PREVIEWING the final of any competition, particularly the decider of a senior hurling championship, usually involves making a case for both sides and coming to a tentative verdict, with little or no conviction. Invariably both teams have had to play well and show some positive qualities to reach that stage of the competition, so even if one side is favoured, most previews will normally point to a tight game.
However when you’re previewing from a betting angle, you can be a little bit more forthright and acknowledge that just because it’s a final doesn’t mean that a one-sided game isn’t a possibility. Certainly Ahane found this out last year when Na Piarsaigh cut through them in the decider. While Adare have a little bit more experience and self belief when it comes to county finals, a similarly comprehensive win cannot be ruled out this Sunday.
Simply put, if Kilmallock even come close to replicating the form they produced at the semi final stage, they’ll win this with plenty to spare. Both sides are well endowed with some fantastic scoring forwards but Kilmallock also have a high quality defensive unit that looks capable of making life very difficult for Declan Hannon and his colleagues. On the other side you couldn’t say that the Adare full-back line is playing to a championship standard and if players like Graeme Mulcahy get the chance to run at them, you have to fancy that Kilmallock will get goals.
Paddy Power offers 1/3 Kilmallock, 5/2 Adare and 10/1 the draw this week but also goes 5/6 about Kilmallock minus three points on the handicap betting market. Three points is not a large spread in any hurling match and in the four games where Kilmallock were all out this year (their place in the knockouts was already secured when they played Ahane), they’ve won every game by a double figure margin. They can do the same here. Adare are decent but not spectacular and there is no reason why they should do any better than teams like Croom, Murroe Boher and Na Piarsaigh.
Also taking place this week is the replay of the Intermediate Football championship semi final, with Claughaun and Seán Finns both priced at even money with Paddy Power’s for this one, while it’s 13/2 that the sides finish level yet again in Ballybrown on Saturday evening. Another low scoring game is likely but you’d still have to fancy Claughaun at even money here. The biggest advantage that Seán Finns had in the last game was that they had the benefit of a competitive quarter final against Oola in the bag while Claughaun were sitting idly by. However while they did burst out of the blocks in style, Claughaun slowly ground them down and by the end Seán Finns were hanging on for a draw. Now both sides have a good game behind them and even though both will fancy their chances of reaching the decider, very few people would try to argue that Claughaun aren’t the more likely winners.
Take them at even money for as long as that price lasts, while doubling them up with Kilmallock minus three pays out at a very attractive price of 13/5, perhaps one of the best value bets we’ve ever had in this column.
