The All-Ireland Hurling 2024 Championship Odds: Limerick On Top Despite Cork Loss
As we head towards the closing stages of both the Leinster and Munster championships, betting sites are once more taking a look at who the most likely winners are of the All-Ireland senior hurling title in 2024.
While last weekend saw an epic Munster SHC clash between Cork and Limerick at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, its often-maligned eastern counterpart threw up a compelling battle of its own.
Although Dublin enjoyed a comfortable 20-point triumph over Antrim at Parnell Park, Kilkenny’s trip to nearby Carlow didn’t quite go according to script.
Expected to come through the game comfortably, the Cats ultimately returned to the Noreside with only a point.
Carlow had lost out narrowly to Dublin in the second round of the Leinster championship, after running Galway close for large stretches of their meeting in Salthill on April 21. But Carlow went a step further at Dr Cullen Park by claiming a 1-20 to 1-20 draw with Kilkenny.
This undoubtedly goes down as one of the greatest results in Carlow’s history and it shows that there is plenty of life in Leinster hurling this year.
Limerick Still Favourites For All-Ireland Glory
Limerick’s 3-28 to 3-26 loss to Cork indicates that the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship might be far more open than people might have originally thought.
Nevertheless, the Treaty are chasing a fifth consecutive Liam MacCarthy Cup crown and very much remain the side to beat.
The fact that they found themselves two points in front during the closing moments of their showdown with Cork last Saturday, after previously being eight adrift at the midway stage in the action, means John Kiely’s men still came away from the game with credit in the bank.
In addition to the scoring prowess of Aaron Gillane and Gearoid Hegarty, Seamus Flanagan emerged with an outstanding personal haul of 3-3.
As well as dominating the All-Ireland series in recent years, Limerick have also won the Munster senior title in each of the past five seasons.
The only idle team in the province this weekend, the Treaty are still out in front as 4/5 favourites on GAA betting sites.
Clare And Kilkenny Leading The Chasing Pack
As has been the case for the past few weeks, Clare (6/1) and Kilkenny (13/2) are still regarded as the main challengers to Limerick’s Liam MacCarthy throne.
Considering the former are the one to have pushed them the most in Munster over the past two years, and the latter are the side they defeated in the 2022 and 2023 All-Ireland deciders, this is perhaps unsurprising.
Clare have some work to do to keep their championship hopes alive beyond the provincial series, however, as Waterford and Tipperary will provide a stern test of their resolve over the next two weekends.
Meanwhile, having shared the spoils with both Galway and Carlow to date, Kilkenny will be aiming for a return to winning ways against Dublin at Parnell Park on Saturday.
Galway Still In The Reckoning For Now
Following a disappointing eight-point loss to Wexford in their most recent round-robin game, Galway will hope that a two-week break has worked to their advantage when they face Antrim at Corrigan Park this weekend.
While there are severe doubts about the Tribesmen in the wake of an under-par performance against Wexford, but Conor Cooney, Conor Whelan and Evan Niland are more than capable of providing firepower for Henry Shefflin’s charges.
All-Ireland semi-finalists in the past two years, Galway are still ranked in the top-four when it comes to the betting for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Though they are some way off Clare and Kilkenny with betting apps, odds of 10/1 with Betway, this is still enough to make them fourth favourites this year.
Wexford And Dublin Still Seen As Rank Outsiders
Despite their impressive win over the Connacht-based side, Wexford are viewed as rank outsiders for All-Ireland glory.
This is probably due to the perception of the Slaneysiders being an inconsistent group of players.
This was perfectly encapsulated by their round two defeat to Antrim, who suffered heavy reversals to Kilkenny and Dublin either side of it.
In Lee Chin, Wexford (50/1) have one of the in-form players in the country, but bookmakers aren’t convinced they are going to bridge a 28-year gap to their last All-Ireland success.
Even though they currently sit at the summit of the Leinster championship table with five points from a possible six, Dublin are 125/1 with BoyleSports.
Their participation in the knockout rounds of the All-Ireland championship isn’t guaranteed either at this junction, particularly with tough games on the horizon against Kilkenny and Galway.
Cork, Waterford And Tipperary Battle To Stay Alive
When it comes to the Munster triumvirate of Cork, Waterford and Tipperary, the odds of an All-Ireland success are considerably more favourable.
Rejuvenated as a result of their magnificent victory over Limerick – the evergreen Patrick Horgan once again stood out with an individual tally of 1-11, as Cork (12/1) are nestled in behind Galway in the Liam MacCarthy betting.
Defeat to Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles this Sunday would end Cork’s All-Ireland hopes. Second in the Munster table at the moment, Waterford (20/1) have seemingly left a difficult National Hurling League campaign behind them.
The likes of Dessie Hutchinson and Stephen Bennett have shone thus far for the Deise, but they have a tough task on their hands this Sunday against Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis.
Despite having two games left in the competition, Tipperary’s Munster showdown with Cork this weekend is one they will be desperate to win after picking up just one point from a possible four to date.
An impressive spread of 13 scorers helped them to earn a share of the spoils away to Waterford on May 4, but there are question marks about the Premier County after a few decidedly underwhelming championship campaigns.
It would be wrong to discount Liam Cahill’s squad completely, but at 33/1, it seems unlikely that they will be climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park later this summer.
While they have picked up excellent results in the 2024 championship, both Antrim and Carlow are rank outsiders for All-Ireland glory with odds that range from 500/1 to 1,000/1 on new betting sites.