Senior - Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) v Timahoe (Laois/Leinster)

It's home sweet home for Donaghmoyne this Sunday afternoon as they play host to Laois and Leinster champions Timahoe for their All-Ireland senior semi-final clash.

The hurt of their semi-final loss to Carnacon is still driving Donaghmoyne on and they're keen to get back to another All-Ireland final to reclaim the title they won in 2006. That's not being arrogant, that's just how it is for a bunch of players who won their fifth Ulster senior title with victory over St Macartan's a fortnight ago.

Key to that success has been Catriona McConnell. She's widely recognised as one of the province's most prolific attacking talents, despite being only 19. In Donaghmoyne's three games to the Ulster title she helped herself to a total of 5-23, including a fantastic 3-7 tally in the provincial decider.

Despite her scoring hot streak, McConnell is typically modest and is much more comfortable focusing on the team performance and admits that playing at home is a huge boost for Sunday's game.

"I think we just want it so badly this year. We want to make up for losing to Carnacon last year. We've been working hard and only for the backs I wouldn't be getting the scores that I have been.

"It's a huge bonus to be at home. We know it like the back of our hand, we know every blade of grass on the pitch. It saves travelling and we should have a good crowd there behind us as well, so that all helps. It's nice to be in familiar surroundings."

McConnell has been hitting the free-kicks for Donaghmoyne with almost unerring accuracy this season. Although the Monaghan side have enjoyed comfortable winning margins in each of their games so far, McConnell insists that if a pressure kick has to be made this weekend or in a subsequent All-Ireland final, she'll have no hesitation in stepping up.

"Usually for a while after training and on any nights that I don't have training, I be up at the field hitting frees. It's usually just a case of whoever I can get to come with me... usually one of my wee sisters!

"I've been lucky that there hasn't been that much pressure, but I just think of it as another free-kick and do my normal thing that I always do. Hopefully when I have to hit one that really matters, that practice will stand to me."

Intermediate - St Paul's (Antrim) v Brian Boru's (Tipperary/Munster)

It's been a hectic few months for Aisling Reilly, including no shortage of air miles.

Fresh from winning two silver medals at the World Handball Championships in Portland, Oregon, the 20 year-old was back in St Paul's colours helping her ladies football side to an Ulster title. Having kicked four points in last weekend's quarter-final win over Fr Murphy's in London, she now looks forward to this weekend and an All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary side Brian Boru's with a place in the All-Ireland final at stake.

As one of the world's top female handball players, Reilly is well used to the big stage. In Oregon she finished as runner-up in the World Senior Ladies Singles, as well as reaching the final of the World Ladies Doubles competition, so she's unlikely to take stage fright this Sunday. She's also in flying form, her superb fitness levels gained from the many hours she invested ahead of the world championships standing her in good stead.

"Before the worlds, I was training about five times a week. Two of those would have been on the court and three fitness sessions, each lasting around an hour and a half. I wasn't training at all with the football at all at that stage.

"We were over in Portland for a week before the competition, so we could get over jetlag and get ourselves acclimatised. Then the competition itself lasted a week. I got back on the Wednesday and we played the Ulster final against Magheracloone the following Sunday, so I'd about 10 days to get over the handball. I was so tired I could barely speak never mind train, so I think I had about two nights of training before the Ulster final."

Reilly came on for the second half of that provincial decider and earned herself a starting jersey for last weekend's quarter-final, due mainly to the absence of Antrim star Mairead Cooper through holiday commitments. Having kicked four points last Sunday, two in each half, Reilly is hopeful that the rustiness from her long layoff is now out of her system.
"I've played very little football. I played the second half of the Antrim county final against St Gall's, then the second half against Cappagh. So it has taken me a while to get back into the groove of things again. The fitness isn't a problem I don't think, it's just getting back up to the speed of the game, especially because we're playing at such a high level."

Last weekend was hard going. A 7.00am flight out of Belfast to get to London for a game with a throw-in time of 11.00am far from ideal, as Reilly explains.

"It was tough. I was up at 4.30am, left for the airport at 5.15am and got there just before 6.00am. We got into London and it was 20 minutes by coach to the venue. The club had laid on snacks and things for us in the club house, so we had about an hour to get ourselves ready for the game.

"We played our best football in the first half, even though it was against the wind and I think the tiredness probably played a part towards the end of the game."

St Paul's are back on the road this weekend, with little time to recover from last weekend and although the games are coming thick and fast, Reilly admits that she is enjoying the big ball game at present and is hoping they can make that next step forward and into an All-Ireland final.

With the handball all finished for the season, she's able to allow football to come first and is hoping to continue to play her part in St Paul's championship adventure.

"Handball comes first, it has to. There's bigger priorities and bigger competitions. I'd be hoping that there's a good few years ahead in the handball. It's a big commitment, but I really enjoy it.

"But for now I'm just enjoying the football. I'm looking forward to this weekend, we all are. I wouldn't say anyone is nervous because we're all just enjoying it. We've never been in this position as a team before and hopefully it isn't going to come to an end any time soon."

Junior - Corduff v Clonakilty (Cork/Munster)

Having picked up their first Monaghan junior title just a few months back, Corduff now find themselves just one win away from an All-Ireland final appearance.

Their impressive 4-11 to 2-3 win over Kingdom Kerry Gaels in London last weekend in the All-Ireland quarter-final booked their passage to the last four. They're on the road again this weekend as they take on Clonakilty in Cork on Saturday afternoon.

Pauric Ruth is joint manager of the team alongside Conor Comiskey, with Seamus McEnaney lending his expertise and experience in a selector's role. Ruth admits that his side are very much heading into the unknown once again against the Munster outfit, but they're enjoying their championship adventure.

"It was a massive weekend for the club to have gone to London and got a win. For us to have come through Monaghan for the first time, then to win Ulster and to progress as the Ulster representatives is fantastic. We're delighted to have the opportunity and we're just trying to make the best of it."

Just like in the Ulster final against Cappagh, Corduff were able to play with the elements in the first half last Sunday and once again built up a half-time lead which they were able to hold on to through the second half.

"There was a strong breeze and wet conditions and we were lucky enough to have been able to get a good start. We built up a bit of confidence from that and that's probably what carried us through."

This weekend they face up to another long trek and Ruth admits that the draw has not been kind to his side. Although their knowledge of Clonakilty is extremely limited, the Corduff boss knows that a tough test awaits.

"It's a long journey, but we definitely wouldn't swap it at this stage. We're planning to head down on Friday night, at least half way and stay over instead of making such a long trip on the day of a game.

"You only have to look at the form of Cork senior ladies over the last decade and how well the clubs have done in provincial competition. It's a big ask for us. I don't know what good last weekend's game will have done for us, if anything I'd say that it was more of a disadvantage to us because of the travelling and losing a couple of days because of it. We've had one session this week, last weekend took a lot out of us, so we've given the girls a bit of time to recover. Hopefully that will stand to us this weekend.

With so much at stake in Saturday's game, it would be natural for the weight of nerves and expectation to strike Corduff, but Ruth insists they're just going to enjoy this game as much as those which have gone before, hopefully with the same outcome.

"It's been a brilliant experience for everyone involved with Corduff ladies this season. To win a Monaghan title and then go on the way we have done is the stuff of dreams really. You build up a bit of momentum and hopefully we can continue to go from there."

All-Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-finals

Sunday November 8 (2.00pm)

Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) v Timahoe (Laois) at Donaghmoyne

Carnacon (Mayo) v Donoughmore (Cork) at Donaghmore

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-finals

Sunday November 8 (2.00pm)

Brian Boru's (Tipperary) v St Paul's (Antrim) at Ardfinnan, Tipperary

Breaffy (Mayo) v St. Brigid's (Dublin) at Breaffy

All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-finals

Saturday November 7

Clonakilty (Cork) v Corduff (Monaghan) at Clonakilty (1.00pm)

Drumcliffe/ Rosses (Sligo) v St James (Wexford) at Drumcliffe/ Rosses (2.00pm)