The drawn match in Wexford Park two weeks ago was an epic, the physicality, the atmosphere [was brilliant]. There is no love lost between these rivals and I expect more of the same. It will be a close contest.
Slowly but surely Brian Cody is getting his strongest team back.
Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy came back the last day, Cillian Buckley returned, and despite not having a good game, the minutes will stand to him. Walter Walsh, the same, James Maher came on as a sub.
Matthew O'Hanlon did a great job marking TJ Reid, holding him scoreless from play. Paudie Foley did a great job on Walsh but I think Kilkenny will find more room in Croke Park and, in Reid, have a more reliable free-taker.
That has been an Achilles' heel for Wexford over the last couple of years. I expect the Cats to come through on a narrow margin, two to three points.
Limerick have been rotating their side all summer. I'd love to know their team this morning. This thing of delaying the teams until the last minute is very frustrating when you are trying to analyse what’s going to happen.
We presume Declan Hannon, Cian Lynch, Gearoid Hegarty, Graeme Mulchay will all come back into the team. It remains to be seen if this tactic of John Kiely will be successful.
Tipp’s form, however, has been rock solid. They’ve lost Patrick Maher for the year with a cruciate and Cathal Barrett got injured but I just think the form of their forwards has been exceptional.
Going straight into an All-Ireland semi-final is the route that everyone wants to go down and while Limerick could potentially do anything on Sunday, form can’t be ignored. I expect Liam Sheedy’s men to win.
The Joe McDonagh final is huge for both sides – whoever wins is back in the Leinster Championship proper. Even the loser here has a preliminary quarter-final to look forward to as well.
Both teams' form has been very strong with Laois averaging over 30 points a game, Westmeath 26. They are two very attacking teams with Westmeath having just one blip, at home to Kerry. Laois’ form has been that little bit stronger and they have a better spread of scorers.
Westmeath were beaten in the final last year and they won’t go down without a massive fight but I think Laois might take it.
Michael Duignan was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland programme.
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