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GAA Hurling Predictions & Tips | Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th March

GAA Hurling ambassador Shane Dowling gives his tips and predictions for Saturday and Sunday in the National Hurling League.

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The Na Piarsaigh All-Ireland winner also gives his Bet of the Weekend, which has been enhance to 18/1! Take a look below!

Antrim v Offaly

He said: “This could be a bit of a guessing game. I was at the Offaly v Limerick game last weekend, and I didn’t think Offaly were too bad in the first half all things considered.

“Limerick were nine points up at half-time, but I thought a lot of their play they did somewhat OK. In saying that their goalkeeper got three points from frees in the first half so I suppose that kept them in it a small bit.

“They fell apart in the second half, but I’d say both Offaly and Antrim had one eye on this weekend coming knowing they wouldn’t beat Limerick or Tipperary.”

“I have been very disappointed with Antrim as I’m sure a lot of people have. They had everything going for them when they played against Laois, and they couldn’t get over the line. I think to look at the scorelines from last weekend is probably unrealistic considering both counties knew it was all about weekend.

“It’s a very hard one to call but I think there is very little between them and the betting doesn’t suggest that. They have Antrim as warm favourites but on the back of what I’m not sure. Maybe it’s tradition more so than anything else but I think it will be a very close game. The 13/8 would tempt me to back Offaly.

“Sometimes when you think a game is going to be very close you might as well go for a bit of value. I don’t know how this weekend will pan out, but I think Offaly should give you a good run for your money.”

Cork v Kilkenny

He said: “A number of weeks ago people, and me included, would have thought Kilkenny looked like they were under a lot of pressure especially in their opening games. The one that springs to mind straight away is the one against Tipperary in Thurles where it was a very poor encounter.”

“People would have had Kilkenny as maybe the team not to come out of Leinster and now it looks like they will be one of the first teams to come out so it’s gas what a couple of weeks can do.”

“They seem to be finding a lot of players and also finding some positions for players that are there for the past number of years. I have been very impressed with them in their last two games, and I have always been a huge admirer of Kilkenny. I just love the way they go about their business.”

“Cork were beaten by Wexford but I wouldn’t look into that a whole pile. It was essentially a dead rubber for them. I don’t see anything other than both teams wanting to go out and win this game. I have been very impressed with Cork in the league so far. They are strong favourites and while I do predict it to be a close game, I think Cork will have too much at the finish.”

Waterford v Wexford

He said: “I’m a huge Waterford fan and I have said it for the last two years. The job that Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans have done considering there was two years of covid which has been tricky. I’m just a huge admirer of this current team, they are very good.”

“I know they were beaten last weekend by Kilkenny, but they were I think three or four points up and Austin Gleeson had a great chance to go I think seven points up and had that gone in it could have been a different result. But I wouldn’t pay a whole pile of attention to that game.”

“I know that they are short at 4/7 but Wexford have made huge improvements under Darragh Egan. All credit must go to him for that. At 15/8 Wexford are a bit of value but I’m just a huge fan of Waterford. That could be my head ruling my heart, but I just like the Déise.”

“In terms of their All-Ireland SHC campaign I think Waterford need to win silverware this year. Whether that is a Munster title I don’t know but I think they are good enough to win an All-Ireland. I’m not building them up for the sake of it.”

“It’s Darragh Egan’s first year so what would be a success for him I don’t really know. After a strong league campaign, he will certainly want to be getting out of Leinster and want to be getting into Croke Park later in the Championship but for Waterford they definitely need to get some silverware.”

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More about the author:

Shane Dowling is a hurler for club side Na Piarsaigh and previously played at inter-county level for the Limerick senior hurling team.

In 2016 he won a Senior Club Hurling Championship with Na Piarsaigh. He won four Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship titles as well as five Limerick Senior Hurling Championships.

He also won a prestigious All-Star award in 2014.

In July 2020 Dowling sadly announced his retirement from inter-county hurling due to knee issues aged 27.

He currently appears on RTE and other media outlets as a hurling pundit.




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