The four remaining teams have fought their way through to this stage from the opening round way back at the end of January and will do battle this Sunday in a bid to reach the Easter Sunday showpiece in Athy.

Wicklow v Skerries Seconds at Cill Dara RFC (3pm)

Reigning champions Wicklow have rode their luck at times to reach the last four. In the opening round, they needed a late penalty to get over Kilkenny, while in the quarter-final it was the try and conversion combo in injury time from Shane Farrar and Niall Earls that forced extra-time against Enniscorthy.

Having already secured the Leinster league Division 1B title, they are on a crest of wave and have the recent experience of last year’s triumph to call on.

Niall Earls captains the side and he is once again on top form.

Earls excelled in the final last year and he has remained as trusty with the boot this season while also being very comfortable in the number 10 slot.

While coming through a few tight affairs, they can also rack up the points as proven in their second round win over Cill Dara, a venue they will return to on Sunday to take on Skerries.

The second string of Skerries have been the bolter in the group. Often it is hard to know what way a club’s second team will perform in the Cup but the Skerries men are certainly there on merit.

With a big win over Roscrea in the opening round, they travelled to Portlaoise in the second round and overcame a potential banana skin in impressive fashion on a day when conditions were not conducive to good rugby.

Their quarter-final win over Clondalkin was just as impressive and, like their Wicklow counterparts, they have a number 10 in fine form in the shape of Billy Mulcahy.

With AIL experience behind him this season with their first team, he was excellent in the win over Clondalkin and his clever chip-and-chase try proved the difference in the end, while his kicking has also been on song.

Both sides have won on the road in the competition with Wicklow’s three wins all coming on their travels. It may well come down to who has that extra bit of class outside the two kickers.

Both have proven that they can score tries when the opportunities arrive and both will have the confidence in their ability to win.

Something has to give.

Ashbourne v Tullow at Edenderry RFC (3pm)

There is only one place to start when previewing this one.

In their three wins so far to make it to the semi-final, Tullow have yet to concede a single score; 60-0, 42-0 and 50-0 is their record to date and it is quite amazing that their defence has yet to be breached.

You could argue that Ashbourne will be their first Division 1A side that they have faced this season but not conceding a score and running in over 20 tries in the process makes them the form team of the four remaining.

Last time out against North Kildare, William Cass O’Brien grabbed a brace of tries while Ryan O’Neill also registered a try along with 15 points with the boot.

Under the watchful eye of their most famous son – Sean O’Brien, they were unstoppable.

Ashbourne will without doubt be the toughest side they have faced to date. With Casey Dunne to the fore, the Meath men got the better of Division 1A league rivals Gorey in the quarter-final, a week after Gorey beat them in the league.

The Ashbourne men also have a cup in the bag already this season with the All-Ireland Junior Cup bestowed upon them at the beginning of the year, while also having a steady year in the league.

Jake Wall was outstanding in their quarter-final win over Gorey while Dunne has been in top class form.

Ashbourne have also gone the distance with Naas seconds in round two with the sides needing extra-time to be separated.

Ashbourne have had the tougher games and could be more battle hardened but Tullow will bring toughness and flair topped up by their impressive run to date.

Edenderry RFC will see two sets of combatants collide but only one can come out on top.

It is the type of a game where the first score will be vital. If Ashbourne get it, it will be the first points conceded by Tullow but if Tullow were to get it their confidence would rocket even higher.