SATURDAY
Leinster SHC round 4
Wexford v Galway, Innovate Wexford Park, 5pm
I think Wexford have a reasonable chance. They’ve had a great start to the Championship.
They got over Dublin and even though Offaly were very poor last weekend, Wexford were hugely impressive.
They played a brilliant brand of hurling, a 15-man game, movement all over the field.
Young players like Rory O’Connor are really coming to the fore now.
At home they’re very impressive but Galway have been relentless. They look so comfortable carrying the tag of All-Ireland champions and they’re playing with great power and pace.
I think it will be a brilliant game but Galway will just have too much physicality and win by a few points.
Verdict: Galway
Munster SHC round 3
Cork v Limerick, Páirc Úi Chaoimh, 7pm
Cork played Tipperary last weekend in one of the best and strangest Championship matches I’ve seen in many years.
The hurling Cork played in the first half was fantastic. In the second half, Tipperary came back into it but Cork still played well. They didn’t disappear.
Limerick were very impressive against Tipperary the first day and I think maybe the scheduling will come into this.
Limerick had a rest last weekend, which could be a big thing. That match against Tipperary has surely taken a good bit out of Cork and on that basis, I fancy Limerick.
They’re very physical across the half-back line and might stop that Cork running game.
You’d normally go for the home teams this year but I think Limerick will go to Cork and win that.
Verdict: Limerick
SUNDAY
Leinster SHC round 4
Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 3pm
This is effectively a relegation decider. It’s a very unfair schedule and is very tough on a county like Offaly that don’t have the resources or the panel at the moment.
That’s the way it has fallen but I don’t think it’s too late to have a look at it. Relegating teams from Leinster to me is not a good idea.
I can’t see Offaly winning. Dublin have been relatively unlucky, they should have beaten Kilkenny and played very well against Wexford.
Verdict: Dublin
Munster SHC round 3
Waterford v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Waterford are decimated with injuries. Bad enough starting the Championship with no home match, which was their own doing, they didn’t have Walsh Park up to scratch, and now to lose so many players? You couldn’t make it up.
They finished Sunday’s game with five of their All-Ireland team from last year and you just won’t carry that amount of lost players.
The quality of the players missing: Tadhg de Burca, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahohny, Noel Connors... It’s just pure bad luck.
Tipperary’s confidence will have been rebuilt to a certain extent with their second-half performance against Cork and they won’t get an easier chance to build on that.
It’ll be interesting to see where they go from here because I think, with another win under their belt this Sunday, they’ll start to take shape and become competitive over the summer.
Verdict: Tipperary
Michael Duignan was speaking to RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland
Follow all the hurling games this weekend via our live blogs on RTÉ.ie and the News Now App, watch exclusive television coverage of Waterford v Tipperary on RTÉ2 or listen to exclusive national radio commentary of all games on RTÉ Radio 1. Highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm on RTÉ2.
