GAA: Michael Mulvihill's Sunday Hurling betting preview, tips & TV details

Limerick v Clare
Gaelic Grounds | RTE 2 4pm Sunday

This year’s Munster Championship has been a damp squib compared to 2018, with Tipperary running away with it, but it could roar into life on Sunday afternoon. Neighbours Clare and Limerick face off in what should be a rip-roaring battle between two sides who know each other extremely well.

The visitors have had the upper hand in recent years and Limerick haven’t beaten the Banner County in the championship since 2015.

Although this is a different team, they have their own baggage against Clare with their only loss in last year’s championship coming in Ennis.

Although Limerick had a blip against Cork, they looked more like themselves last week and their workrate in the forward line was a joy to behold while newcomers Paddy O’Loughlin and William O’Donoghue showed the strength of John Kiely’s panel.

Diarmuid Byrnes returns to the starting line-up and he’ll be keen to put in a good showing and take some scores both from play and placed balls.

Clare seem to be going the opposite direction as their opening round win over Waterford, which doesn’t look too impressive now, was followed by a dismal performance against Tipperary last week. The so-called fortress of Cusack Park was used to little effect as they were dominated all over the field and it’s not going to get any easier.

David Fitzgerald is able to score from distance and an open middle third should allow him get forward.

Clare still have some of the top players in the game but they haven’t been performing at all and their leader Tony Kelly was particularly disappointing last week. They are likely to be improved and this should be an extremely tight contest with the home side possibly just shading it.

Recommendations
A draw or either team to win by one, two or three points
2pts Evs Coral, Ladbrokes
Over 1.5 D Byrnes points
1pt 4-6 Paddy Power
Over 0.5 D Fitzgerald points
1pt 5-6 Paddy Power

Kilkenny v Galway
Nowlan Park | RTE 2, 2pm Sunday

Kilkenny and Galway clash at Nowlan Park in the first of Sunday's big games. The Cats are the only side with a 100 per cent win record in Leinster and they should keep that going on home soil.

Kilkenny have had a three-week break to prepare for Galway and Brian Cody should have them primed for this, having hit form in the second half against Dublin in round one and pushed on from there.

Kilkenny have added Billy Ryan to their forward line with Walter Walsh dropping out, but the spread of Kilkenny's scoring in round one was impressive.

While Kilkenny have brought in additions such as the exciting Adrian Mullen this year, Galway have not and they looked particularly poor towards the end of their clash with Wexford.

Johnny Glynn is introduced for this game and although named at 11, he’s likely to start closer to goal as Galway look to use long balls in the smaller confines of Nowlan Park. Conor Cooney was expected to step up in Joe Canning’s absence but he drops to the bench and Conor Whelan has been the only player of note for Galway in this championship.

This looks like a huge chance for Kilkenny to gain revenge for last year’s Leinster final replay defeat with a much better team this year. The tight venue may keep the points total on the low side.

Recommendations
Kilkenny
2pts 8-11, Bet365
Under 44.5 total points
1pt 4-5 BoyleSports

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