Galway's fate of losing the last four All-Ireland finals at this level has been well documented. Just to return to the final this year will require a maximum effort as they come up against Limerick, their conquerors last year and already with two major victories to their name.
Limerick's wins over Cork and Tipperary may have been close but they were both spectacular. Cork were highly fancied to emerge from Munster this year but they fell 0-18 to 2-11 at Pβirc U∅ Chaoimh, followed by Tipperary in the Munster final by an equally tight margin after a controversial late free by star forward Mark Keane.
Unfortunately for them, Keane has been sidelined with an ankle injury since that win and his role here will be limited. He picked up 2-7 in the Munster final, and also made a 1-8 contribution when Limerick won the title last year - their first in 13 years and only their second ever.
Half forward Seβn O'Connor is also ruled out through suspension but Limerick still have the experience to play with. Brian Geary and Stephen Lucey produced key roles in last year's win and they are still the backbone of the team at centre back and midfield respectively. Brian Begley is the most notable absentee from a year ago.
As usual, Galway come into this game void of competitive hurling in the grade this summer. Manager Brendan Lynskey remains unsure about how well his team will gel for such a daunting challenge yet he too has more than enough experience to depend on.
Derek Hardiman and Richie Murray were both part of the senior team that shocked Kilkenny in the senior semi-final a week ago, and Diarmuid Cloonan, John Culkin and Damien Hayes have also been a visible part of Noel Lane's senior panel. There is also significant excitement over the potential of current minor captain Ger Farragher, who will start among the substitutes.
If, however, Galway manage to overcome their lack of heated match practice without much delay, then the cracks in the Limerick team should afford them the opportunity of returning to the All-Ireland final.
All-Ireland Under-21 hurling semi-final
Wexford v Antrim, Parnell Park, 4.0
This will be a damage limitation exercise for Antrim as they attempt to contain the side that is still on a high from their surprise but hard-earned win over Kilkenny in the Leinster final.
The Wexford team has remained unchanged from that occasion, which means a host of seniors will once again make their presence felt. Ger Coleman, Rory Mallon, Darren Stamp, Trevor Kelly, Nicky Lambert and Derek Lyng have all featured in Tony Dempsey's summer plans and are certain to put Wexford in a strong position to win the title outright.
Wexford's sole All-Ireland in the grade came in 1965 and it will require a shock of unimaginable proportions for them not to contest another final at the very least. Antrim were reasonably competitive when the two sides met in the quarter-final of the minor championship three years ago but Wexford still came out comfortable winners.
All-Ireland Minor football semi-final
Tyrone v Mayo, Croke Park, 2.0
Tyrone return to Croke Park for the first time in three seasons and face an exciting test against a Mayo side that includes several players of the panel which lost in last year's final to Cork - including forwards Brian Lynskey and Andy Moran.
To their credit, Tyrone have been gaining momentum throughout the summer, starting with a nervous first round win over Armagh, a more impressive dismissal of Derry, and then a truly convincing win in the final over Monaghan.
Should that trend continue, the Ulster champions should have the artillery to get past Mayo and contest their first final since winning the title in 1998. Yet Mayo did produce a remarkable recovery in the Connacht final replay against Galway, and won't lie down easily.
