Cork GAA Brian Hurley.jpg
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals take place this weekend and we have a tip for each contest at Croke Park.
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals take pride of place this weekend with a couple of monster tussles in store at Croke Park.
On Saturday evening, Munster champions Cork will continue their quest for Liam MacCarthy glory in facing a Dublin side that caused a seismic shock a fortnight ago by dumping out Limerick.
Then, on Sunday afternoon, a first Championship meeting in six years between old foes Kilkenny and Tipperary is sure to light up Headquarters.
Our tipster has picks for both of this weekend’s All-Ireland SHC semi-finals in Dublin.
Selections
Dublin +8 @ 10/11
Kilkenny to win @ 5/6
Dubs unlikely to bow to Rebels
Cork are overwhelming favourites for Saturday’s showdown with Dublin, Pat Ryan’s side trading as short as 1/6 to make it to back-to-back All-Ireland finals.
The Rebels won the Allianz League in the spring and are seemingly closing in on a first Liam MacCarthy triumph in two decades. They have been the best side in the country for most of 2025, save for one lamentable afternoon in the Gaelic Grounds in May when Limerick tore them to shreds.
The Leesiders took a measure of revenge for that in the Munster final, albeit by a whisker following a historic penalty shootout, but there will be no trilogy game for the sides as Limerick were stunned by the Dubs two weeks ago.
Niall O’Ceallachain’s side went into that game as 12/1 outsiders, so they are versed in the underdog role.
They lost skipper Chris Crummey after 15 minutes and despite being a man down, they outbattled a Limerick side that has been the standard-bearer of recent years.
The Dubs are back in an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 2013 and the ‘sold out’ signs have gone up at Croke Park with 80,000 attendees confirmed.
Ultimately, Cork should have too much for the Dubs, but with Limerick gone, there is intense pressure on this squad to deliver the ultimate prize now. Dublin showed immense grit a fortnight ago and a similar attitude could make the eight-point handicap look generous.
Cats to get the cream
Kilkenny and Tipperary were the superpowers on the hurling landscape in the early part of this century, but they have mustered just one All-Ireland between them since 2016.
That came in 2019 as the Cats were dispatched by 14 points in the decider by the Premier County.
Both are now under new tutelage. Liam Cahill has enjoyed a good season with Tipp, their best in six years, but for many of his young squad, this will be their first outing at GAA HQ and that is a real consideration.
Kilkenny’s spine is strong, with Huw Lawlor, Cian Kenny and the irrepressible TJ Reid to the fore for the Cats alongside the likes of Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody, who could be deployed from the bench.
This should be a tasty collision – there were four red cards in the sides’ Allianz League clash in the spring as Tipp won – but Derek Lyng’s side may have the superior knowhow in Croke Park this time.
