One step from Croke Park glory — but history, momentum and injury lists all weigh into a fascinating All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions Cork face off with a resurgent Dublin side this Saturday.

Cork are bidding to reach the All-Ireland final for a second year in a row, as they continue their hunt for a first Liam MacCarthy triumph since 2005. Dublin, on the other hand, are seeking their first final appearance since 1961 — and their first All-Ireland title in 87 years.

Cork Team News – Three Changes for the Rebels

Pat Ryan’s Cork side shows three changes from the team that edged past Limerick in a dramatic Munster Final penalty shootout.

• IN: Niall O’Leary, Rob Downey (capt), Declan Dalton
• OUT: Damien Cahalane (bench), Cormac O’Brien (injured), Séamus Harnedy (injured)

Ger Millerick also returns to the match-day panel following injury.

Cork Starting XV

CORK (v Dublin):
1. Patrick Collins
2. Niall O’Leary
3. Eoin Downey
4. Seán O’Donoghue
5. Ciarán Joyce
6. Rob Downey (Captain)
7. Mark Coleman
8. Tommy O’Mahony
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon
10. Daire Healy
11. Shane Barrett
12. Declan Dalton
13. Patrick Horgan
14. Alan Connolly
15. Brian Hayes

Subs: B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O’Connell, E Twomey, L Meade, B Roche, J O’Connor, S Kingston, R O’Flynn, C Lehane

Dublin’s Road to the Semis

Dublin have put together an impressive championship run under manager Micheál Donoghue. After finishing third in Leinster, the Dubs hammered Kildare in the All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final and stunned reigning champions Limerick in the Quarter-Final, scoring a massive 2-24 to 0-28 victory.

Sean Currie has led the scoring charge, while Cian O’Sullivan and Ronan Hayes have provided crucial attacking support.

Championship Form Guide

CORK – P5 W3 D1 L1 (Munster Champions)

• Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24
• Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24
• Limerick 3-26 Cork 1-16
• Cork 2-25 Waterford 1-22
• Cork 1-30 Limerick 2-27 AET (Won 3-2 on penalties – Munster Final)

DUBLIN – P7 W5 L2

• Dublin 1-25 Offaly 2-19
• Dublin 3-26 Wexford 4-19
• Dublin 3-25 Antrim 0-19
• Kilkenny 5-19 Dublin 3-21
• Galway 0-29 Dublin 3-15
• Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13
• Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28

Top Scorers

Cork

• Patrick Horgan – 3-42 (1-32 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
• Brian Hayes – 3-7
• Séamus Harnedy – 0-13
• Shane Barrett – 1-9
• Darragh Fitzgibbon – 0-11 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)

Dublin

• Sean Currie – 5-61 (0-39 frees, 2-0 pens, 0-4 ‘65s’)
• Cian O’Sullivan – 3-17
• Ronan Hayes – 3-6
• John Hetherton – 3-5
• Conor Donohue – 0-9

Head-to-Head History

This will be the 20th championship meeting between Cork and Dublin. The Rebels dominate the record with 16 wins to Dublin’s 2, and 1 draw.

• Most recent: 2024 – Cork 0-26 Dublin 0-21 (All-Ireland QF)
• Other recent wins: 2021, 2020, 2016, 2013, 2008, 2007
• Last Dublin win: 1927 All-Ireland Final (Dublin 4-8 Cork 1-3)

Semi-Final Pedigree – Last Five Appearances

Cork

• 2024: Cork 1-28 Limerick 0-29
• 2021: Cork 1-37 Kilkenny 1-32 AET
• 2018: Limerick 3-32 Cork 2-31 AET
• 2017: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20
• 2014: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-11

Dublin

• 2013: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19
• 2011: Tipperary 1-19 Dublin 0-18
• 1948: Dublin 8-13 Antrim 2-6
• 1944: Dublin 6-12 Antrim 3-1
• 1941: Dublin 2-4 Galway 2-2

Verdict

Cork come in as favourites, battle-hardened from a brutal Munster campaign and boasting big-game experience. Dublin have the firepower and belief to cause problems, especially after their upset of Limerick — but history and depth favour the Rebels.

Prediction: Cork by 4-6 points in a fast-paced contest.

The post All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Preview: Cork v Dublin appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast

Date & Time: Saturday, May 10th, 4:00pm

Broadcast: Live on GAA+

Odds: Dublin 1/8 | Draw 20/1 | Antrim 8/1

Handicap: Dublin -8

Tip: Antrim +8

Dublin travel north to face Antrim in Round 3 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, hoping to maintain their perfect record after wins over Wexford and Offaly. Antrim, meanwhile, are still searching for their first points and will be determined to put on a show at home in Corrigan Park.

Despite the odds strongly favouring the Dubs at 1/8, there’s reason to consider Antrim +8 on the handicap line as the smart value bet.

Recent Form

• Dublin:
  • Beat Offaly and Wexford
  • Scored 4-51, conceded 6-38
  • Beat Antrim by 1-25 to 0-14 in Allianz League
• Antrim:
  • Lost to Kilkenny and Wexford
  • Conceded most (4-54) and scored least (2-31) in Leinster

Last Five Championship Meetings

• 2024: Dublin 3-32 Antrim 1-18
• 2023: Dublin 1-19 Antrim 1-19
• 2021: Dublin 3-31 Antrim 0-22
• 2010: Antrim 1-17 Dublin 0-19
• 2009: Dublin 2-16 Antrim 0-12

Dublin have had the upper hand in recent years, but Antrim have covered this handicap (+8) in 2 of the last 4 meetings.

Table After 2 Rounds

Tip: Antrim +8 at Corrigan Park

Dublin are deserved favourites, but Corrigan Park is a tough venue and Antrim have a tendency to rise to the occasion at home. The Dubs may rotate their squad slightly ahead of bigger clashes, and that opens the door for Antrim to keep this closer than expected.

Recommendation: Back Antrim +8 on the handicap line for value.

The post Antrim v Dublin: Corrigan Park Hosts Crucial Leinster Hurling Round 3 Clash appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The start of each competition starts this coming weekend, with the Joe McDonagh Cup, after the COVID-19 Pandemic caused a delay until October 2020.

Antrim were crowned champions after defeating Kerry 1-17 to 0-22 in Dublin in December. last year.

Format

• The 2021 Joe McDonagh cup (Tier 2) will be structured on a ’round-robin’ basis with each team playing each other home and away.
• There are two groups, Group A consists of 3 teams and Group B with 3 teams.
• The winner of Group A and Group B will play against one another in the final, with the winner gaining entry into the Leinster Hurling Championship the following year.
• The bottom team in Group A and Group B will play against one another in a relegation playoff to determine who drops down to the Christy Ring Cup (Tier 3) in 2022.

Group A

Group A consists of three teams, Carlow, Kildare and Westmeath.

Carlow

Tom Mullally was brought in as manager in January 2021, along with selectors Chris Kealy, Joe Nolan and Pat Murphy as part of his backroom staff.

They had a successful league campaign, only finishing behind Offaly in second place.

The fighting cocks last won the title in 2018 with a winning effort against Westmeath at Croke Park.

First Game: Away v Kildare

Kildare

The Lilywhites had a great league campaign, winning all four games and remaining unbeaten.

Boasting an outrageous point difference of +77, they are looking like a strong outfit.

They are coming off the back of winning the Christy Ring Cup after beating down last year.

First Game: Home v Carlow

Westmeath

After a stinker league campaign, finishing bottom of their respective group, losing all 5 games.

Getting whitewashed in all of their games against tough opposition.

Heading into this, they will be one of the favourites.

First Game: Away v Carlow

Round 1 

Kildare v Carlow

Round 2

Carlow v Westmeath

Round 3

Westmeath v Kildare

Group B

Group B consists of three teams, Down, Kerry and Meath.

Down

Losing finalists during the 2020 Christy Ring Cup, Down will be looking to go one better this term around.

They had a decent league run, finishing third.

First Game: Away v Kerry

Kerry

Finishing runner up in last years final, losing to Antrim by 2 points, the Kingdom will be back for redemption.

2020 was their first final appearance, and they would be confident to finish the job come July.

First Game: Home v Kerry

Meath

After finishing second in Division 2 a few weeks ago, Meath is looking out of their depth this season.

If they are to put up a good showing, they will hope to start off on a positive note.

First Game: Away v Down

Round 1

Kerry v Down

Round 2

Down v Meath

Round 3

Meath v Kerry

Predictions

Winners: Kildare

Relegation: Meath

The post 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup Preview appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES ON KERRY v TYRONE

Kerry and Tyrone will meet in the first of two Allianz football league semi-finals to take place this coming Saturday live on TG4.

The Kingdom will be looking to carry on their momentum and book a place in the Allianz league final after their last match, seeing off Roscommon by a comprehensive nine-point winning margin at Dr Hyde Park two weeks ago.

While Tyrone will be looking to bounce back after their exciting draw with Ulster rivals Monaghan at Healy Park in Omagh.

With Kerry reigning league champions, they are coming into this game as the heavy favourites. Easing past Roscommon in their last match, showing resolve to dig out a draw with All-Ireland champions Dublin.

If Tyrone can pose any problems for Kerry, their attack will be crucial to booking their place in their first league final appearance since 2013. With Paul Donaghy looking dangerous and Darren McCurry scoring for fun, Tyrone could easily cause an upset.

The burden will fall upon full-forward starlet David Clifford to cause chaos for the Tyrone back-line. With his performance against Galway a stand-out.

Form — last three results

Kerry — (Win, Draw, Win)

Tyrone — (Loss, Win, Draw)

Players to watch

Kerry: David Clifford (Fossa)

Tyrone: Darren McCurry (Edendork)

Starting/Predicted Teams

Kerry

Kerry (Confirmed) : Kieran Fitzgibbon; Brian O Beaglaoich, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Mike Breen, Gavin Crowley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Adrian Spillane; Stephen O’Brien, Sean O’Shea, Paul Geaney; David Clifford, Dara Moynihan, Paudie Clifford.

Subs: Brendan Kealy, Jack Sherwood, Jack Barry, Graham O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Tommy Walsh, Paul O’Shea, Micheal Burns, Joe O’Connor, Pa Kilkenny, David Shaw.

Tyrone

Niall Morgan; Cormac Munroe, Ronan McNamee, Rory Brennan; Michael McKernan, Frank Burns, Peter Harte; Mattie Donnelly, Richard Donnelly; Kieran McGeary, Darragh Canavan Conor Meyler; Darren McCurry Conor McKenna, Paul Donaghy

Betting

Kerry: 1/3

Tyrone: 3/1

Draw: 8/1

Prediction

Kerry.

A Twitter List by IrishScoresGAA

The post GAA Live Scores, Team News & Betting – Division 1 semi-final – Kerry v Tyrone appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.