The county finals have come and gone.
The best have been separated from the rest and now, after celebrating their county final wins like mad, they’re looking ahead to the winners from the other counties.
Most of them have never played each other before and don’t know much about the team they’re going to be playing against and the unpredictability of it all makes it.
They’ve won the county, the shackles are off and this is bonus territory now. When a team gets on a run they can be dangerous, and here are the teams to watch this weekend.
*odds brought to you by Paddy Power
Ballyea 15/8 to beat Ballygunner in Munster hurling
Ballygunner have been in this position, fancied in Munster, on numerous occasions in the past. In recent history, they haven’t coped well outside of Waterford. Ballyea, on the other hand, have never been beaten in Munster. They got on a run in 2016 and only Cuala could stop them then. They’re back this year and with Tony Kelly and Jack Browne hurling out of their skin, they look better than ever before.
The Clare champs to edge the battle of the Ballys. Do yourself a favour and head to Waterford or watch the magic unfold on TG4.
Graigue/Ballycallan 1/4 to beat Celbridge in Leinster intermediate
The team that comes out of Kilkenny is always the one to beat in the intermediate championship. Graigue Ballycallan shouldn’t have any problems here.
Cappataggle 6/4 to beat Liam Mellows in Galway hurling semi
We tipped Cappy to win the Galway county final all the way back in September when they were 16/1. A couple of character building wins later and they’re 5/1. A young side, they’re primed for this one and they’ve the motivation of a one point loss at this stage last year against the same opposition to call on.
Take them at 6/4.
Handicap bets
Dr Crokes -8 against Moyle Rovers in Munster football evs
Peter Acheson has used all of his annual leave days already and he looks set to miss this one for the Tipp champs. Dr Crokes are lethal when they get on a run and the fact that Colm Cooper can’t even nail a place on their team shows how strong they are.
Tony Brosnan, David Shaw and co. could rack up a big score here.
Mount Leinster Rangers + 3 against Coolderry in Leinster hurling evs
Both of these sides have been on the road for a long time. Two teak tough and dogged outfits, this should be a slug-fest in O’Connor Park and we reckon it’ll be tighter than the odds-makers do.
Clonoulty Rossmore +7 against Na Piarsaigh in Munster hurling evs
Clonoulty Rossmore came out on top from a competitive Tipperary division. These lads are a calm, well balanced side and they shouldn’t be written off. With John O’Keeffe and Enda Heffernan manning the defence securely and Cathal Bourke and the two Hammersley’s doing the damage up top, they’ll put it up to Na Piarsaigh.
As an accumulator, this works out at 70/1.
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