It is the contest that is gripping hurling enthusiasts throughout the land. The country’s dominant clubs over the past three years, Portumna and Ballyhale Shamrocks, will meet for the first time in Sunday's All Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-finals at Semple Stadium (2.30pm ).
The two sides have won the last three All-Ireland club titles between them - Portumna on two occasions and Ballyhale in 2007. Yet they have never clashed until now, and it is set to be a cracker.
Whoever emerges victorious will go into the St Patrick's Day decider as favourites against either Ulster champions Cushendall or first-timers De La Salle from Waterford who meet in the second semi-final in Parnell Park.
With so many talented performers in Ballyhale Shamrocks and Portumna the sub-plots are plentiful. Can Henry Shefflin be quietened? Is James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick recovered after a recent illness? Will Ballyhale find the formula to disturb Joe Canning, who remains polished and prolific? Surely Damien Hayes' pace will vex Ballyhale? People will flock to the Tipperary town simply to see how the answers to these questions unfold.
Fitzpatrick, who was troubled by a dose of the mumps recently, featured in St Patrick's Fitzgibbon Cup emphatic success over Garda College on Tuesday. Fitzpatrick was typically stylish, lofting over five points as Pat's cruised to an easy win.
Ballyhale manager Maurice Aylward says Fitzpatrick's participation in Sunday's clash was never in doubt, and that the upcoming tussle ought to be tasty.
"He was in hospital for a day or two with some complications, but everything is fine now. It's got people talking, not just in Kilkenny but everywhere. I've been talking to people from Laois, Wexford, and Tipperary who are coming. Both sides have very good forward lines and a similar midfield. It will come down to who defends better, I suspect."
Portumna's rearguard will be eager to provide goalkeeper Ivan Canning with sufficient protection. Ollie Canning and Micheal Ryan have the ability to deal with Ballyhale's pacy attackers, while Aidan O'Donnell and Gareth Heagney will be hoping to replicate their impressive pre-Christmas form.
And reigning champions Portumna are treating the Kilkenny outfit with the utmost respect. Midfielder Eoin Lynch is adamant that Ballyhale are a team of rare skill and spirit.
"They have been the standard bearers of All-Ireland club hurling this past few years. They are the team to beat and are a serious outfit at this level. Everyone talks about Cha and Henry, but they have so many serious hurlers. With Kilkenny going so well, Ballyhale have ridden in and play a similar type of game. They are a very good club side.
"We haven't looked past Thurles and the other semi-final will be a good game too, both clubs are there on their own merits. We are just concentrating on Ballyhale, and nobody has mentioned St Patrick's Day in the dressing room. It is all about Thurles on Sunday."
Portumna have accumulated silverware with admirable frequency since their breakthrough 2003 Galway SHC success. Three more county and three Connacht crowns have followed as Portumna have emerged as one of the most forceful teams in the land. A third All-Ireland is now craved as Portuma seek to confirm their class.
However Ballyhale are awkward opponents. In addition to their heavyweight Kilkenny hurlers, they also have a great hunger, having lost out to Birr last year in the absence of Shefflin and Fitzpatrick. They have more games under their belt, having disposed of Leinster Rathdowney-Errill, Raharney, and Birr en route to this semi-final. As Galway champions, Portumna qualified automatically for the championship semi-final, and they will need to use all their vast experience in their bid to reach the final for the third time in four seasons.
Two clubs with strong All-Ireland records who never met - it has all the ingredients for a classic that will hopefully live up to its potential.
