Clare-Kilkenny rivalry a break from the traditional for both

The third successive meeting of Clare and Kilkenny at the penultimate stage of the championship is almost something of a throwback, a rivalry built on purely knockout encounters.

Brian Lohan's men enter Saturday's meeting in desperate need of a result to avoid a third successive All-Ireland semi-final loss.

Considering the sides has only met on seven previous occasions in the championship prior to 2022, it is a rivary that has bubbled along nicely in recent seasons, though the term rivalry might do a disservice to Kilkenny's record in the head-to-head with the 1997 All-Ireland semi-final the only occasion they have failed to come out on top.

Ahead of Saturday's meeting at Croke Park, we look back at other rivalries involving both counties.

The two sides at the top of hurling's roll of honour have enjoyed a rivalry like no other, and the Cork-Kilkenny clashes were the opening chapters to Brian Cody's unprecedented time in charge of the Cats.

The 1999 All-Ireland final was the start of the most modern rivalry, Jimmy Barry-Murphy's young guns upsetting the odds to win on a scoreline from a different era, edging out the black and amber 0-13 to 0-12. In contrast, their most recent championship meeting, the 2021 All-Ireland semi-final, saw more scores in the opening 35 minutes alone.

Cody’s first All-Ireland final in charge was expected to be a maiden success, but the swashbuckling Rebels were the story of the summer. Half a dozen championship debutants - nine players under the age of 22 - were on board for a Munster title before getting past Offaly in a pulsating semi-final.

Kilkenny put another nail in the coffin of an ageing Clare on the other side to advance as firm favourites, yet in the September rain, it was the Rebels that