Our GAA Ambassador, John Mullane has hit some mighty tips already this year, he’s keen to keep that wee sliotar rolling this weekend.
John Mullane’s Best Hurling Bets
Saturday – 6pm – Limerick v Galway
Limerick To Win By 1-3 Points
Conor Whelan First Goalscorer
Sunday – 4pm – Clare v Kilkenny
Clare to Win by 1-3 points
Mark Rodgers First Goalscorer
*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.
Limerick v Galway
Saturday, 6pm
TV: RTE 2, BBC 1 Northern Ireland
Limerick To Win By 1-3 Points
Limerick have had a much-needed break coming into this game, they’ve had four weeks to prepare after winning a Munster Championship that was very taxing. All four of the teams they faced; Waterford, Tipperary, Cork and Clare all threw the kitchen sink at Limerick and they still came out on top. They now find themselves just two games away now from pulling off four in-a-row All-Ireland wins.
Henry Shefflin’s Galway team have been a tad unlucky this season. They should have won the Leinster Final against Kilkenny but for that last minute goal from Killian Buckey for the Cats. But, they responded well, they got that win against Tipperary in the last round and they now find themselves 72 or 73 minutes away from reaching an All-Ireland Final.
This game really whets the appetite, there are some really mouth-watering match-ups across the field to look forward to. From a Galway point of view, I think it’s crucial that Cathal Mannion has got to play very, very well and Conor Whelan too. It’ll be interesting to see where Shefflin will deploy Mannion, he got a lot of joy in this fixture last year, he scored four points. Conor Whelan was very quiet in this game last year and for them to have any chance this year both are going to have to play very well.
I wouldn’t have Limerick priced as overwhelming favourites, they’re missing the best man-marker in the game at the moment, Sean Finn. He’s their captain and their spiritual leader. Declan Hannon is gone too. We don’t know if Cian Lynch will start as well. That would give some advantage to Galway but it’s easier said than done.
Limerick still have the best players from Number 5 up to Number 12 and are the best team in the Middle Third of the field and that’s why I’d lean towards Limerick winning this by 1-3 points.
Conor Whelan First Goalscorer
I’d go for Conor Whelan here, he’s on form at the moment. He could’ve had three goals against Tipperary in Limerick’s last match and he came up with a big goal at the start of the second half so I’d back him to do the business again.
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Clare v Kilkenny
Sunday 4pm
TV: RTE 2, BBC 1 Northern Ireland
Clare to Win by 1-3 points
Kilkenny have beaten them all and done it all before at this stage so this is going to be a huge ask for Clare to come out on top. It’s not as easy as many people think; that Clare can just turn up and overturn Kilkenny. It just doesn’t work like that. There’s one sure thing here, Kilkenny will turn up on All-Ireland semi final day and they will perform. It’s going to take a Limerick-esque type of performance from Clare to overcome this Kilkenny team.
However, I think that Clare over the field have the better players here, as the Cats have a few more players missing going into the game. If Clare can keep it tight at the back, don’t concede too many goals and keep that type of performance that they had over the Munster Championship, I think they can go this distance. It won’t be easy but I see them edging this by a small margin so I’d back them to win by 1-3 points.
Mark Rodgers First Goalscorer
In terms of goals this one might be cagey enough. Clare manager Brian Lohan will know that they got opened up at this stage last year so I reckon they’ll keep it tight at the back. I think there will be goals but not too many. I certainly wouldn’t think we’ll see anything like Over 3.5 goals. Actually, I’d back Under 3.5 Goals in both games for a wee Double.
Eoin Cody and TJ Reid will test the water for Kilkenny, high balls will be sent in for them to latch onto. Walter Walsh would have to get a mention too. But I’d have to go with Mark Rodgers, he’s been excellent over the last couple of games for Clare.
John Mullane’s Best Hurling Bets
Saturday – 6pm – Limerick v Galway
Limerick To Win By 1-3 Points
Conor Whelan First Goalscorer
Sunday – 4pm – Clare v Kilkenny
Clare to Win by 1-3 points
Mark Rodgers First Goalscorer
*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.
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