All-Ireland Club SHC: Ulster champions Slaughtneil set out to banish the All-Ireland Devils

Chrissy McKaigue says Slaughtneil “can’t look any further” than challenging Galway champions Loughrea in Sunday’s All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final at Parnell Park (13:30 GMT).

Robert Emmett’s club clinched their sixth Ulster title in nine seasons with back-to-back victories over Portaferry and St John’s.

Derry’s 13th straight champions have lost all five of their previous All-Ireland semi-finals, so reaching the decider would represent a huge step up.

This is the first time Slaughtneil has faced Connacht opposition in an All-Ireland series. Only the Galway champions progress to the semi-finals, with Loughrea edging out 2024 All-Ireland champions St Thomas’ to claim the county title.

It is the third time Loughrea has reached this stage of an All-Ireland series. They lost the 2006 final to Ballyhale and had lost by one point to eventual winners Na Fianna of Dublin at this stage last season.

“We can’t look any further [the semi-final]McCaig told BBC Sport: “The simple fact is that we have never gone beyond this stage before.

“That’s the big motivation, Loughrea comes in huge proportions, but the most important thing we have now is trying to get to the All-Ireland final, and that’s all we’re focused on because it’s going to be a huge task.”

Macaigo’s return to minor-ball action after a year’s hiatus provided a huge boost to Paul McCormack’s side following last year’s agonizing one-point extra-time defeat to Sarsfields in Cork.

His return also means that nine of the side that beat Loughgiel to become the first Derry club to win the Ulster title in 2016 are back to lift their sixth title last month against St John’s.

“I didn’t have a lot to offer last year body-wise, but I’ve put my body in a state of mind now where I can’t do the same things I used to do, but I can contribute in some way, and that’s all you want to do,” McCaig admitted.

Let’s take a look at Slaughtneil’s previous five All-Ireland semi-final encounters.