Slaughtneil set out to banish All-Ireland demons

Chrissy McKaigue says Slaughtneil "can't look beyond" the challenge of Galway champions Loughrea in Sunday's All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final at Parnell Park (13:30 GMT).

The Robert Emmet's club clinched their sixth Ulster title in nine seasons with back-to-back victories over Portaferry and St John's.

The 13-in-a-row Derry champions have lost all five of their previous All-Ireland semi-finals, so reaching the showpiece decider would represent significant progress.

This is the first time that Slaughtneil will face Connacht opposition in the All-Ireland series. Only the Galway champions qualify for the last four, with Loughrea pipping 2024 All-Ireland champions St Thomas' to claim their county title.

It's the third time Loughrea have reached this stage of the All-Ireland series. They lost the 2006 final to Ballyhale and suffered a one-point reverse to eventual winners Na Fianna of Dublin at this stage last season.

"We can't look beyond it [the semi-final], for the very simple reality is, we have never got over this stage before," McKaigue told BBC Sport NI.

"That's the big incentive, Loughrea come with tremendous pedigree, but our big thing now is to try and get into an All-Ireland final, and that's all we are focusing on because it's going to be a mammoth task."

McKaigue's return to small-ball action after a one-year hiatus has provided a huge boost for Paul McCormack's side after last year's agonising one-point extra-time defeat by Cork outfit Sarsfields.

His return also means that nine of the team that beat Loughgiel to become the first Derry club to win the Ulster title back in 2016, returned to lift their sixth title last month against St John's.

"I had little to offer last year in terms of body, but I've got my body into a state of mind now where I am not able to do the same things I used to do, but I can contribute in some way, and that is all you want to do," McKaigue admitted.

Let's take a look back at Slaughtneil's five previous All-Ireland semi-finals encounters.

This game marked the first appearance by a Derry club in the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final.

Remarkably, Slaughtneil were hoping to recreate the heroics of their footballers by also reaching the All-Ireland final, having beaten St Vincent's two weeks earlier.

On this occasion, they were no match for a rampant Cuala side, who led 1-13 to 0-5 at half-time thanks to a goal from Dublin star Con O'Callaghan.

Second-half goals from Gerard Bradley and Se McGuigan did little to threaten the scoreboard in the end while Cathal McKenna was also sent off for the men in maroon and white.

Cuala went on to hammer Ballyea 2-19 to 1-10 in the decider as they clinched a first All-Ireland Club Hurling title.

This is the one that really stung the Robert Emmet's men.

The Derry club led 2-6 to 1-6 at half-time and looked the likely winners when Na Piarsaigh's Conor Boylan and Tommy Grimes were sent off after the break.

But Na Piarsaigh outscored Slaughtneil 2-5 to 0-2 over the next 25 minutes.

The masterful Shane Dowling was sprung from the bench to add a brilliant third goal which drove the dagger into Slaughtneil's hearts.

Na Piarsaigh faced Cuala in two gripping final encounters, with the Dublin side ultimately holding onto the title after a 2-17 to 1-17 win in the replay.

Reigning All-Ireland champions. Kilkenny kingpins.

This was the scale of the task facing Slaughtneil in the 2019-20 semi-final.

Jerome McGuigan and Colin Fennelly traded first-half goals, leaving just one point between the sides at the break.

TJ Reid hit 0-11 for Ballyhale as the Kilkenny men moved five points clear with 10 minutes remaining.

While a 58th-minute goal from Brendan Rogers cut the deficit to two, Fennelly's second goal immediately sealed the win for Ballyhale.

A couple of weeks later, Henry Shefflin's side secured back-to-back All-Ireland Club titles, beating Borris-Ileigh 0-18 to 0-15 at Croke Park.

The assignments kept getting tougher for the Derry champions, with eventual winners Ballygunner up next.

The Waterford champions set the pace early, with Billy O'Keeffe's two goals putting Slaughtneil on the back foot.

Despite a spirited fightback led by Brendan Rogers, Cormac O'Doherty, and a late goal from Shane McGuigan, the Ulster champions couldn't close the gap.

Ballygunner claimed their first All-Ireland title in the most dramatic fashion, defeating three-in-a-row chasing Ballyhale a fortnight later, as substitute Harry Ruddle's goal sealed a 2-17 to 1-19 win.

Another tale of woe and heartache for the men from Derry.

This one was effectively decided by a late goal-scoring opportunity for captain Mark McGuigan, but he blasted the ball over the bar from a central position just outside the small square.

The Derry and Ulster champions were probably the better side for much of the hour but were left to rue a few missed chances.

Sarsfields went on to lose their maiden All-Ireland final appearance to Na Fianna of Dublin.