Not sure who to back in the league final?
Let Mystic John Mullane guide your way
Such is the nature of the GAA season that the Allianz Leagues haven’t even finished and the Championship has started. The Leinster championship begins on Sunday evening while the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups threw in yesterday. But the focus goes on Clare and Waterford as they take centre stage as part of my 79/1 win-draw-win treble.
Clare vs Waterford – 3:30pm – Semple Stadium
This is a very very hard game to call. Two evenly matches teams with two experienced and tactical managers in charge. There is sure to be plenty of huge hits and I don’t think it’ll be one for the purists.
Listen, we know what Waterford’s style is these days. They like to set up defensively and employ the sweeper to repel any attacks. They’re a bit like the Atletico Madrid of hurling in the sense that they are very hard to break down.
Clare on the other hand have probably the most exciting forward line in the country. They’ll have the personnel both on and off the field to take on this robust Deise defence. You of course have the Davy Fitzgerald factor as he’s previously managed Waterford. Will he have an inkling of some of Waterford’s younger stars? Hard to tell.
This will be decided by three key battles.
- Conor McGrath is going to have to get loose from Noel Connors at cornerback,
- Tadgh De Búrca against former player of the year Tony Kelly
- Brendan Bugler vs a future All-Star in Shane Bennett. All three are mouthwatering.
Because of how well Waterford have nullified the likes of Cork and Kilkenny so far this year, I can see them shutting out Clare. They don’t score many goals themselves so the odds of for NO GOALS IN THE MATCH are tempting. I think UNDER 43.5 points at is also worth a punt. My main tip though is for the match to end in a DRAW after 70 minutes at big odds of . It’s that close.
Leinster Championship
Kerry vs Carlow – 1pm – Austin Stack Park
Kerry have been the standout team this year in the leagues and at home are my NAP of the week against a Carlow side that struggled in division 2. Kerry win at
Westmeath vs Offaly – 3pm – Cusack Park
Offaly are the favourites but I think they could be in a bit of toruble now. Cusack Park is a close and small ground, it’s not one you want to go to as a hurler. Westmeath won Division 2, but missed out in the playoff. Talisman Shane Dooley’s missing for Offaly, so back the home side. Westmeath win at