Kilmacud Crokes found that special knack of winning close encounters in 2005. On their way to today's semifinal the Dublin champions edged out Sarsfields of Kildare by a single point and overcame Rhode of Offaly at the second time of asking.

They might need the ability to secure a win in a tight situation today as SalthillKnocknacarra will provide tricky opposition. It's been 15 years since Salthill made it this far in the All Ireland and on that occasion they reached the "nal before losing to Lavey. And they may quietly fancy their chances of a second All Ireland club final appearance this year.

Thanks to some first-rate defensive displays, Salthill navigated their course through Connacht without too many scares . . . save Ciaran McDonald hitting a crossbar late in the for Crossmolina. Seamie Crowe, once of Wolverhampton Wanderers, has found impressive form and any club side that includes the likes of Michael Donnellan, Maurice Sheridan and Alan Kerins will have to be reckoned with.

That said, Kilmacud will start as slight favourites.

Their strength in the middle has stood to them and they'll aim to involve Ray Cosgrove and Mark Vaughan whenever possible. Given the nature of a semi-"nal and the postChristmas break, Kilmacud will accept any kind of win today . . . even if it's just by a bare point.

Verdict Kilmacud Crokes

NEMO RANGERS (Cork) v ST GALL'S (Antrim) Portlaoise, 2.30 Referee T Quigley (Wexford)

It mightn't seem at first as sexy a clash as that between east and west, but in a way this is the more intriguing of today's semi-finals. St Gall's have had easily the most arduous route to this stage, beating proven and perennial club championship contenders in Carrickmore, Mayobridge and Bellaghy.

To put that another way, they've beaten teams from Tyrone, Down and Derry to get here, Nemo have only had to beat teams from Waterford and Clare. St Gall's this year have been the ultimate giant-killers. But Nemo are the ultimate minnow-killers. The key to their incredible record outside of Cork (not that their record in Cork is that bad either) is their refusal to be complacent. What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? That's why a good few of us will be spending the day in Portlaoise.

Ultimately you feel that rock isn't for moving and that Nemo will get to their fourth All Ireland final in six years. Since you saw them last against St Senan's, Derek Kavanagh . . . back from Australia . . . and his brother Joe have been vying in training for spots on the starting 15. Gall's have quality but Nemo have more; this could be the year James Masters really announces his talent to the country both for club and county.

Three years ago Nemo beat another Ulster team in the All-Ireland semi-final in Portlaoise. We expect St Gall's to meet a similar fate to what Errigal Ciaran did that day. Nemo again by about four points.

Verdict Nemo Rangers