Hurling predictions & betting tips: Improving Limerick can outclass Cork

Free GAA hurling tips, best bets and match previews for this weekend's Allianz Hurling League fixtures.

Best bets

Dublin
1pt 2-1 Ladbrokes

Dublin +3
2pts 5-6 BoyleSports

A draw or either team to win by fewer than four points in Galway v Wexford
1pt 10-11 Ladbrokes

Laois +13
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports

Limerick -3
2pts 21-20 bet365

Limerick-Limerick double result
1pt Evs BoyleSports

Limerick v Cork

TG4, 3.45pm Sunday

Limerick rebounded from back-to-back defeats early in last year's league campaign to run out comfortable eight-point winners over Cork and the reigning All-Ireland title holders enter this weekend's contest in a similar situation.

John Kiely won't be overly panicked by what he saw in defeats to Wexford and Galway this month given how early in the year it is, but a full 70-minute performance with increased intensity will surely be a big priority this time around.

They will be well aware that Cork could view this as a chance to get one over on their Munster rivals, especially after last year's 16-point humbling in the championship decider. Limerick should be improving with each game of this competition.

We won't see the very best of the Treaty County until later this summer, but they are still a better side than Cork and can cover the three-point handicap.

Limerick have led at half-time in both of their games in this competition, even when firing ten wides in the first period against Wexford. Even-money about them being in front at the break and full-time is worth a small wager.

Galway v Wexford

TG4 (delayed coverage), 2pm Sunday

Galway and Wexford are both under new management, have both beaten Limerick recently, and are both out to extend their unbeaten starts to the current league campaign so things should be evenly matched at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Galway are bound to have gained confidence from their recent victory over the reigning All-Ireland champions but the second-half sending-off of Gearoid Hegarty changed the complexion of that game hugely and exaggerated the six-point margin of victory.

Wexford showed some steel in each of their league successes this month, yet whether they have the same quality as Galway is up for debate.

This has all the makings of a nip-and-tuck battle so a draw or either team to win by fewer than four points looks the most solid option at 10-11.

Kilkenny v Laois

2pm Sunday

Despite beating Antrim and putting up a solid enough display in defeat to Tipperary, Kilkenny have been badly missing their Ballyhale contingent in the opening two rounds of the league.

Brian Cody can now start planning for the return of those key individuals, but it remains to be seen exactly when they will all be back in action for their county.

For example, inspirational talent TJ Reid is on his honeymoon and the Cats' attacking force is simply not the same without him in the line-up.

After a positive start to the campaign when keeping within four points of Tipperary despite having a man sent off, Laois suffered a hefty 7-31 to 0-19 defeat at the hands of Waterford last time out and have had an extra weekend to mull over what went wrong.

Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett will be looking to evoke a strong response from his side and the 13-point handicap between the sides looks too big. Kilkenny do not have the same lethal attacking threat as Waterford and Laois can keep things tighter than the market suggests.

Tipperary v Dublin

GAA Go, 5pm Saturday

Tipperary have won their first two league outings for new boss Colm Bonnar, topping Division 1B, but they have not overly impressed.

This is clearly a somewhat transitional phase for the Premier County and they failed to impress in beating a 14-man Laois side by just four points in the opening round before toughing it out against a Kilkenny unit missing some key players.

Walsh Cup winners Dublin have hit the ground running during the early stages of the campaign and emerged with credit from their draw with a strong Waterford side before surviving a tricky away clash with Antrim.

The Dubs appear to be at a more advanced stage than plenty of their rivals and they have the potential to cause an upset.

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