It means there are a host of permutations heading into this weekend’s quarter-final ties.

If Kilkenny and Clare win their quarter-finals, the semi-final pairings will be;

Galway v Clare
Cork v Kilkenny

If Limerick and Wexford win their quarter-finals, the semi-final pairings will be;

Galway v Limerick
Cork v Wexford

If Kilkenny and Wexford win their quarter-finals, the semi-final pairings will be;

Galway v Wexford
Cork v Kilkenny

If Clare and Limerick win their quarter-finals, the semi-final pairings will be;

Galway v Clare
Cork v Limerick

Defending All-Ireland champions Galway, who saw off Kilkenny in last weekend’s Leinster final replay, will play their semi-final on Saturday 28 July at Croke Park, while Cork will be in action the following day at HQ.

Meanwhile, the fixture details for the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-finals have also been confirmed with both matches taking place on Saturday 4 August.

Galway and Tipperary will meet in Cusack Park at 2pm, with Cork and Wexford playing in Nowlan Park at 4pm.

All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-finals:
Saturday, 28 July

Galway v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, 5pm (RTÉ/Sky Sports)
Sunday 29 July

Cork v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, 3.30pm (RTÉ/Sky Sports)