Pete’s Picks – Saturday’s Live GAA Hurling

Ger Cunningham may have found the key to Dublin’s attack truly kicking into gear by positioning Conal Keaney at full-forward.

Dublin v Limerick, Hurling, RTÉ, 5pm
The Ballyboden St Enda’s clubman has operated in a host of roles for the Boys in Blue over the seasons but as the fulcrum of Dublin’s forward line, Keaney can soar.

His robust and clever approaches will be a massive asset to Cunningham’s side against Limerick and he can steer Dublin into the last six of the All-Ireland series. In fact, it was noticeable that Dublin were 28/1 to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup.

The Metropolitans should be no better than 10/1. If, as expected, they progress from this clash, they would have absolutely nothing to fear in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. At the start of the Championship, Dublin were considered the value shout away from the main protagonists in the All-Ireland SHC outright punting lists.

At the time, Cunningham’s charges were around the 16/1 mark and so, to minor stakes, are maybe worth a play to out-run their present quote.

Limerick are a team that rarely convince, or inspire for that matter. People talk of how ‘close’ they got to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final last year but Brian Cody’s troops hit eleven wides to Limerick’s five on that occasion and still managed to win by two points, 2-13 to 0-17. Furthermore, how many opportunities do Limerick require to get out of Division 1B of the league structure?

Certainly, it could be argued Dublin are not exactly the most trustworthy of sides either but Keaney and co can quell the naysayers.

Pete’s Picks:
Dublin @ 13/10
Conal Keaney Anytime Goalscorer @ 6/4
Conal Keaney First Goalscorer @ 8/1
Conal Keaney RTÉ Man of the Match @ 16/1
Dublin to win All-Ireland SHC @ 28/1

Clare v Cork, Hurling, Sky Sports 3, 7pm
Conor McGrath and Darach Honan can fire Clare into the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals leaving Cork in their wake at Semple Stadium.

Wexford were put forward last weekend as the value call to end the Rebels’ season.
However, a bizarre decision to play against a strong wind in the first-half was counter-productive and Cork were essentially over the horizon at half-time.

Still, Clare are a different animal entirely, especially since their artillery has been boosted by the return of Colm Galvin from Boston and a return to form of attacker Honan. Throw McGrath into the mix, a player that scored 1-04 against Offaly last Saturday as Davy Fitzgerald’s men tallied 3-26 and won by 20 points, along with Tony Kelly’s ever-consistent brilliance – he scored 0-8 in that aforementioned tie including 0-6 in open play – and you have a Clare outfit finding their mojo again.

Clare are 10/11 to win the game but are cracking value -1 at 11/10 and are also worth a more conservative flutter -3 at 15/8.

Cork displayed cajones in their victory over Liam Dunne’s men but can be very Jekyll and Hyde. Oddly, if the Leesiders were to prevail, I would half-fancy their chances against Galway or, probably, Waterford, in the next round but Clare may put paid to that possibility.

Pete’s Picks:
Clare -1 @ 11/10
Clare -3 @ 15/8
Conor McGrath Sky Sports Man of the Match
Darach Honan Sky Sports Man of the Match

*Prices correct at time of publication