We'll get a good inkling of Championshp intentions this Sunday
John Mullane flicks through the betting in a huge hurling weekend
You would’ve been able to have a good chance of predicting the Allianz Hurling League quarter final line-up back when it started in February. What you might not have called is how it came about. We’ve now got Galway and Cork in a relegation decider in Division 1 and Clare automatically promoted. I’ve scoured through the odds and picked out this 6/1 bet of Galway, Tipperary, Offaly +11 and Waterford -6
Division 2 Relegation playoff (Sat 5pm)
Kerry vs Laois – Austin Stack Park
Kerry finished on the same points total as Offaly and Wexford but are in a relegation playoff as a result of head to head. Such is the Allianz League but I can’t stress how huge it would be for hurling in the smaller counties for Kerry to beat Laois in Austin Stack Park this evening.
From a punters point of view I would not be going near Laois. The odds for Kerry are very appealing. All the pressure is on them, but how many times have we said that this season?
Mystic Mullane says: Kerry win at odds of
Division 1 quarter finals
Dublin vs Limerick – 7pm Saturday in Parnell Park
Limerick will be fuming that they weren’t able to beat Clare and get promoted last week, so they’ll want to silence any doubters by beating Dublin in Parnell Park, as well as getting revenge for their exit in the Championship at the hands of Dublin.
Dublin haven’t lost in Parnell since 2011 though and look good under Ger Cunningham so far. That’s a sensational record and it makes the way the draw went fortunate for the Dubs. They beat Limerick last season in the league. They turned over Waterford in Walsh Park which is something not a lot of teams have done recently. Limerick are talented but I just can’t see Dublin losing at home
Mystic Mullane says:A Dublin win at odds of
Wexford vs Waterford – Sunday 3:30pm in Innovate Wexford Park
Waterford are the league champions and they will enjoy the match in Wexford on Sunday. They won there by 5 or 6 points last season.
The Model County have a tendency to pull a shock result out of the bag every now again particularly at home. But it’s scheduled to be a poor day weather wise. Wexford will put up a serious fight but for me it’s really hard to look beyond Waterford. I think they’ll cover the handicap of -6
Mystic Mullane says: Waterford -6 at odds of
Kilkenny vs Offaly – Sunday 3:45pm in Nowlan Park
As is so often the case with Nowlan Park, it’s how close can Offaly keep the scoreboard. Kilkenny are unbackable at such short odds, there’s not point because they are that good. TJ Reid is showing the form to suggest that he could well retain his Player of the Year title. But I think the handicap of 11 is a bit harsh on Offaly. They’re a sleeping giant and one of these days they’ll awake again. Take Offaly at +11
Mystic Mullane says: Offaly +11 at odds of
Clare vs Tipperary – 3:45pm Sunday at Cusack Park
Anytime Tipp visit Cusack Park it draws a huge crowd. It’s an old-school rivalry from the 90’s and it’s always a proper hard game of hurling. I was at the Tipperary and Cork game last week. Seamus Callinan was key to the win.
Clare won Division 1B but picked up injuries to David McEnerney and Shane O’Donnell. Add the missing Tony Kelly to that and I’m tipping a Tipperary win.
Clare like to set up defensibly but I think that John McGrath is a great bet for first goalscorer on Sunday afternoon.
Mystic Mullane says: John McGrath to score the first goal at odds of
Division 1 Relegation Playoff
Galway vs Cork – 3:45pm Sunday at Pearse Stadium
Cork are in trouble. I think it’s very very hard to look beyond Galway.
The Rebels are paying the price for not investing in their youth over the last few years. Going down to Division 1B again could hurt them massively. They do have some talent like Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane, but I don’t think they have enough in them to cause an upset.
Galway are great frontrunners if they get the lead, so look at a double result with them to be winning at halftime and fulltime.
Mystic Mullane says: Galway HT/FT at odds of