GAA: Hurling betting preview featuring Tipperary v Limerick, tips & TV details

Tipperary v Limerick
Premier Sports 1, 2pm Sunday
Semple Stadium

There were a few surprises when the teams for this clash were announced on Friday, especially in Limerick, where captain Declan Hannon, Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch, Graeme Mulcahy and Gearoid Hegarty were all dropped from the starting 15. Hannon has started every championship game since 2015 so clearly John Kiely is aiming to change things up as he looks further ahead in the season.

The Limerick starting 15 is still seriously strong and the players coming in have consistently proved their worth off the bench so there’s no denying that they were due a chance. Shane Dowling is one of those who has been a super-sub in recent years and he, more than anyone, will be champing at the bit to take his chance.

Tipperary have made a few changes of their own though and it will be interesting to see how James Barry and Sean O’Brien fare in the full-back line as this has been an area of vulnerability this year.

Jake Morris also breaks into the forward line and Liam Sheedy will be looking for something big from his new recruits as we’ve yet to see much from the Tipperary panel this year.

Tipperary are already guaranteed a Munster final spot so Sheedy has little to lose naming those few changes but Limerick are likely to finish third if they lose this clash. Although that worked out well for them last year, they’ll be keen to add a Munster medal to their collection so there’s no chance of them rolling over.

With a poor day forecast and both sides naming players looking to make a name for themselves, this is sure to be a proper battle with a congested middle third so the value lies with unders on the points market.

Recommendation
Under 51.5 points
3pts 5-6 Betfair, Paddy Power

Clare v Cork
2pm Sunday, Cusack Park

These two sides could hardly be going in more different directions. Clare have just recorded two of their worst ever results while Cork seem to be motoring nicely, albeit without shooting the lights out in the way their Munster rivals Tipperary and Limerick have.

Clare go into this home tie with huge questions to answer following their 18-point drubbing against Limerick last week and it’s quite difficult to see where a fightback will come from.

Clare were dealt a few blows at the start of the championship with some injury casualties but the big problem from their perspective is that their leaders haven’t stood up as they did last year.

Tony Kelly has been anonymous in his last two games and although he was well marshalled by Brendan Maher two weeks ago, he was left unmarked by Limerick’s Declan Hannon last week and still failed to make any impression. Similarly, John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell have been disappointing in the inside line and they were beaten to every ball last weekend. That killer goal threat that Clare once had seems to have gone.

Cork have recovered well from their opening-round loss to Tipperary and they’ll be expected to win this comfortably on all known form. It was slightly worrying for John Meyler, however, that they conceded quite a lot to a poor Waterford side last week and they were cut open on numerous occasions. Although they have rectified some of the issues they had last year, if they are going to progress to the next level, they’ll need to tighten up defensively.

They have the perfect opportunity to do so though in a tight contest at Cusack Park and while they should progress fairly comfortably, they should be aiming to keep a clean sheet against a Clare side who have shown little goal threat in the championship.

Recommendations
Cork -5
2pts 6-5 Betway
No Clare goal
1pt 12-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

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