Kilkenny v Limerick predictions and All-Ireland final hurling betting tips

Free GAA hurling tips, best bets and match previews for Sunday's All-Ireland final between Kilkenny and Limerick.

Where to watch

RTE & Sky Sports Arena, 3.30pm Sunday

Best bets

Limerick -3
3pts Evs bet365

Over 27.5 Limerick points
2pts 4-5 bet365

All-Ireland final preview

Other pairings seemed likelier at the beginning of the 2022 campaign, but Kilkenny and Limerick provide all the ingredients required for an All-Ireland final thriller.

Kilkenny can't be called a surprise package given their rich history under Brian Cody, but it's fair to say they have exceeded most people's expectations by getting to the deciding round of this year's championship.

The Cats were underdogs in the Leinster final against Galway and All-Ireland semi-final when facing Clare, but their outstanding work-rate and selfless attitude saw them clear both hurdles relatively comfortably by five and 12 points.

A very different task lies in store on Sunday, though.

Given how Galway took Limerick out of their usually assured rhythm for considerable periods in the All-Ireland semi-final, it's safe to say we did not see the best of them against Kilkenny in the Leinster final. The Tribesmen trailed that provincial clash from the fourth minute to the final whistle.

Likewise, Clare, who had technically forced two draws with Limerick when impressing in the Munster championship, were a shadow of themselves against Kilkenny last time. It was a dismal display from a side who failed to turn up on the day.

The Cats have improved from game to game - and have the intensity to test Limerick - but it's not even two months since Wexford inflicted Kilkenny's second defeat of the Leinster round-robin series, having previously been beaten by Galway. The Cats showed they were beatable.

Arguably, the opposite applies to Limerick, who are unbeaten in their last 15 championship games and are chasing a fourth All-Ireland title in five years.

They would most likely be going for five in a row if they hadn't lost to Kilkenny in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final, in a game where Brian Cody's men famously brought an unmerciful intensity.

The Treaty County shot 15 wides in that one-point defeat after a slow start. They may not admit it, but that loss looks to have been a major motivational tool for John Kiely's side in the seasons that have followed.

And after waiting for their chance to atone against Kilkenny, they have now got it on the biggest stage of all.

If there's one thing we've learned about Limerick throughout this period of dominance, it's that they generally tend to save their best for when it matters most.

Proof that they are conditioned to peak at the business end came in last year's All-Ireland final when they blew away Cork by 16 points through an exceptional performance.

Despite sizeable winning margins, it was felt heading into that clash that Limerick hadn't delivered a full 70-minute performance during the season.

The reigning champions again haven't looked as dominant in the run-up to this year's final, and were pushed all the way in ordinary time of the Munster final by Clare. But there have still been glimmers of their immense quality along the way, and their tactical awareness is at an elite level.

A deep bench can be called on for scores at critical junctures, their starting 15 is the strongest of any side in the country, and they have enormous big-game experience for an occasion like this.

All told, if Limerick play to their absolute best, Kilkenny will be playing second fiddle.

Should we get the expected peak performance from Limerick, then a handicap of three points should be manageable, and over 27.5 points looks an achievable marker.

Munster's champions scored 0-30 and 3-32 in their last two All-Ireland final wins, and have exceeded the 30-point marker in three championship games this season.

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