JUST three weeks after their historic fifth consecutive Tom Callanan Cup triumph, St Thomas begin another quest at ending a decade long wait for All-Ireland honours against Antrim’s Dunloy on Sunday in the All-Ireland Club senior hurling semi-final at Croke Park (1:30pm).

Kenneth Burke’s charges were put to the pin of their collar during the domestic campaign before edging out Loughrea 1-15 to 0-17 in the county final replay on November 27.

It was the Kilchreest/Peterswell team’s ninth game since July which included a heavy group defeat to Turloughmore, but when the pressure started to tell, they weren’t found wanting.

After coming so close last January in their defeat at this stage to Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks, the Galway champions will be understandably strong favourites to qualify for an All-Ireland final in the New Year.

But playing an Ulster club team is different to inter-county. And while back at this stage for the first time since 2009, Dunloy should not be discounted.

Indeed, they’ve 50/50 record against Galway teams in All-Ireland semi-finals and beat strong Athenry and Portumna sides in All-Ireland semi-finals back in 1995 and 2004 respectively.

And when you consider Loughgiel Shamrocks were All-Ireland champions in 2012,while Cushendall played in the decider after ending Sarsfields’ ambitions in 2016, Antrim teams must be respected.

Dunloy’s manager Gregory O’Kane, who’s the All-Ireland Club championship third highest scorer in history with 4-158, was instrumental in their last semi-final victory in Croke Park over Kilkenny’s Glenmore back in 1996.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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