy 2-10 Athenry (Galway) 1-11 1996: Dunloy 2-13 Glenmore (Kilkenny) 0-7 1998: Sarsfields (Galway) 3-14 Dunloy 4-11 1998: Sarsfields 1-15 Dunloy 1-11 (Replay) 2001: Athenry (Galway) 3-20 Dunloy 1-10 2002: Birr 2-12 Dunloy 1-11 2003: Dunloy 1-14 Mount Sion (Waterford) 1-13 Played 8, Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 4 AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007/2008 HURLING MUNSTER Nov 4: Quarter-finals: Tulla (Clare) 4-16 Lixnaw (Kerry) 2-6; Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) 2-11 Erins Own (Cork) 0-14. Nov 18: Semi-finals: Tulla 2-13 Ballyduff Upper (Waterford) 0-14; Loughmore-Castleiney 1-15 Adare (Limerick) 1-10. Dec 2: Final: Loughmore-Castleiney 1-6 Tulla 0-7. LEINSTER Nov 4: Quarter-final: Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 1-14 Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) 0-12. Nov 11: Quarter-final: Ballyboden-St Endas (Dublin) 1-17 Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) 0-15. Nov 18: Semi-finals: Birr (Offaly) 1-13 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-10; Ballyboden-St.Endas 2-9 Camross (Laois) 1-11. Dec 2: Birr 1-11 Ballyboden-St.Endas 0-13. ULSTER Oct 14: Semi-final: Dunloy (Antrim) 2-16 Ballycran (Down) 3-13 Oct 21: Replay: Dunloy 1-19 Ballycran 1-13 Oct 28: Final: Dunloy 2-14 Kevin Lynchs (Derry) 2-8 CONNACHT Oct 20: 1st round: James Stephens (Mayo) 3-10 St. Marys (Leitrim) 0-6. Oct 29: 2nd round: Athleague (Roscommon) 4-15 Calry/St. Joseph's (Sligo) 2-5. Nov 3: Semi-final: Athleague 2-7 James Stephens 0-13. Nov 10: Semi-final (replay): James Stephens 2-12 Athleague 2-10. Nov 18: Final: Portumna (Galway) 6-23 James Stephens 0-7. AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS Feb 24: Semi-finals: Loughmore-Castleiney v Portumna, Limerick Gaelic Grounds Birr v Dunloy, Clones Mar 17: Final: Croke Park. FOOTBALL CONNACHT Oct 14: Quarter-final: Tourlestrane (Sligo) 0-12 St.Marys (Leitrim) 1-4. Nov 11: Semi-finals: Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) 1-8 Tourlestrane 1-4; St. Brigid's (Roscommon) 4-10 Killererin (Galway) 1-11. Nov 25: Final: Ballina Stephenites 2-8 St.Brigids 0-12. LEINSTER Oct 21: First round: Moorefield (Kildare) 0-15 Clongeen (Wexford) 0-8; Oct 28: Eire Og (Carlow) 3-9 Tullamore (Offaly) 1-8; Not Played: Baltinglass (Wicklow) v St.Vincents (Dublin).* Nov 11: Quarter-finals: Moorefield 1-12 Dromard (Longford) 1-12 (After extra-time); Tyrrellspass 2-6 Eire Og (Carlow) 0-11; St.Vincents 0-11 Seneschalstown (Meath) 1-8; Portlaoise (Laois) 1-14 St.Patricks (Louth) 0-5. Nov 18: Quarter-final replays: Dromard 0-12 Moorefield 0-12 (After extra-time); St.Vincents 1-12 Seneschalstown 0-10. Nov 25: Semi-final: St.Vincents 3-13 Portlaoise 1-8; Quarter-final 2nd replay: Moorefield 0-13 Dromard 0-7. Dec 9: Semi-final: Tyrrellpass 1-7 Moorefield 0-7. Dec 16: Final: St. Vincent's 2-8 Tyrrellspass 0-7. *Wicklow were not represented in the Leinster championship due to the late finish of their county championships MUNSTER Nov 11: Quarter-finals: Kilcummin (Kerry) 1-9 Lissycasey (Clare) 1-5; Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1-14 v Moyle Rovers (Tipperary) 2-6. Nov 25: Semi-finals: Nemo Rangers 2-15 Ballylanders (Limerick) 2-9; Ballinacourty (Waterford) 2-6 Kilcummin 0-8. December 9: Final: Nemo Rangers 1-10 Ballinacourty 1-7. ULSTER Oct 21: Preliminary round: Cavan Gaels 0-8 St.Eunans (Donegal) 0-7. Nov 4: Quarter-finals: Glenullin (Derry) 1-15 Newtownbutler (Fermanagh) 1-7; Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 1-8 Clontibret (Monaghan) 1-7;Dromore (Tyrone) 1-10 Mayobridge (Down) 0-13; St.Gall's (Antrim) 0-13 Cavan Gaels 0-8. Nov 11: Quarter-final (replay): Dromore 1-9 Mayobridge 1-7. Nov 18: Semi-finals: St.Gall's 0-11 Glenullin 0-7; Crossmaglen Rangers 2-6 Dromore 0-11. Nov 25: Final: Crossmaglen Rangers 1-9 St.Galls 1-6. AIB CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS Jan 27 Quarter-final: Crossmaglen Rangers 0-10 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-6. Feb 24 Semi-finals: Crossmaglen Rangers v St.Vincent's, Navan Ballina Stephenites v Nemo Rangers, Ennis. Mar 17: Final: Croke Park. Tweet

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