FOR THE second time in 12 months, Limerick’s promotion hopes were dashed by an Offaly side that chose the worst possible time (from the perspective of Limerick Post readers anyway!) to deliver their best performance of the season.
Shane Dowling’s untimely red card undoubtedly played a huge part in the Faithful County’s victory, but analysing the whys and the wherefores is of little value now, other than to inform our bet for this week – which is for Limerick to cruise past Laois and easily cover the 10 point spread in the Gaelic Grounds. It may be small consolation to Limerick supporters, but the money earned will be just as good as that won in a crucial knockout championship tie.
Laois may have given Wexford plenty to think about last Sunday, but there were two reasons why that performance wasn’t too much of a surprise. For one thing, these sides are used to each other and Laois would always perceive Wexford (and Offaly) as vulnerable, unlike how they might feel if they were up against Munster opposition. Having beaten Wexford in the Walsh Cup already in 2015, that was doubly the case this time around. Secondly, Laois were fighting for their lives in that fixture after Offaly’s win. They are now condemned to hurl in a relegation playoff regardless of what happens this weekend, so expect a few second string players to get playing time – and in Laois, they don’t have the depth to still hurl to a high level in that situation.
Of the other games taking place this week, perhaps the one of the most consequence is the clash between Waterford and Wexford, where the Déise men look that bit more advanced and more attractive at odds of even money.
A facile win over Antrim doesn’t really tell us much about Waterford’s current mood or form, but the manner in which Laois picked off 22 scores from play against Wexford last week would suggest that all is not well with the Model County defensively. Wexford have now conceded 25 points or more in three of their four National League games, and that’s hardly a number to be proud of in advance of a fixture of this nature. Their forward line, led by Liam Óg McGovern and Jack Guiney, is more than capable of racking up a decent total of their own, but that’s not going to be enough if they are leaking like a sieve at the other end.
There are some fine young hurlers in this Wexford team and when we consider the local derby element and the fact that Wexford beat them in the championship last year, many of the pundits will go for a home win, but from a cold-hearted, analytical point of view, Waterford at even money are by far the better play.
by Kevin Egan of PaddyPower
