GAA Betting: Cork Still All-Ireland Hurling Favourites
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After another packed weekend of action in the competition, the best betting sites for GAA are once again investigating who the main challengers are for the All-Ireland senior hurling championship in 2025.
Playing virtually the entire game with an extra player following the dismissal of opposition attacker Darragh McCarthy for an incident that happened prior to the ball being thrown in, Cork secured an emphatic 4-27 to 0-24 triumph over Tipperary in the Munster senior hurling championship.
Earlier on the same day, a Waterford side that were under the radar coming into the provincial series claimed a magnificent 2-23 to 0-21 victory against All-Ireland champions Clare at Walsh Park.
There was also a hectic schedule in the Leinster senior hurling championship with Sean Currie (1-11) and John Hetherton (2-3) amassing impressive scoring tallies in Dublin’s 3-26 to 4-19 success at the expense of Wexford in Parnell Park on Saturday.
At O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Cathal Mannion and debutant Colm Molloy were in inspired form as Galway made light of the dismissal of Daithi Burke to record a 2-25 to 1-14 win against Offaly.
In the sole Leinster championship game to take place on Sunday, Kilkenny were convincing 2-30 to 2-12 victors over Antrim at Corrigan Park in Belfast.
Cork Still The Frontrunners For All-Ireland
Despite sharing the spoils with Clare in the opening round of the Munster championship last Sunday week, Cork were still rated as favourites for the All-Ireland crown heading into their home duel with Tipperary.
A 15-point victory against the Premier County that saw the evergreen Patrick Horgan and Declan Dalton registering respective hauls of 1-9 and 1-6 has kept them out in front with the bookmakers in the race for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Betting apps regard Pat Ryan’s Leesiders as 11/10 favourites to win their first All-Ireland senior hurling title in 20 years.
They currently lead the way at the summit of the Munster SHC table, but that could change after the upcoming weekend.
Limerick Very Much In Contention
Having remained idle in a five-team competition on Sunday, Limerick will return to competitive fare against Waterford in Walsh Park this Saturday evening.
After playing out an entertaining 2-23 apiece draw with Tipperary in the opening round of Munster, the Treaty County will be looking to go level on three points with Cork in the provincial standings.
Although John Kiely’s men relinquished their All-Ireland title in a semi-final defeat to the Rebels at the penultimate phase of last year’s hurling championship, Limerick remain viable contenders to collect the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the sixth time in just eight seasons.
Heading into their forthcoming battle with the Deise, they are rated as 11/4 second favourites with a host of betting sites.
Kilkenny Realistic All-Ireland Challengers
Limerick and Cork are certainly seen as the frontrunners for All-Ireland glory at the moment, but Kilkenny aren’t far behind them as things stand.
The Cats have accrued maximum points from the opening two rounds of the Leinster championship in 2025 and it is anticipated Derek Lyng’s outfit will retain their 100% record against Offaly at Nowlan Park on May 10.
While 13 players got themselves on the scoresheet in their win over Antrim, Eoin Cody shone brightest with an outstanding personal tally of 1-13 and GAA betting sites rate their All-Ireland prospects at 11/2.
Clare And Galway In The Mix
Even though they are the current holders of the Liam MacCarthy Cup, Clare are only seen as the fourth favourites for a second consecutive All-Ireland title.
Having suffered relegation from Division 1A of the National Hurling League, the Banner County came into the championship looking to rediscover the form that propelled them towards an NHL and Liam MacCarthy double in 2024.
They mounted an impressive comeback to earn a share of the spoils with Cork in the opening round of Munster, but a defeat to Waterford has put them under pressure in advance of a round three clash with Tipperary at Cusack Park in Ennis on May 10.
The odds on Brian Lohan’s charges retaining their All-Ireland crown are 14/1.
Having fallen well short of the standard required in an opening round loss to Kilkenny, Galway got their Leinster campaign up and running last Saturday courtesy of their convincing triumph over Offaly.
There is a sense that the Tribesmen are in a transitional period at the beginning of Micheal Donoghue’s second stint as team manager, but they will still have their sights set on progressing beyond the provincial series.
Next up for them is a home encounter with Wexford at Pearse Stadium in Salthill on Saturday week (May 10) with betting sites pricing them as a 20/1 prospect for Liam MacCarthy glory.
Waterford And Tipperary Have Outside Chance
Whereas Tipperary were previously viewed as more likely All-Ireland contenders than Waterford, the latter’s eye-catching win against Clare has caused something of a rethink on the market.
Stephen Bennett was in scintillating form for Peter Queally’s side against the Banner as he registered an exceptional haul of 2-8 over the course of the contest.
Tough showdowns with Limerick, Tipperary and Cork are on the horizon, but with BoyleSportsamongst those to offer odds of 20/1, a potential All-Ireland bid for the Deise shouldn’t be discounted.
In spite of their excellent early season form in the National League, Tipperary are now under pressure ahead of their aforementioned crunch meeting with Clare on May 10.
They might have been All-Ireland champions as recently as 2019, but the Premier are seen as an outside bet for this year’s Liam MacCarthy crown with odds of 25/1.
Whilst the odds on them are more favourable than what is being offered for Offaly and Antrim, Wexford and Dublin are still viewed as rank outsiders for an All-Ireland title in the wake of their gripping battle in Parnell Park last weekend.
In the eyes of the bookies this duo are regarded as a 66/1 possibility for a Liam MacCarthy success.