Cork v Waterford predictions and hurling betting tips: Deise can prevail

Free GAA hurling tips, best bets and match previews for Saturday's Allianz Hurling League final.

Where to watch

TG4, 7.15pm Saturday

Best bets

Over 52.5 points
3pts 5-6 Betfair, Paddy Power

Waterford to win and both teams to score a goal
3pts 9-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Waterford win and over 52.5 points
2pts 3-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Over 3.5 goals
1pt 5-4 general

Dessie Hutchinson to score a goal
1pt 6-4 general

Dessie Hutchinson to win TG4 player of the match
1pt 7-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Already advised

Waterford to win Division 1
1pt each-way 15-2 February 4

Cork v Waterford Preview

Confidence will surely be extremely high in the Waterford camp after they ran riot against a previously unbeaten Wexford side last weekend, and the Deise are fancied to claim just the fourth Allianz Hurling League title in their history against Cork on Saturday.

Holes could have been poked in some of Wexford's form prior to that semi-final clash, and a direct line shouldn't be drawn by the fact that Cork lost by five points to the Leinster side on March 20. That fifth-round tie was effectively a dead rubber as both sides were already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages.

However, it's impossible to get away from how impressive Liam Cahill's side were against Wexford. Especially considering they were without top talents Jamie Barron, Stephen Bennett, Conor Prunty and Calum Lyons.

Life doesn't get any easier without Austin Gleeson, who is suspended, but Waterford have the pace and ruthlessness to cause the Rebels real problems. While Cork produced a strong display to edge out Kilkenny in a game that saw a total of 56 points last weekend, the Deise are set to ask different questions of last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists.

Waterford are very capable of putting up substantial scoring tallies, as shown when finishing with 5-20 at Wexford, while Cork's tally of ten goals and 117 points in their five fixtures was by far the best scoring record in Division 1A.

Against that backdrop, over 52.5 points looks a very achievable marker. Odds of 3-1 about Waterford winning and at least 53 points being scored makes plenty of appeal.

The last time Cork failed to score a goal in an Allianz League or Championship game was February 2019, while Waterford have scored 18 goals during their six games in this year's League.

That makes the 9-4 about Waterford winning and each team to score a goal a solid selection, as well as over 3.5 goals in the game.

One of the more remarkable things about Waterford's ready win over Wexford last time was that goal-hungry forward Dessie Hutchinson came away with only1-2.

He could easily have bagged a hat-trick but for some superb goalkeeping but is bound to be in the thick of things again now.

There are doubts over whether we'll see key attacker Stephen Bennett in action for the Deise on Saturday, so Hutchinson is worth supporting at 6-4 to score a goal, as well as in the TG4 player of the match market at 7-1.

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