So who's going to win the coveted Liam McCarthy this year? There are eight teams left in the championship and I'm counting them down in reverse order of most likely to win (as I see it of course).
8th - Wexford. Up against a rejuvenated Tipp in the quarters will be too much. I think the premier will end yellow belly hopes in a comfortable fashion.
7th - Galway. A soft match against Antrim last week will be no preparation for facing the #1 team in the country. I suspect Kilkenny will repeat the demolition job of a couple of years ago.
T-5th - Limerick and Clare. Limerick are unlucky not to be Munster champions after showing a huge improvement this season and face a physical test against the banner. Neither of these will be able to top Cork or Waterford in the semi though.
4th - Tipperary. Beating Cork has turned this into a good year for the Premier. How easy the farce of the 3-match Munster semi-final is forgotten. The cats will beat them in the semi after they get past Wexford.
T-2nd - Cork and Waterford. The winner of this QF will win through on this side of the draw. Waterford will be high on confidence as Munster and League champions, but if Cork are back at full strength Waterford will need to improve their points tally, as they won't get five goals again. Key battles: Niall McCarthy (if fit to return) on Ken McGrath; Dan Shanahan and Sean Og or the Rock and Brian Murphy (again if fit) on the dangerous John Mullane.
1st - Kilkenny. Who can look past the cats? Strong from front to back and spurred on by the talismanic Henry Shefflin. Have to be hot favourites.
My prediction, Kilkenny will face the winner of Cork and Waterford on September 2nd.
1 comment:
Just to follow up on this post. Paddy Power is thinking on similar lines. I was wondering how short the odds on Kilkenny are and found the odds for the last eight to be:
Kilkenny - 11/10
Cork - 7/2
Waterford - 7/2
Tipperary - 8/1
Galway - 12/1
Limerick - 16/1
Clare - 18/1
Wexford - 80/1
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