GAA Hurling: Sunday tips, betting preview & TV details

Kilkenny v Limerick - Nowlan Park

TV: Premier Sports 1, 2pm Sunday

It seems Limerick's hangover was cured faster than anyone expected. It is almost as if the All-Ireland hurling champions didn't take a break at all after lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 1973.

Limerick's 1-21 to 1-14 triumph over Tipperary sent out an early statement of intent in NHL Division 1 and they have maximum points having disposed of Wexford in round one.

But a trip to Nowlan Park to take on a new and improved Kilkenny side is their toughest test to date and the home side look overpriced.

Brian Cody's simple style of hurling seems to be evolving into a more tactical game-plan with possession now seen as a more valuable commodity than it has been during most of his tenure. There were encouraging signs in their victory over Cork and more when they were edged out by Clare.

Kevin Kelly's accuracy from placed balls was one of the highlights of that Clare encounter, he scored 1-11 and looks a real find. Walter Walsh has recovered from injury to make his first start of the season at centre-forward and his return is a major boost in the absence of the superb TJ Reid. Paul Murphy is also recalled to wing-back, another vital cog in the Cody machine.

Limerick deserve to be favourites but there is too much of a gap between the prices, especially since Kilkenny are the Division 1 league champions.

Home advantage is crucial in these early-season showdowns and Kilkenny are notoriously tricky to dismantle at Nowlan Park, so the advice is to take the 15-8 with BoyleSports for the hosts to win by two points or more.

Recommendation
Kilkenny -1
2pts 15-8 BoyleSports

Wexford v Tipperary - Innovate Wexford Park, 2pm Sunday

Neither of Wexford's games in Division 1A have got close to the 44.5 total points line (was originally 45.5) set by BoyleSports for their tussle with Tipperary, while the Premier County's victory over Clare yielded just 36 points.

Indeed, even Tipperary's open and enjoyable joust with Limerick reached only 41 points.

The average points total in the four games that Wexford and Tipperary have been involved in this spring is 38, so it makes sense to back the unders.

Goals could be hard to come by too, as neither side have conceded more than a single goal in any of their outings to date. That makes the 11-8 about under 2.5 goals appealing.

Recommendations
Under 44.5 points
3pts Evs BoyleSports
Under 2.5 goals
2pts 11-8 BoyleSports

Galway v Dublin - Pearse Stadium

TV: TG4, 2pm Sunday

Judging by what we have seen so far, Galway won't be winning the league title this spring and Dublin won't get many better chances to exact revenge on the side who have handed them plenty of misery in the last decade.

Whether it was down to complacency or not, Galway cannot be in a great place if they are unable to account for Carlow, a side they regularly beat by double digits.

Their opening-round victory over Laois, albeit by nine points, wasn't overly impressive either and there were sloppy patches of play. It seems the Tribesmen are putting all their eyes in the championship basket in 2019.

Dublin have made a bright start to their league campaign under new boss Mattie Kenny, seeing off Carlow by six points and having 13 to spare over Offaly.

This is a huge game for Dublin hurling. It means much more to them tha it does to Galway and they can cause a shock. Dublin have yet to concede a goal this spring, while there was no green flag raised in Galway's stalemate with Carlow.

With that in mind, investing in under 2.5 goals could be a shrewd move.

Recommendations
Dublin
2pts 11-4 Hills, Sky Bet
Under 2.5 goals
2pts 13-8 BoyleSports

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