Mark McGuigan with some fine setup play but Brendan Rogers leaves his shot on goal short and into the keepers hands.

The first wide of the day also goes the way of Loughrea as Anthony Burns shoots wide.

Slaughtneil are guilty of overplaying in their own half, Caimin Killeen punishes with the first score of the day.

Image source, Inpho

Limerick referee Johnny Murphy throws the ball in to start the game.

One late change to the Loughrea team, Darren Shaughnessy drops out at full-forward and is replaced by Vince Morgan.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI at Parnell Park

Slaughtneil have cruised through to the All-Ireland semi-final this year with an average winning margin of 12 points across their five games in Derry and two Ulster outings.

Their closest contest came against Kevin Lynch’s in the group stages of their county campaign, where they won by four points, but they went on to beat the same opposition by 20 points in the final.

Loughrea played seven games in the Galway championship, winning six by an average margin of eight points, but that included two one-point wins and a county final victory by the minimum against St Thomas’.

Slaughtneil cruised to the Ulster title, beating St John’s by 13 points, so it remains to be seen whether the Robert Emmet’s men are road-tested enough or if that arduous run has burned the Galway men out.

Slaughtneil boss Paul McCormack makes no changes to the side that beat St John’s to win the Ulster title last month.

Chrissy McKaigue’s return to action after last year’s sabbatical has proved to be a real boost for the Derry club. He is listed to play at midfield but has occupied more time at full-forward, with the influential Cormac O’Doherty operating around the middle.

Shea Cassidy has been the standout player for Slaughtneil, with 2-56 to his name in this year’s championship, and he will need to be at his best once again.

Loughrea are back in the All-Ireland semi-final for a second year in a row after last year’s defeat to eventual winners Na Fianna.

Tommy Kelly makes no changes to the team that beat St Thomas’ to win the Galway title seven weeks ago. Tiernan Killeen is the man to watch with 0-42 to his name, while Darren Shaughnessy has also been on fire, racking up 3-9 so far.

Loughrea: Gearoid Loughnane; Paul Hoban, Johnny Coen, Kieran Hanrahan; Brian Keary, Shane Morgan, Joe Mooney; Ian Hanrahan, Cullen Killeen; Caimin Killeen, Tiernan Killeen, Jamie Ryan; Anthony Burns, Darren Shaughnessy, Martin McManus.

Subs: Calvin Burns, Luke McInerney, Iain Griffin, Alan Kelly, Gavin Maher, Neil Keary, Sean Sweeney, Vince Morgan, Tom Hoban, Mikey Murray, Bobby Feeney, Enda Keary, Marcus Burns, Eanna Rooney, Aidan Fahy.

Slaughtneil: Oisin O'Doherty; Fionn McEldowney, Paul McNeil, Conor McAllister; Ruairi O Mianain, Meehaul McGrath, Shane McGuigan; Cathal O Mianain, Se McGuigan, Eamon Cassidy; Brendan Rogers, Cormac O'Doherty, Shea Cassidy.

Subs: Liam Cassidy, Peter McCullagh, Gerald Bradley, Conor Coyle, Proinsias Burke, Jerome McGuigan, Sean O'Doherty, Eunan Boylan, Cathal McKaigue, Ruairi McCartney, Eoin Mulholland, Fintan McGrath, Conan Hunter, Barney Cassidy, Deaglan McNamee.

It's back to the All-Ireland semi-final for Slaughtneil after capturing a sixth Ulster title in nine seasons last month beating St John's.

The All-Ireland series hasn't been a happy hunting ground for them, they've lost their five previous last four clashes, three of those defeats coming here at Parnell Park.

This is the first time they've met Connacht opposition at this stage after losing to Leinster clubs twice and the Munster representatives on three occassions.

Slaughtneil have made the football decider on two occassions and will look to become the first ever Derry club to reach the small ball decider.

Image source, Inpho

Success in club hurling's biggest competition is rare for Ulster sides.

In fact, Loughgiel are the only Ulster club to have lifted the Tommy Moore Cup, in 1983 and 2012.

Four other Antrim clubs - Dunloy, Ballycastle, O'Donovan Rossa and Cushendall - have also fallen short in the final.

So, once again, Slaughtneil are 60 minutes from becoming the first Derry club to reach club hurling's showpiece.

Compare Ulster's two titles to Leinster (22), Munster (16) and Connacht (14). The difference is pretty stark.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI at Parnell Park

The weather conditions are absolutely perfect here in Parnell Park. The sun is shining and bringing a warmth that I certainly wasn’t expecting four days before Santa arrives.

There’s also not even a hint of a breeze, never mind a wind.

However, the pitch here at Parnell Park is not in great condition. It is very wet (I’m told there was a lot of rain in Dublin last night) and patchy right through the middle of the field, stretching almost the length of the pitch between both posts.

Image source, Inpho

Will it be sixth time lucky for Slaughtneil?

After suffering defeats in all five of their previous All-Ireland semi-finals, the Derry and Ulster champions once again attempt to break new ground this afternoon by reaching the decider.

Paul McCormack's side were unquestionably the strongest team in Ulster this year, but they face a serious challenge in Parnell Park today in the form of back-to-back Galway champions Loughrea.

Will there finally be some festive cheer for Slaughtneil? Stay with us as we take you through the action until its conclusion.