GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Phase III
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Throw In: Saturday 7pm
After Kilkenny’s victory over arch rivals Tipperary in what was billed as the biggest game in the relatively short history of the qualifiers they must now ready themselves for a first ever clash with Waterford at this stage of the championship. The Cats have won their last five championship encounters with the Deise men, including a 2-19 to 1-16 victory in the 2011 All-Ireland semi-final as well as the 3-30 to 1-13 mauling in the 2008 All-Ireland final. Both teams boast an impressive record in Qualifier competition so something will have to give on Saturday. After an extremely intense and professional defensive display in the second half against Tipperary, particularly from Paul Murphy and Jackie Tyrell, and with their injury crisis easing, the feeling is that Brian Cody's men are coming to the right pitch before the latter stages of the championship. However, Michael Ryan’s Waterford cannot be discounted. They will be well rested since their comfortable Phase 1 win over Westmeath, and one of the stand out performances of the season so far from Maurice Shanahan in his 0-13 point haul against Offaly, so their forwards should give the Kilkenny full-back line an even sterner test than Tipperary managed last week. A place in the final six of the championship awaits the winners, but with King Henry and Michael Fennelly named on the bench for the Cats, take them to have enough in the tank to progress and a well earned two week break before the All Ireland quarter finals.
Verdict: Kilkenny
2. Dublin v's Meath
Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship 2013 Final
Croke Park
Throw In: Sunday 2pm
Power, pace, athleticism, youthful exuberance, all traits associated with the performances of this Dublin team under new manager Jim Gavin so far this season. Can a Meath team in transition, and under new management also in Mick O'Dowd, trully believe that they have the artilery to compete. While any championship meeting between the two counties still has a currency that no other Leinster fixture can match, their rivalry doesn't currently have the same spark that defined it throughout the 1980s and 1990s. If Dublin win on Sunday, it will be their eighth Leinster Championship win in nine years. One has to go back to the 1920s to find such an unchecked spell of dominance from any team in the province. After beating both Westmeath and Kildare in previous rounds by 16 points each is complacency the only obstacle rather the quality of the Meath line up that could down the Dubs? However, Meath are probably the only team in Leinster, and one of the few teams in Ireland, who will not fear Dublin. Tradition and history, both distant and recent, will tell them they have no need to. That should not be enough to halt this Dublin machine, and despite the best efforts of Graham Reilly, who continued an impressive run of form with another excellent display in the semi final victory over Wexford, the Dubs should march on to an All Ireland Quarter Final appearance at headquarters on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Verdict: Dublin
3. Limerick v's Cork
Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship 2013 Final
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Throw In: Sunday 4pm
Sunday’s Munster final is something of a novelty as the sides have not met in a provincial decider since 1992 when Cork won that game by 1-22 to 3-11 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Both are looking to end relatively lengthy spells without a Munster title, although Cork’s barren run, which dates back to 2006, pales in comparison when you consider Limerick’s stretches back a decade further to 1996 and the heady days of Ciaran Carey and co. In terms of their head-to-head record in Munster finals, Cork have fared far better, winning 14 of the 21 deciders they have contested and with their tradition and history they will feel confident that they can overcome their Shannonside rivals. After suffering relegation from the top tier in the Allianz Hurling League Cork went in a little under the radar and surprised many with their excellent display when defeating a fancied Clare in the semi final, with youngsters like Séamus Harnedy and Conor O’Sullivan particularly impressive. However, Limerick, under the shrewd mangement of former Cork manager, John Allen, have been equally impressive and provided the first real shock of the 2013 championship when they beat Tipperary by 1-18 to 1-15 in a superb Munster quarter-final at Semple Stadium. The loss of Brian Murphy is a serious blow to Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy and with Limerick naming an unchanged team and with key performances expected from full-back Richie McCarthy and experienced captain Donal O’Grady once more, the Treaty men may just shade this encounter and kick off wild celebrations in the Gaelic Grounds.
Verdict: Limerick
Pods-itivity Treble: 5/2
Other mentions:
GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Phase III
Clare to nudge past Wexford in this tussle in Thurles
GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Round 2 Qualifiers
Armagh to overcome Leitrim, Wexford to down Leinster counterparts Longford, Fermanagh to gain revenge over Cavan in Ulster derby and Kildare to recover from trouncing by Dublin against Louth
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