CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH With Seamus Duke
All-Ireland SHC semi-final: Cork v Galway in Croke Park on Saturday at 3.30 pm
This promises to be a cracking semi-final. Cork will be hot favourites to advance to another final but Galway are very much under the radar and on their best day they could cause a lot of problems for the Rebels.
Galway will be hoping that the likes of Daithí Burke, Pádraic Mannion, Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan and Aaron Niland can step up to the mark. The Tribesmen were impressive against Dublin in the Leinster final but it must be said that the Dubs were poor in that outing.
Cork have so many aces in the pack and if Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes and William Buckley are on song up front, it could be a long day for Galway. I am expecting a tight game for 55 minutes or so but Cork look very impressive and I expect them to progress.
Prediction: Cork.
All-Ireland SHC semi-final: Clare v Limerick in Croke Park on Sunday at 4 pm
Clare have three or four of the best hurlers in the country in Shane O’Donnell, Tony Kelly, Conor Cleary, and Peter Duggan. They are worthy of respect.
Suffice to say that if Clare were to dump Limerick out of the championship on Sunday it would count as one of their greatest ever wins – but it is unlikely to happen.
The Limerick juggernaut looks back to its best this year and they have answered every question they’ve been asked. Limerick have match-winners in every line and it would be a huge shock if they were to lose here. It will be a battle, but Limerick will win it and set up another showdown against Cork.
Prediction: Limerick.
Note: The All-Ireland MFC final will take place this Sunday between Cork and Tyrone at 2 pm in Newbridge.
