All-Ireland Championship: hurling match previews, where to watch, free tips & TV

Free hurling tips, best bets and analysis for the weekend's All-Ireland Championship semi-finals.

Kilkenny v Waterford

When to watch

RTE2 and Sky Sports Mix, 6pm Saturday

Best bets

Kilkenny -1
3pts 10-11 Bet Victor

Colin Fennelly first goalscorer
1pt 7-1 Paddy Power

Colin Fennelly anytime goalscorer
1pt 7-4 Boylesports

Over 1.5 Kilkenny goals
1pt 4-5 Paddy Power

Kilkenny to face Limerick in the All Ireland Hurling Championship Final
1pt 11-8 Paddy Power

Preview

The two shortest-priced contenders to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup face off in Sunday's semi-final, but Saturday's showdown between Kilkenny and Waterford has the makings of a mouthwatering encounter, with the Cats taken to advance given concerns about the Deise having their third game in 13 days.

Waterford have arguably been the more entertaining team this winter but a congested schedule has continuously caught out teams in this unique championship.

Dublin exited the competition when defeated by Cork on their third game in 14 days earlier this month, the same scheduling that the Rebels met when knocked out by Tipperary a week later and Clare encountered last weekend against Waterford.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny come here fresh after a momentum-building win against Galway in the Leinster Final, a game the Tribesmen were dominant in for long spells.

Brian Cody's side finished strongly and kept their hopes alive with a 40-second frenzy that saw them bag two goals, inspired by a phenomenal Richie Hogan performance off the bench.

Kilkenny have long held an advantage over their close neighbours, and Waterford's extra-time win in the 2017 qualifiers was their first championship triumph over the Cats in 58 years.

Of course, both sides are have changed a fair deal since then and Liam Cahill has done a terrific job of rejuvenating Waterford this year, but this will be a huge test for a young Deise outfit.

The room for Kilkenny to improve from that Galway win will drive Cody's side on, and considering TJ Reid was kept to just a goal and a point from play - and Walter Walsh and Colin Fennelly were scoreless - there could be a serious response to come from their key attackers.

Waterford looked a little leaky at the back in terms of conceding goals against Clare last week, allowing the Banner to raise three green flags, and Kilkenny captain Colin Fennelly may be set to bounce back in a big way.

The two-time All Star winner will surely be extremely motivated to make a statement after being subbed off in the Leinster Final and is worth supporting at 7-4 for a goal anytime and 7-1 to bag the first of the match.

The 4-5 about Kilkenny scoring over 1.5 goals also makes some appeal and they can cover a one-point handicap on their way to meeting Limerick in the decider on December 13.

Limerick v Galway

When to watch

RTE2 and Sky Sports Mix, 4pm Sunday

Best bets

Limerick -2
3pts 10-11 Betway

Over 55.5 points
3pts 6-4 Boylesports

Over 28.5 Limerick points
1pt evens Boylesports

Preview

Limerick have looked the complete package in this year's All Ireland Hurling Championship and there's no reason to believe they're about to end their season at the penultimate hurdle, for all that Galway arrive here with confidence high after a thrilling win to knock out reigning champions Tipperary last week.

John Kiely's men have arguably been the best team in hurling for the past three seasons and have been an unstoppable force in this year's Munster Championship, putting up a whopping 36 points on Clare when winning back-to-back National League titles before outclassing Tipperary by scoring an impressive 3-23.

The 2018 All Ireland champions likely weren't at their best and were faced with severe intensity from Waterford in the Munster decider last time, but still managed to emerge victorious with four points to spare, earning them a valuable break from competitive action.

Limerick have averaged 31 points a game in this year's championship and can exceed the 28.5-point marker set, as well as contributing to the game exceeding 55.5 overall points.

Galway boss Shane O'Neill is a Limerick native with an extensive knowledge of the Treaty operation but his men are in an almost identical boat to Waterford this weekend in the sense that they are playing their third game in 15 days.

That won't be straightforward against a fresh and hungry Limerick side who will be eager to vanish the demons of their defeat to Kilkenny at this stage of last year's competition.

The key to Galway's success last week was the trio of goals they scored, the last coming after Tipperary had been controversially reduced to 14 men in the second half, but for all that Limerick's attacking play is praised, their defensive prowess sometimes is a little forgotten about.

The Treaty have not conceded more than two goals in any league or championship game since John Kiely's first season in charge back in 2017 and are a confident selection to cover a two-point handicap on their way to the final.

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