Hurling predictions, odds & betting tips: Waterford to produce big response

Free GAA hurling tips, best bets and match previews for this weekend's Leinster and Munster championship fixtures.

Best bets

Over 2.5 Kilkenny goals
1pt 2-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Joseph Cooney to score a goal
1pt 5-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Galway -6
2pts 10-11 BoyleSports, Ladbrokes

Under 53.5 points in Tipperary v Cork
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports

Waterford -4
4pts 11-10 Bet365

Waterford -3.5 and Stephen Bennett to score a goal
2pt 23-10 BoyleSports

Kilkenny v Wexford

Sky Sports Arena, 6pm Saturday

This looks a massive clash between sides who have generally served up close battles, including an extra-time thriller in last year's Leinster semi-final when Kilkenny prevailed.

Wexford have big questions to answer after drawing with Westmeath last weekend, whereas Kilkenny impressed in a 17-point hammering of Dublin.

The Model County are capable of claiming a scalp when bringing their A game and managed a draw with Galway in round one of this competition, so expecting the Cats to cover a five-point handicap might be a difficult ask if we see the best of Wexford.

However, Brian Cody's side should be good enough to oblige and advance to the Leinster final, likely raising more than 2.5 green flags in the process.

For all that Kilkenny have already played the three weakest sides in Leinster - Westmeath, Laois and Dublin - their ability to score goals has been impressive.

A total of 13 across four games in this competition is nearly double the amount Galway and Wexford have registered, while Limerick scored just six goals in Munster.

Galway v Dublin

GAA Go, 6pm Saturday

Galway's immediate future in the All-Ireland series is assured, but a place in the Leinster final is not so Henry Shefflin's men have good reason to keep the revs up as they welcome a Dublin side who have caused problems for them in recent years.

A dreadful second-half display against Kilkenny last weekend in which they scored just six points - compared to the Cats' 2-14 - makes it difficult to have any faith in Dublin. Their inconsistency makes any game that they are involved in tricky to assess.

Galway have the tools to be too classy for Mattie Kenny's side, and also have the advantage of playing at Pearse Stadium.

Unless Dublin can produce a massive response, the Tribesmen should cover the six-point handicap.

Joseph Cooney, who raised a green flag against Laois last weekend, could be a bit of value at 5-2 to rattle the twine against a Dublin team who coughed up three goals last time.

Tipperary v Cork

RTE, 4pm Sunday

If Dublin are deemed inconsistent, then what can be said for Cork? As unreliable as they are talented, we saw a hugely improved display from the Rebels when beating Waterford last time, compared to what they had shown in previous defeats to Limerick and Clare.

Should Tipperary reproduce the sort of effort that saw them go blow-for-blow with Limerick in round three they could well have the beating of Kieran Kingston's men, but it's impossible to predict with any real certainty what version of Cork we will see.

This looks a game to treat with extreme caution from a punting perspective and the most attractive angle looks to be backing under 53.5 points.

Both sides have only once been involved in a championship game this year with more scores than that marker, and those tallies came in games where Limerick and Waterford each contributed 30 points in opposition.

Clare v Waterford

RTE, 4pm Sunday

Who would have expected Waterford to be in this predicament after their brilliant league campaign and opening-round success over Tipperary?

The Deise now must better Cork's result to progress, and the outcome of this game could hinge on Brian Lohan's Clare team selection.

A place in the Munster final is already assured for the Banner so squad rotation could easily be on the cards here, albeit Waterford could probably be fancied to match a peak version of Clare anyway.

Waterford need a big response after being bested by Cork last weekend and top manager Liam Cahill can be relied upon to get a big performance out of his troops.

Odds of 11-10 about Waterford covering a four-point handicap make significant appeal, while Stephen Bennett to score a goal and Waterford -3.5 is also worth supporting at 23-10.

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