Hurling predictions and GAA tips: Galway can rule over the Rebels in crunch tie

Free GAA hurling tips, best bets and match previews for this weekend's All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Best bets

Galway
2pts 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Alan Connolly to score a goal
1pt 9-4 BoyleSports

Darragh Fitzgibbon to score a goal
1pt 15-4 BoyleSports

Clare -5
2pts 11-10 BoyleSports

John Conlon RTE Man Of The Match
1pt 16-1 BoyleSports

Cork v Galway

RTE, 1.45pm Sunday

It’s seven years since Cork last met Galway in the Championship, and they return to the scene of the last meeting where the Rebels succumbed to a Cathal Mannion-inspired Galway by 2-28 to 0-22.

The Tribesmen have won the last four meetings, and although the pair have contested six All-Ireland finals, their last five championship clashes have failed to yield a champion that year.

Today’s match comes in similar circumstances to that 2015 meeting, when Galway were handsomely beaten in the Leinster final before arriving in Thurles to produce a magical performance over a Cork side who came in via the back door.

Although the scoreline suggested differently, Galway were outclassed in the Leinster showpiece, and now have a chance at redemption to get their year back on track.

On paper, this has the makings of a tight encounter, but a fully tuned-up Galway are a tough nut to crack, and 6-4 is value that is too good to turn down.

Their Leinster final performance was too bad to be true, and with all that added pressure of the ‘Cody v Shefflin’ saga now off their shoulders, they can let their hurling do the talking.

Cork’s goalscoring prowess is stronger than Galway’s on this year’s showing, with the Rebels raising 11 green flags from their five championship outings. Seven of those 11 goals have come from the sticks of Alan Connolly (four) and Darragh Fitzgibbon and this is an area where Galway can be exploited.

The pair have been two of Kieran Kingston's standout men in the championship, and it would be no surprise to see them raise another green flag in Semple Stadium.

Clare v Wexford

RTE, 3.45pm Sunday

Wexford arrive at this All-Ireland quarter-final following of wins over Kilkenny and Kerry and are sure to come out all guns blazing, but in their way is a Clare side who are performing at their best since their last All-Ireland triumph in 2013.

The Banner are back in Thurles after an epic Munster final defeat to Limerick, one which they felt slipped away in normal time.

They have been excellent throughout the championship, trouncing Tipperary and Waterford, defeating Cork and drawing with Limerick twice before losing the final in extra time.

Their formbook stacks up impressively, and they should be able to cover a five-point handicap.

Clare will no doubt look to talisman Tony Kelly for inspiration, but in centre back John Conlon, they have a leader who often goes unnoticed.

Conlon has been a revelation since moving to number six and is a rock at the heart of the Clare defence. He’s powerful in the air, strong on the ball and in contact, and can often chip in with a score or two which he learned from his days at wing forward.

The Clonlara man is worth taking a chance on for the RTE man-of-the-match award. With a semi-final date with Kilkenny on the line, he is sure to put his best foot forward.

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