It’s time.
It’s a real hurling weekend with quarter finals taking place all over the country. Clare’s games are the pick of the lot and they’ll be shown live on GAA BEO on TG4 on Sunday.
There are some decent football games too, in Mayo, Donegal and further afield.
We’ve a seven leg accumulator for you below. Five of the teams are favourites to win, but we also reckon the bookies are offering very generous odds on Cratloe in the Clare SHC and Westport in the Mayo SFC.
Favourites to win
Limerick SHC
Kilmallock 1/2 to beat Doon (Sunday, 2.00)
The 2014 county champions are showing signs of a return to that type of form this year. The best hurler in Ireland this year, in Graeme Mulcahy, has carried that form to the club championship and with the corner forward knocking over 0-9 in games, they won’t fear anybody.
They drew with Na Piarsaigh recently, and the Limerick SHC looks increasingly like a two horse race between those two, and they should have enough for Doon here.
Wexford SHC
Rapparees 4/6 to beat Rathnure (5.30, Wexford Park)
It’s quarter final time in Wexford too. The Rapps were unbeaten in their five games in the group stages and they look like the team with the best chance of halting St Martin’s two-in-a-row bid.
County stars Liam Ryan and Kevin Foley have been on form for them and they should have too much for Rathnure, despite the obvious danger Jack Guiney poses.
Clare SHC
Éire Óg Ennis 4/5 to beat Kilmaley (Live on TG4, 1.00 Sunday)
Éire Óg will miss Shane O’Donnell, who headed off Stateside on scholarship last weekend but with David Reidy lording it, bank on them to make it to the semis.
Cratloe 13/8 underdogs to beat Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge are favourites for the county championship but Cratloe will fancy an upset in this last eight clash. Podge Collins is back on form and Conor McGrath is showing glimpses for them. They were unlucky to lose out to Ballyea after extra-time recently but they showed enough there to suggest they’re gunning for a return to the peak of Clare hurling.
Kilkenny SHC
Clara 1/2 to beat Danesfort (Kilkenny, relegation play-off)
The 2013 and 2015 county champions would not have foreseen a relegation battle this year, but that’s where Clara are now and they’ll have to get their hands dirty to escape this dogfight.
They have a few injuries but they’re still a better side than Danesfort who only won once in the group stages.
Mayo SFC
Westport 2/1 underdogs to beat Breaffy
As spicy as a Mayo quarter final gets. Stalwartss Aidan O’Shea and Lee Keegan will face off, as will the up and coming pair of Michael Hall and Fionn McDonagh.
All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2017, Westport have been in fine form in Mayo this year. They breezed past Crossmolina and Hollymount-Carramore in the group stages.
Breaffy are generally thereabouts in Mayo but Westport are tipped to be that little bit hungrier.
You can watch those games on Mayo GAA tv.
There is great value to be had this weekend in the Mayo GAA @ConnachtGold SFC. Adults tickets are just €10 per day. There will be plenty of Mayo stars on show so make sure you get to @Elverys MacHale PK this Saturday & Sunday. #mayogaa #gaa pic.twitter.com/I3FmgRsxtb
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) September 20, 2018
Donegal SFC
Milford Evs to beat Killybegs
Eoghan Bán Gallagher is out for Killybegs and that will be a huge blow for them. Milford have been in very good form so far and they’re better value for even money here.
It all adds up to 106/1.
