There are three hurling championship clashes down for decision this weekend, including Sunday's Munster final at Semple Stadium. Here are our previews:

 

Saturday, July 8th

All-Ireland SHC Qualifier Round 2

Waterford v Kilkenny, Semple Stadium, 7pm - Sky Sports

This one is a repeat of last year's All-Ireland semi-final and it could see fans in for another cracker at Semple Stadium with both teams vying for a place in the last eight on Saturday evening.

Waterford blew Offaly away in Tullamore last weekend, posting 1-35 in a 24-point win, and plenty fancy them to end Kilkenny's season with a first championship victory over the Leinster kingpins since the 1959 All-Ireland decider.

Saturday evening will mark the ninth time Brian Cody has come up against the Deise men in the hurling championship as Cats boss and one would imagine he'd take a narrow win like the one his side gained against Limerick last Saturday.

The likes of Michael Fennelly and Walter Walsh stepped up to the plate for the hosts against the Shannonsiders at Nowlan Park but they'll need a more complete performance in Thurles against a side which had 13 different scorers the last day.

Austin Gleeson got firing against the Faithful County, recording 0-6 from play, and if he gets going again others tend to follow suit and if that's the case on Saturday than last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists could well be in a world of trouble.

Verdict: Waterford

Tipperary v Dublin, Semple Stadium, 5pm

Some of the Dublin contingent aren't happy with having to travel to Thurles to take on the All-Ireland champions on Sunday and, as things stand, they are 8/1 underdogs for a win at Semple Stadium.

Tipperary's recent woes were not extinguished when they met Westmeath on their home turf last weekend, with the Leinster minnows putting it up to the Premier men for long stages before eventually succumbing to a 2-18 to 0-15 defeat.

Seamus Callanan was a casualty in that game and his out of sorts form as of late has led former Tipp sharpshooter Eoin Kelly to believe that the big Drom-Inch man could be starting on the bench against the capital men this weekend.

The Dubs would undoubtedly welcome the sight of Callanan's name amongst the substitute lists on Saturday evening but they'll be concentrating on their own game plan, having come together in the second-half of their 16-point win over Laois the last day.

Eamonn Dillon bagged both goals for the home side at Parnell Park, while they also got big performances from David Treacy and Fergal Whitely in the second 35, but this weekend presents Ger Cunningham's charges with an entirely different sort of task than the O'Moore men.

Verdict: Tipperary

 

Sunday, July 9th

Munster SHC final

Clare v Cork, Semple Stadium, 4pm - RTE

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has said in the build-up to this one that Clare will be glad to be facing the Rebels rather than Tipperary or Waterford for Munster hurling's biggest prize.

Kingston's charges have lit up the championship this summer and head into Sunday's provincial decider as 8/11 favourites to claim their first down south in three years, with the Banner men (7/5) gunning for their first title since their 1998 replay win over Waterford.

When these two sides met in the league in February it was the Leesiders that recorded a 0-21 to 1-11 victory at Pairc Ui Rinn, although Kingston has been quick to point out that Clare had a comfortable win over them when both sides were close to full strength in a pre-championship challenge game.

The form is certainly with Cork though, having backed up a shock win over holders Tipp with a thoroughly deserved triumph against the Deise men, with Conor Lehane and Patrick Horgan leading the way for them in the scoring stakes.

Clare had two key men of their own - Shane O'Donnell and Conor McGrath - in attack against Limerick but the deadly duo will need a supporting cast, as well as a whole-hearted display at the back to put the first dampener on Cork's summer.

Verdict: Cork

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