Cork v Clare, Semple Stadium, 2pm Sunday
Clare – Evens
Cork and Clare meet in the Munster Final for the second successive year and it’s likely to be another tight encounter between two well matched sides.
The Rebels ran out five point winners when these sides met in round one, but it was an extremely close game that could have gone either way. The Banner County have been a team on fire since then however, winning three on the bounce, including a late surge against Tipperary and a domination of Limerick in Ennis.
They’ve returned to the style that was so successful in 2013 and many of the stars of that year are hitting form once again, including then Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly. Peter Duggan has been the on song upfront for Clare this year, hitting 1-42 across the four games and he has been vital to the Clare attack.
The prices indicate that these sides are evenly matched, but Clare may just hold the edge.
Racing Post pick: Clare
Galway v Kilkenny, Croke Park, 4pm Sunday
Galway (-4) – Evens
Galway look to defend their Leinster crown as they face Kilkenny in Croke Park later on Sunday afternoon. Galway were comprehensive winners when these sides met in Pearse Stadium earlier in the year and Brian Cody’s Kilkenny side may find it very difficult to change the result this time around.
The Tribesmen completely outmuscled and outclassed Kilkenny in that encounter, but Kilkenny may take some encouragement from the fact it was their third game in successive weeks.
For Galway, Conor Whelan and Conor Cooney have been the flying up front this year and they’ve taken the pressure away from Joe Canning who himself has been in top form. Their defence has been equally impressive with Daithi Burke and Gearoid McInerney down the centre and they held The Cats to just 17 points when they met in Salthill.
Expect Galway to easily surpass the handicap on the return to the wide expanses of Croke Park
Racing Post pick: Galway (-4)
Kildare v Mayo, Newbridge, 7pm Saturday
Kildare to lead at half-time – 2/1
Kildare have hogged the headlines all week, with Cian O’Neill taking the stance of Newbridge or nowhere for this round three qualifier clash with Mayo.
For once the GAA listened and now it is up to the Lilywhites to show why they wanted home advantage so much. Surely Kildare will explode from the traps and try to make an early statement of intent.
They managed to score 1-12 in the first half of the round one qualifier win over Derry and led Dublin and Donegal at half-time in their Division 1 tussles this spring. Mayo are notoriously slow starters and trailed both Galway (0-7 to 0-6) and Tipperary (1-7 to 0-8) at the halfway point in two of their championship clashes already this summer.
Kildare are 2/1 with Paddy Power to lead at half-time and that looks great value.
Racing Post pick: Kildare to lead at half-time
Head over to PaddyPower.com for the latest GAA odds* All odds correct at time of posting.