All-Ireland Hurling semi-final: Tipperary v Wexford predictions

Tipperary v Wexford
RTE2, 3.30pm Sunday, Croke Park

Tipperary and Wexford rolled into their provincial finals on June 30 following positive round-robin campaigns but those afternoons could not have worked out more differently.

As Davy Fitzgerald was leading Wexford to the promised land of a first provincial title since 2004, Liam Sheedy was deep in the bowels of the Gaelic Grounds trying to figure out where it all went wrong for Tipperary.

The days that followed in Wexford were a joy to behold but they will have moved swiftly on and it's back to business now. The challenge at hand is a difficult one, but one they have the ability to overcome.

Wexford's celebrations dominated the headlines following their Leinster success and it's possible the manner of their victory over Kilkenny was lost in the euphoria.

In reality, they outplayed and out-thought Kilkenny. Davy Fitzgerald is long regarded as one of the top managers in hurling and although is constantly criticized for his style of hurling with Wexford, there's no doubt he gets the best out of these players and that it's working for his team. Fitzgerald's brain is the key to Wexford's success and he can take them another step further on Sunday afternoon.

Fitzgerald will have learnt a lot about his side in that Leinster final success but perhaps the most important thing he will have learned that day is how to beat Tipperary.

In the Munster final, Limerick showed exactly how and Wexford's style is set up to do the same. Wexford will look to flood the middle of the field and hound the Tipperary players. Tipperary's team is of the older vintage and they struggled as Limerick's workrate came to the fore. If there's one thing Davy Fitz has in spades, it's a team that will listen to him, follow his plan, and fight to the death.

It's worth remembering that up to that Munster final Tipperary were the form team in Ireland but were made to look very ordinary that day. The loss of Bonnar Maher and Cathal Barrett cannot be understated and although Barrett should return on Sunday, the problems for Tipperary start further out the field.

While the Tipperary defence struggled in Barrett’s absence, Tipperary found it difficult to to get any clean possession around midfield and so laboured to launch attacks. They were closed down at every opportunity and any chance they had to get going was spoiled.

Wexford will do the same. Their greatest asset is their workrate and fighting spirit and that will count for a lot. Tipperary have some top players and if they are allowed to play they can shoot big scores, as they did throughout the round-robin series of Munster. In Davy Fitzgerald though, the Wexford players have a master tactician and motivator and they have a huge chance of upsetting the odds.

In the player markets, Rory O’Connor looks to be value at evens to score at least three points. The Wexford man has scored a minimum of two points in every game this year and hit four in the Leinster final. He will be key to Wexford’s chances.

Recommendations
Wexford +3
2pts 21-20 Hills
Wexford
1pt 9-4 general
Rory O’Connor to score over 2.5pts
2pts Evs BoyleSports

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport