*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Paddy Power’s GAA ambassador John Mullane takes a look through two Championship games this weekend, to find the best value in the action.
John’s looking at the Leinster Championship, picking out his top tips for three Saturday fixtures. First Laois look to cover a massive handicap against Galway, Westmeath face Wexford, and at 7pm, he’s looking forward to a tight match as Dublin play Kilkenny.
And Sunday’s all about Munster, it’s a double header as Waterford look to get back on track after defeat to Limerick, but if Cork don’t win – they’re out. After that match, Clare welcome visitors Limerick to Ennis at 4pm.
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Saturday 5pm: Laois v Galway
JOHN: The 19 point handicap in this one is a lot. Laois covered it against Westmeath, but they can be hot and cold. I think 19 points is an awful lot, but they’ll be keen to perform well in front of their home fans.
I’m gonna go for Laois to cover the handicap, but Galway to win this game, I think Galway will win by between 13 to 15 points. But I think if Laoish perform, they’re well capable of covering the handicap.
Saturday 6.30pm: Westmeath v Wexford
JOHN: Scoring averages may come in to the equation come the end of the season. This time out the handicap is 12, and I think Wexford will go after that 12 point spread. I think Wexford had their best team out last time against Laois, and possibly should’ve played the same team against the Doves and Galway in the first two games.
I think Wexford will go right after that 12 point spread, and they may go above it, and win by between 13 to 15 points.
Saturday 7pm: Dublin v Kilkenny
JOHN: I think this is gonna be a tight affair, I fully expect that this game is gonna go down to the wire on Saturday night. I think Dublin are gonna bring it, and it’s going to very interesting to see how Kilkenny are going to react after that one point loss last time out – I think Kilkenny will turn up and will perform.
I think Dublin will certaintly cover the handicap of +3, I think there’s going to be one or two points in this again, either way. I’ll stick my neck on the line and go for Kilkenny to come out on top in a close affair. Dublin won by a point last time out, and Kilkenny lost by a point, and I think there’s going to be very little in it again.
For the first goalscorer, I keep sticking my head on the block for Ronan Hayes. Something is telling me he’s going to come good at one stage. He didn’t do it against Wexford, he didn’t do it last time out either. But hopefully third time lucky, I’m gonna stick with Ronan Hayes first goalscorer.
Sunday 2pm: Waterford v Cork
JOHN: It’s a massive game for both counties. We were waiting to see how Cork would react after the Limerick defeat, and we didn’t see the right response against Clare. Waterford on the other hand were impressive against Limerick for large parts of the match, but this is a must win game for Waterford, because if Clare go on to beat Limerick, it becomes out of their hands. Waterford have to totally focus on beating Cork to stay in the competition.
I think Cork will perform on Sunday, which is why it will be a dangerous game for Waterford, but if the home team get off to a good start, and get the home following behind them, I think Waterford will win this game. I think they may just cover the 4 point spread, and win by 4 to 6 points.
Sunday may be the day where Stephen Bennett raises his first green flag in the Championship for Waterford, and may be the best pick for first goalscorer.
Sunday 4pm: Clare v Limerick
JOHN: It’s nearly a given that Limerick are in the Munster final, their scoring average is so high, and it’s looking between Clare and Waterford for the second spot – so this one’s a big game for Clare. You may see Limerick rest up a couple of lads, because there’s a strong possibility that if Clare win this match, these two teams could meet in the Munster final again.
I’m gonna go for a Clare win – it could be a bit like 2019 when Tipperary met Limerick in a dead rubber, but faced each other again in the Munster final, and Limerick came back and won in the Munster Final, so something like that could possibly happen. I think there’s a bit of value with Clare at just under 2/1, so I’m gonna go for a Clare win, with their home advantage – a difficult venue to go to as well – and Clare to cover the +4 handicap.
I think the one player I would be resting this weekend is Aaron Gillane if I was Limerick, I don’t know why you’d risk him this weekend in a hostile place to go to in Clare. The likelihood, I think, is that Aaron Gillane won’t take to the field, I’d bring in Seamus Flanaghan. It will be interesting to see if that happens when the teams are named. But for a first goalscorer, I’m gonna go for Peter Duggan for Clare.
John Mullane’s Championship Tips This Weekend
Saturday 5pm: Laois v Galway
Saturday 6.30pm: Westmeath v Wexford
Saturday 7pm: Dublin v Kilkenny
Sunday 2pm: Waterford v Cork
Sunday 4pm: Clare v Limerick
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
READ MORE
- Head over to Paddy Power News for all the latest GAA tips
- GAA Tips: Aidan O’Mahony’s best Championship football tips this weekend
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