Sport
Hurling Division One Preview
It’s fair to say the GAA season is well and truly back underway after another brilliant weekend of National League action last week.
Derry and Mayo are the early pacesetters on the football front, while Clare, Waterford, Galway and Tipperary got their hurling campaigns off to a bright start.
Hurling is the sole focus this weekend with a couple of interesting matches in store, including the eagerly anticipated clash of Cork v Kilkenny, while Tipperary v Galway is one not to miss on Sunday.
Cork v Kilkenny
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Saturday 10th February @ 7.30pm
Remarkably, this will be the 81st meeting between Cork and Kilkenny in the National Hurling League. The Cats lead the Head-to-head 40-35, with five draws.
Kilkenny certainly had the better opening round display, coming away with a point after a pulsating draw with Wexford. But it was a game the Cats could have won but for a late lapse in concentration.
That’s sure to leave a certain feeling of frustration amongst the camp, but the way they dominated the match for the most part should give them reason to be encouraged.
Despite starting brighter against Clare last week, Cork were unable to survive their hosts’ third-quarter surge and ultimately a three-point loss may have flattered them. They’re still 4/7 favourites here, but Kilkenny look the pick at 7/4.
Waterford v Clare
Walsh Park
Sunday 11th February @ 1.45pm.
The way Waterford have started 2024 gives a glimmer of hope for Deise faithful. But they face an entirely different kettle of fish on Sunday when Clare come to Walsh Park.
One slight knock on their visitors is the fact they conceded two early goals against Cork last Sunday, while Waterford scored three, and this is an area they will need to exploit if looking to come away with the two points.
But Clare showed terrific resilience in the third quarter over the Rebels, transforming a one-point half-time lead to eight points by the 54th minute. They’re odds-on for Sunday’s game.
They scored 1-25 with Mark Rodgers scoring 13 points (2 from play), Séadna Morey getting 1-1, and Cathal Malone, Robin Mounsey, David Fitzgerald and David Reidy notching a brace of points each, so have a variety of scoring power at their disposal, which is something Waterford may struggle to live with.
The home side are 5/4, but the visitors look the one’s to side with at 4/5.
Tipperary v Galway
Semple Stadium
Sunday 11th February @ 15.45
Galway won the most recent encounter between these sides but were somewhat fortuitous to emerge victorious in last season’s All Ireland quarter-final, a game that Tipperary ultimately dominated in every aspect apart from the scoreboard.
While Galway emerged 31-point winners last Saturday over Westmeath, they will most likely be spending this week analysing the scores they didn’t get as opposed to the scores they did get.
Henry Shefflin’s side, who are 6/4 to beat Tipperary, squandered numerous goal scoring chances in the opening 35 minutes, and this is something that must be eradicated for Sunday’s clash.
Tipperary put up a solid display in Parnell Park against the Dubs, emerging 11-point winners, and had 13 different scorers from their total of 2-27.
Jake Morris was superb with 1-4, while the Premier also blooded some new talent and used all subs at their disposal with 20 different players getting a chance.
The home side are 4/7 to emerge victorious on Sunday and taking them in the handicap at 11/10 looks the play.
