2014 All-Ireland SHC Championship – GAA Betting Odds

Can anyone pip Davy Fitz’s Clare side to this years’ All-Ireland Hurling Championship? Con O’Meara takes a look at the sides with the best chances..

In the most open hurling championship in over a decade the prices on offer are attractive for a number of sides. Kilkenny are at the top of the Boylesports’ betting at 9/4, reigning champs Clare are 10/3, with Tipp at 4/1. Dublin and Cork both sit in at 8/1, while Galway are at 9s.

Kilkenny heading the 2014 betting didn’t seem likely as their players found themselves in unfamiliar territory last August and September. Not playing inter-county hurling then for Kilkenny is less natural than Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst…if perhaps less unsettling. Michael Fennelly’s league final performance will have Cody purring as his being up to scratch is key to the Kilkenny charge. The introduction of the versatile Padraic Walsh and Brian Kennedy have worked well, while Tyrell at centre-back was profitable too. The lack of pace and ageing legs is still a concern however, and 9/4 is piles short enough about them.

Tipp under Eamonn O’Shea had an horrific start to the league but were unlucky not to lad the title eventually. He can take many positives from the league final and losing by a point in extra-time to a hungry Kilkenny side is no major disaster given that Seamus Callinan had a nightmare he’s unlikely to repeat. 4/1 about Tipp is a fair price.

Last year’s champions Clare played a refreshing style of hurling. Most neutrals were delighted to see the Banner win out, but in true Irish fashion, we might not be that enamored about them going back-to-back. Davy Fitz would have to be reasonably pleased with their league showing through the five rounds, though their limping past Laois by four points before a seven-point semi-final loss to Tipp may have raised his temperature slightly. They have the speed and skill to win again; the question is whether Davy can get a tune out of young guys with one in the pocket to drive as hard again.

Last years runners up Cork topped the 1B table unbeaten. Despite falling 2-4 to 0-0 down after a blistering start byTipp in the quarter-final, they led 3-11 to 3-9 at half-time before they eventually got outhurled by three. JBM is a quality manager and his side will have come on for last year but an over-reliance on Patrick Horgan is the nagging factor that prevents the 8/1 being more heartily recommended.

Dublin are a side that I like this year, though a double figure price would have been more alluring. They were very unfortunate not to make last year’s final, but they’ve had a nice low profile through the league that saw them avoid relegation with a solid 4-13 to 1-17 victory over Waterford away. At 8/1 they’re a bet with 2013 All-star Danny Sutcliffe in goal-scoring form and a long list of scoring contributors. They can play it tough or fast, and if Anthony Daly can do the deed the freedom of the city surely awaits…or at least a lifetime pass to coppers.

Anthony Cunningham’s Galway are the outsiders of the pack on 9/1. Unless Joe Canning hits top form and they successfully run him through a 3d printer a few times its difficult to see the Tribesmen deliver. Ditto Limerick at 14s and Waterford at 25s. While the last three sides mentioned are all capable of taking a scalp its’ shard to foresee them lift Liam.

Recommended:
Dublin @ 8/1
Cork @ 8/1