Sunday GAA: Hurling betting preview, match tips, start times & TV details

Limerick v Cork

Gaelic Grounds, 2pm Sunday

All-Ireland champions Limerick are the only unbeaten side in Division 1A and look to extend their winning run when they welcome Cork to the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

Limerick’s display against Kilkenny last Sunday in Nowlan Park was by far the most impressive by any team in 2019 and any thoughts of an All-Ireland hangover have been quickly eradicated by this side.

What has been even more impressive is the strength in depth Limerick have shown with many of last year’s fringe players making huge impacts this year, none more so than last week’s man of the match Tom Condon and corner-forward Barry Murphy.

They face a Cork side who claimed their first win of the season last weekend on home soil against a Clare outfit who will have been extremely disappointed. Clare led Cork for much of that game but indiscipline cost them and Cork took full advantage.

Cork scored 15 points from frees in that game but Limerick are likely to be much more disciplined. John Meyler has brought Tim O’Mahony into centre-back this season and he seems to have shored up their defence.

Both sides are without some of their stars due to Saturday’s Fitzgibbon Cup final and Limerick will certainly miss the services of sharpshooter Aaron Gillane, who has undoubtedly been the form hurler in the country in 2019.

John Kiely is likely to rotate his side again this week, but the re-introduction of Declan Hannon and Seamus Flanagan brings in experience and they should be too strong for this Cork side.

Recommendation
Limerick -2
4pts 10-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Clare v Wexford

Cusack Park, 2pm Sunday

Clare welcome Wexford to Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon with both sides having very different starts to their 2019 campaigns.

Clare were expected by many to start well this year but they find themselves bottom of the table after three rounds.

They do, however, have two home matches to finish the league stages and their home form has been solid in recent seasons so they will aim to make a late charge in the league.

Wexford, deemed probably the weakest side in the league, have recovered well from a first-round loss to Limerick to win two in a row against Cork and Tipperary and Davy Fitzgerald will relish the challenge of returning to his home county and causing an upset.

This is likely to be a bridge too far though. Clare have excuses for their defeats. Tony Kelly’s harsh red card was a turning point in their opening-round loss to Tipperary and their indiscipline cost them last weekend, but they dominated that game for long periods and were unlucky not to come away with a point at least.

Most importantly for Clare, Kelly looked in top form last week and he is key to everything they do. He has the ability to cause Wexford huge trouble by dragging their defence around the pitch, something which Limerick did so effectively in round one, and this should prove the difference.

Home advantage is huge in the league and even more so in Cusack Park, where Clare tend to dominate sides.

Recommendations
Clare -3
2pts Evs general
Over 1.5 Clare goals
1pt Evs Paddy Power

Tipperary v Kilkenny

Semple Stadium, 2pm Sunday

TV:TG4

Two heavyweights meet in Semple Stadium and both will perhaps be disappointed with their starts to 2019.

Tipperary and Kilkenny opened their campaigns with wins at home but since then have been beaten twice each and fairly comprehensively so. Both were well beaten by Limerick, while Kilkenny lost out to Clare in round two and Tipperary were beaten by Wexford last Sunday after being reduced to 14 men late in the first-half.

Seamus Callanan has been in good form up front for Tipperary and their forward line, on paper at least, is littered with stars who can light up Semple Stadium but they have yet to hit the heights expected this year.

The conditions are likely to suit. Tipp have played two evening games already this year, and another at a tight Wexford Park. A Sunday afternoon game in Semple Stadium will be much more to their liking. Liam Sheedy has been using the last few games to get his squad settled and it seems to be now, with Padraic Maher commanding from centre-back.

Although Tipperary will have to be wary of a Kilkenny backlash, this looks a tough test for the Cats. They were poor against Limerick seven days ago and it’s hard to see where the improvement will come from.

The absence of TJ Reid seems to be a big issue as the team tends to revolve around him and they lack leaders without him. Their defence in particular was poor against Limerick so Tipperary will be looking to exploit that. If they can give their forwards plenty of space, they will put up a big score.

Recommendation
Over 25.5 Tipperary points
2pts 11-10 Paddy Power

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