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All-Ireland winner Shane Dowling spoke exclusively to BoyleSports’ Leon Blanche this week, to preview the best hurling action the weekend has to offer. Check it out below.
Kilkenny v Wexford - Leinster SHC
Kilkenny host Wexford at Nowlan Park on Saturday in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and Shane thinks Wexford have been poor since their defeat to Waterford in the league and fancies Kilkenny to deliver.
? "Unless we see a huge reaction, it’s hard to see them getting over the line!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 19, 2022""
?️ Shane Dowling previews Kilkenny v Wexford in the 5th round of Leinster SHC on Saturday.
? Sky Sports, 6pm.
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He said: “Kilkenny were very impressive when beating Dublin in Parnell Park last week. They do what Kilkenny always do and go out there and work fierce hard."
"When I was in the studio with Davy Fitzgerald, he made a really good point that when you play against Kilkenny and you’re playing a short game, if it doesn’t stick to hand on the first occasion they will swarm in on top of you and get it back. Similar to Limerick, Kilkenny’s skill set is class too. They have really good players.”
“What do you say about Wexford drawing against Westmeath. I was delighted for Westmeath don’t get me wrong, but Wexford had 21 wides and two goals dropped out of the goalkeepers’ hands. At the end of the day you shouldn’t be putting yourself in those positions.
"Unless we see a huge reaction from Wexford it’s hard to see them getting over the line. Similar to Dublin, they flew early on in the league and were five out of five heading into the semi-finals and were annihilated by Waterford.”
“Their results since then have been quiet poor. They were lucky to get a draw against Galway, beaten by Dublin at home so it’s hard to see them doing much this weekend.”
“Kilkenny and Wexford have always been crackers. Wexford are going into the lion’s den, into Nowlan Park and I think they will come with something. They have to. While I think the Cats will win, I don’t think it will be a straightforward as people think.”
Galway v Dublin - Leinster SHC
Galway host Dublin at Pearse Stadium in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship this weekend and the Limerick man can’t see anything other than a home win for the Tribesmen as he was disappointed by the Dubs against Kilkenny at Parnell Park.
? "I think they will put them back in their box and ensure they get a big win!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 19, 2022""
?️ Shane Dowling previews Galway v Dublin in the 5th round of the Leinster SHC on Saturday, 6pm.
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He said: “I thought Dublin at home to Kilkenny would come with something. It was level at half time and after 40 minutes it was 2-14 to 0-14 and yes, they were six points down, but I thought with home advantage they could do something."
"There was a lot on the line and they just wilted out of the game. It was very disappointing."
"How could anyone think on the back of that Dublin could go to Galway and get a result? I certainly can’t see that happening. Stranger things have happened, but it’s impossible to see it.”
“If you look at the teams that done well in the league Wexford, Waterford and Dublin early on, they all don’t seem to be where they are now compared to where they were back then. They have had a bit of a dip. If you are to go by that trend, then Dublin are going downwards rather than upwards."
"Whereas Galway were slow enough in the league at times and only average for most parts, but they are going the other way now. I think they will put Dublin back in their box and ensure they get a big win.”
“It’s actually very hard to judge where Galway are at because of the league and what to take from their wins over Laois and Westmeath, but you will probably see a Galway v Kilkenny final and only then will you know where both teams are at.”
Tipperary v Cork - Munster SHC
Tipperary host Cork at Semple Stadium on Sunday in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and Shane thinks Cork will have too much for Tipperary on Sunday, but is predicting a huge effort from the hosts.
? "That performance is no good unless they carry that to Thurles and get back-to-back wins!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 20, 2022""
?️ Shane Dowling previews Tipperary v Cork in the 5th round of Munster SHC on Sunday, 4pm.
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He said: “I was delighted for Cork when they beat Waterford. They have had a huge amount of criticism, the managers and players, and it’s not easy. No team goes out trying to lose."
"They were criticised because of their work ethic more than anything else as it has been below par from what you would expect from intercounty players."
“They turned that around last weekend though against Waterford. They came down to Walsh Park full of agendas and all the players were fired up. The tactics were spot on, they were deserving winners, but that performance is no good unless they carry that to Thurles and get back-to-back wins.
“If you’re a Tipperary player sitting at home before any ball was pucked last weekend you would have said to yourself that you are out of the championship. Now all of a sudden they have something to play for."
"If they beat Cork and Clare beat Waterford then they are back in the mix. They have a huge performance in them. They showed that against Limerick and Waterford. They had a poor game against Clare, but it is in them as they have something to play for."
“In saying that, I still think Cork will win as they will be on a high from last weekend.”
Clare v Waterford - Munster SHC
Clare host Waterford at Cusack Park in Ennis on Sunday in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and Shane thinks Brian Lohan shouldn’t put out a weakened team against Waterford, who know they have to win this match.
? "I don’t like this talk of dummy or weakened teams. I think it’s grossly unfair!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 20, 2022""
?️ Shane Dowling previews Clare v Waterford in the 5th round of Munster SHC on Sunday, 4pm.
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He said: “If I was in Brian Lohan’s shoes, I would be saying to myself, right it’s three weeks until the Munster final and I’m going to need all my lads to take on Limerick to see exactly what they are made of.”
“I don’t like this talk of dummy or weakened teams. I think it’s grossly unfair. Lohan has a panel and there are lads there who will benefit from their team being in a Munster final, where they are going to get their chance. Not so much to beat Waterford, but to put their hand up and say I want to take part in a Munster final.”
“Waterford know that they have to win, so they are going to be in that mindset. They know that if they win, they are hoping for an upset and that Tipperary will beat Cork. Waterford have to win, Clare don’t."
"So, Clare might put out a ‘weakened’ team and I can understand why the betting has Waterford as the 4-11 favourites.”
Bet of the weekend
? Was 24/1, NOW 33/1!
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 20, 2022""
Here's @dowlerznap's Bet of the weekend for GAA Senior Hurling Championship action!
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More about the author:
Shane Dowling is a hurler for club side Na Piarsaigh and previously played at inter-county level for the Limerick senior hurling team.
In 2016 he won a Senior Club Hurling Championship with Na Piarsaigh. He won four Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship titles as well as five Limerick Senior Hurling Championships.
He also won a prestigious All-Star award in 2014.
In July 2020 Dowling sadly announced his retirement from inter-county hurling due to knee issues aged 27.
He currently appears on RTE and other media outlets as a hurling pundit.