This is peak club season.
It’s peak GAA. It’s the peak of the football calendar.
There are three provincial senior finals with some of the best club teams of recent times in action. To make it even better, there’s some cracking intermediate games too.
God, we’re lucky to have the GAA. When the inter-county season wraps up in September, we’re guilty of worrying that we won’t have our fill of it for a few months. This is only the start.
And when there’s so many local thrillers taking place over the weekend, how could anybody resist a cheeky little accumulator? Don’t lie, we all fancy ourselves as expert tipsters. We all believe we have the knowledge to predict how they’ll pan out. We all think we can take those bookies to the cleaners.
Here’s how we plan to do it this weekend, with Conan Doherty and Conor Heneghan chipping in on Thursday’s episode of The GAA Hour.
OUT NOW!
Johnny Buckley and Paul Kerrigan
Lee Keegan Rumours
Dick v Dublinhttps://t.co/HpuT6zNhge— The GAA Hour (@TheGAAHour) November 23, 2017
Senior provincial finals:
Connacht: Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo) v Corofin (Galway) – Sunday, Tuam Stadium, 2.00pm.
Mayo man Conor Heneghan knows more than most of us about this Castlebar Mitchels team.
“Castlebar have been gradually getting over teams, they haven’t been putting anyone to the sword at all. Nothing spectacular. You could read that as evidence that they are on the wean a bit, or they are boiling nicely. Nothing will rise them more than the challenge of Corofin. These teams have history. I can’t see there being much between them,” said Heneghan.
It’s a good sign of a team when they’re winning without playing well.
Last year, extra-time was required for these two to be separated. Castlebar beat the Galway side in the 2015 final.
There won’t be much in this.
For that reason, we are tipping Castlebar to cover the +1 handicap at odds of 13/10 with most bookmakers.
Munster: Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Dr Crokes (Kerry) – Sunday, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2.00pm.
“You couldn’t handpick a better match-up for the Munster final,” says Conan Doherty.
It’s hard to argue with that. Doherty was speaking to Paul Kerrigan on The GAA Hour, and the Cork man is starving for Munster success.
“It feels a long time ago (since we won it). The cup was there (at the AIB provincial finals day last Tuesday), and it feels so long ago that I nearly forgot what it looks like,” says Kerrigan, who last tasted provincial success with Nemo Rangers in 2010.
We still think Crokes will edge it, but Rangers should cover the +5 handicap, with generous odds of 1/2 on offer.
Ulster: Slaughtneil (Derry) v Cavan Gaels (Cavan) – Sunday, Athletic Grounds, 3.00pm.
Conan Doherty: “Should be a good’n, but I still fancy Slaughtneil to go on and do it.”
The Derry side should coast this one to their third ever Ulster title.
"They don't make them like they used to; they don't make them like Slaughtneil anymore."
https://t.co/J1Xhu0XvfY— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 23, 2017
Slaughtneil to cover the -4 handicap at 8/11. Include this one.
Leinster senior semi-finals
St. Loman’s (Westmeath) v Simonstown Gaels (Meath) – Sunday, Mullingar, 2.00pm.
Looking forward to good old rivalry @westmeath_gaa @StLomansGAAClub v @MeathGAA @simonstowngaels Sunday week 2pm pic.twitter.com/9in0iKIWrI
— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) November 13, 2017
Nothing like a bit of Meath vs. Westmeath rivalry to add some intrigue.
We fancy the Westmeath side to win this one. Get on St. Loman’s at 8/15.
Rathnew (Wicklow) v Moorefield (Kildare) – Sunday, Aughrim, 2pm.
Moorefield didn’t impress in that quarter-final victory over Portlaoise. They looked leggy and lacked potency up front.
This is in Aughrim, a fortress that inspired the Wicklow champions to victory over St. Vincent’s. They can make it to the Leinster final.
Odds of 7/4 are extremely generous for Rathnew. Stick them in the acca.
Elsewhere:
In the Waterford senior football semi-finals (yes it’s a joke that it’s taking place on the same day as the Munster final), but The Nire should overcome An Rinn. Odds of 8/13 are too enticing to refuse.
In the Leinster Intermediate club final, Wexford side Kilanerin should defeat Ballyboughal of Dublin in Wexford Park. Odds of 4/7 aren’t too repulsive.
So here’s the bet. Don’t throw the kitchen sink on it.
- Castlebar + 1 at odds of 13/10.
- Nemo Rangers +5 at 1/2.
- Slaughtneil -4 at 8/11.
- St. Loman’s to win at 8/15.
- Rathnew to win at 7/4.
- The Nire to win at 8/13.
- Kilanerin to win at 4/7.
It works out at 62/1. Too good to be true? We hope not.
Always gamble responsibly.
