Galway will look to bounce back from their recent defeat to Kilkenny when they host Wexford in a vital Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round Robin fixture. Both counties come into this encounter with two points apiece, having won one and lost one from their opening two games.

The match is finely poised in the standings, but the bookmakers make Galway strong favourites at 1/3, with a -4 handicap applied. Wexford, available at 3/1, will need to defy recent form trends if they are to come away with a result.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head

Galway beat Offaly comfortably in Round 1 but came up short against Kilkenny last weekend. Wexford opened with a win over Antrim but were outclassed by Dublin in their second outing.

The last five championship meetings between Galway and Wexford show just how tight this rivalry has become:

• 2024: Wexford 1-28 Galway 0-23
• 2023: Galway 0-24 Wexford 2-12
• 2022: Galway 1-19 Wexford 1-19
• 2020: Galway 1-27 Wexford 0-17
• 2019: Galway 0-16 Wexford 0-16

This will be the 17th championship clash between the counties. Both have won seven each, with two draws—highlighting the historic parity. However, Galway hold the edge in more recent encounters, with an unbeaten run in their last four championship games in Pearse Stadium against Wexford.

Goals at a Premium

One of the standout stats in this fixture is the lack of goals. In the six games played from 2018 to 2024, only seven goals have been scored in total. This trend suggests another low-scoring tactical battle could be on the cards, especially with Galway’s defensive structure typically holding firm at home.

League Form and Home Advantage

Galway also defeated Wexford in this year’s Allianz League at Chadwicks Wexford Park by 2-19 to 1-20, a result that will give them added confidence coming into this weekend.

They will also take comfort from their six-point win over Wexford at home in the 2022 championship. That said, Wexford got revenge in 2024, winning by eight points on their own turf.

Betting and Prediction

With Galway -4 on the handicap and a price of 1/3 to win, the market strongly leans towards a home victory. The handicap line suggests the bookies expect Galway to win by at least five points. Given the trends and Galway’s strong form at Pearse Stadium, that looks a reasonable prediction.

Prediction: Galway to cover the -4 handicap in a tight, physical contest.

The post Galway v Wexford: Tribesmen Favourites in Crucial Leinster Hurling Championship Clash appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

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GAA LEAGUE Tables

GAA Fixtures

Fixtures
Friday 9 May

Connacht MFC final
Mayo v Roscommon, Hastings MacHale Park, 6.30pm

Saturday 10 May

Ulster SFC final
Armagh v Donegal, Clones, 5.25pm – RTE / BBC

Munster SHC round 3
Clare v Tipperary, Cusack Park Ennis, 6pm – GAA+

Leinster SHC Round 3
Kilkenny V Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 6.00pm
Antrim V Dublin, Corrigan Park, 4.00pm – GAA+
Galway V Wexford, Pearse Stadium Galway, 3.15pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup Round 1
Wexford v Longford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 6.30pm
Kildare v Leitrim, Cedral St Conleth’s Park, 5pm
Laois v Waterford, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 3pm
Offaly v Wicklow, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.30pm
Limerick v London, Rathkeale, 1pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
Westmeath v Down, TEG Cusack Park, 2.30pm
Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm

Christy Ring Cup
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 2pm
Tyrone v Derry, Dungannon, 1pm
Donegal v London, Letterkenny, 12.30pm

Nickey Rackard Cup
Mayo v Sligo, MacHale Park, 2pm
Armagh v Louth, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 12pm

Lory Meagher Cup
Longford v Cavan, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 2pm
Lancashire v Monaghan, Abbotstown, 1.30pm

Ulster Ladies SFC final
Armagh v Donegal, St Tiernach’s Park, 3pm -TG4 YouTube

Leinster MHC quarter-finals
Westmeath v Dublin, Joristown Park, 12pm
Laois v Wexford, O’Moore Park, 12pm

Ulster MFC quarter-final
Cavan v Down, Kingspan Breffni, 12pm

All-Ireland MFC C first round
Limerick v Wicklow, Rathkeale, 3pm
Wexford v Laois, TBC, 2pm
Waterford v Kilkenny, Lemybrien, 2pm

Sunday 11 May

Leinster SFC final
Meath v Louth, Croke Park, 4.15pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup Round 1
Westmeath v Antrim, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm – GAA+
Fermanagh v Carlow, Brewster Park, 2pm
Sligo v Tipperary, Tubbercurry, 1.30pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois v Kerry, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 4pm

Nickey Rackard Cup
Roscommon v Fermanagh, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Lory Meagher Cup
Warwickshire v Leitrim, Birmingham, 2pm

Connacht Ladies SFC
Galway v Mayo, Tuam Stadium, 1pm

Leinster Ladies SFC final
Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 2pm – TG4 YouTube

Munster Ladies SFC
Kerry v Tipperary, Austin Stack Park, 2pm
Waterford v Cork, Dungarvan GAA, 2pm

All-Ireland U20FC semi-final
Kerry v Tyrone, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm – TG4

All-Ireland U20FC B semi-final
Limerick v Monaghan, Moorefield, 3pm

Ulster MFC quarter-final
Monaghan v Armagh, TBC, 12pm

All-Ireland MFC C first round
Fermanagh v Longford, Roslea, 12pm

Monday 12 May

Munster MFC semi-finals
Clare v Kerry, TBC, 7pm
Tipperary v Cork, TBC, 7pm

Wednesday 14 May

Munster U20HC final
Tipperary v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 7:30pm

All-Ireland U20FC B semi-final
Leitrim v Westmeath, Dr Hyde Park, 6.30pm

Friday 16 May

All-Ireland U20FC semi-final
Louth v Mayo, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 7pm

Munster MHC final
Cork v Waterford or Clare, TBC, 7pm

Saturday 17 May

All-Ireland SFC Round 1
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 5pm – GAA+
Kerry v Roscommon, Fitzgerald Stadium, 2.30pm – GAA+

Leinster SHC Round 4
Wexford v Offaly, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5pm
Galway v Antrim, Pearse Stadium Galway, 1.30pm – GAA+

Tailteann Cup Round 2
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 6pm
Antrim v Limerick, Corrigan Park, 4.30pm
Tipperary v Kildare, Clonmel, 4pm
Waterford v Offaly, Walsh Park, 1.30pm

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4
Westmeath v Carlow, TEG Cusack Park, 3pm
Down v Kerry, Ballycran, 2pm

Christy Ring Cup Round 5
Derry v Wicklow, Celtic Park, 1.30pm
London v Tyrone, Ruislip, 1.30pm
Meath v Donegal, Trim, 1.30pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 5
Fermanagh v Mayo, Brewster Park, 2pm
Louth v Roscommon, Dowdallshill, 2pm
Sligo v Armagh, Tubbercurry, 2pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 5
Cavan v Leitrim, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Monaghan v Longford, Inniskeen, 2pm
Warwickshire v Lancashire, Birmingham, 2pm

Leinster MHC semi-finals
Kilkenny v Westmeath or Dublin, TBC, TBC
Galway v Laois or Wexford, TBC, TBC

Ulster MFC semi-finals
Tyrone v TBC, TBC, TBC
Donegal v TBC, TBC, TBC

Sunday 18 May

All-Ireland SFC Round 1
Mayo v Cavan, MacHale Park, 2.30pm
Clare v Down, Cusack Park, 2pm

Leinster SHC Round 4
Kilkenny v Dublin, UPMC Nowlan Park 3.00pm

Munster SHC round 4
Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, 4pm – RTE
Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium Thurles, 2pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup Round 2
Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1.30pm – GAA+
London v Westmeath, Ruislip, 2pm
Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm
Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4
Laois v Kildare, O’Moore Park, 3pm

Friday 23 May

Munster MFC final
TBC v TBC, TBC, 7:30pm

Sunday 25 May

All-Ireland SFC Round 1

Leinster SHC Round 5
Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2.00pm
Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2.00pm
Offaly v Antrim, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 2.00pm

Munster SHC round 5
Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, 4pm
Cork v Waterford, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm

Saturday 7 June

Munster SHC final
TBC v TBC, TBC, 6pm

Sunday 8 June

Leinster SHC final
TBC v TBC, Croke Park, 4.00pm

The post GAA Fixtures 2025 – Hurling & Gaelic Football appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The news of Fitzgerald’s departure was announced by Wexford GAA in the early hours of Friday morning.

Fitzgerald said;

“I have informed the County Board that I will not be in a position to continue in my role as Bainisteoir of the Wexford Senior Hurling team.

“The main reason for this is down to the six-hour round trip from my home in Sixmilebridge, which I have done for the last five years.

“I have never felt closer or happier with any team in all my years coaching and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my five years in Wexford.

Davy Fitzgerald's time in Wexford has come to an end https://t.co/ksQhpaDUFk

— The42.ie GAA (@The42GAA) July 30, 2021

“It has been an absolute privilege and an honour to have worked with every one of the players during my time in Wexford.”

“There were ups and downs, highs and lows, as is the nature of the sport, all of which was experienced with a sense of collective pride and enjoyment.

“To the players, county board, clubs and people of Wexford, I wish to thank each and every one of you for playing no small part in every enjoyable second of the journey.

“From the first meeting in Gorey in October 2016 to last Saturday week in Thurles, you have all made me feel so welcome, supported and proud to be involved with Wexford.

“On behalf of myself and my backroom team I wish to thank everyone associated with Wexford GAA for everything over the last five years and I wish you all the very best for the future. Le Croí agus Lámh, Davy.”

Davy Fitzgerald’s time as Wexford manager has been a successful one.

Gaining promotion to Division 1A of the National Hurling League, before winning Wexford’s first Leinster Hurling Championship title since 2004 with a 3-point victory over Kilkenny in Croke Park.

In the 2021 Championship season, Wexford was defeated by Clare in the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers, with Fitzgerald indicating that his time in charge was coming to an end, admitting that the past year in charge of Wexford was ”the toughest” he had experienced in GAA

Wexford’s Response

With Wexford GAA chairman Mícheál Martin stating;

The post Davy Fitzgerald Leaves Wexford appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES KILKENNY V WEXFORD
This tie could be full of surprises with both teams seeming unpredictable in recent seasons, only one can reach the Leinster final.

Kilkenny had a decent season in the league, winning four games and only losing to Clare on the last day. They always seemed to be part of exciting high-scoring matches with their forwards always in full force.

Wexford also had a very nice league campaign, finishing second behind the Cats. They finished strong with a comfortable victory against Dublin.

They last faced each other in the league at the end of May, Kilkenny came out victors on that day with a scoreline of Kilkenny 2-27 Wexford 0-23.

It is no secret that this Kilkenny team relies heavily on scoring frees, but they do have the countries best free-taker in TJ Reid. The 33-year-old always the difference if the Cats can win or lose a game and expect no different on Saturday

In corner-forward, Wexford has a strong contender for All-Star again this year. Lee Chin is the main man for them and is normally involved in most of the team’s important scores.

Our Senior Hurlers will face @KilkennyCLG in the @gaaleinster Senior Hurling Semi Final this Saturday afternoon at Croke Park. Throw in 4.30pm

The game will be shown live on @SkySportsGAA

Ticket details tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Xlmxb20AHA

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 28, 2021

Predicted teams

Kilkenny

E Murphy (GK); T Walsh, H Lawlor, P Deegan, D Corcoran, P Walsh, C Browne, R Reid, R Leahy, A Mullen, W Walsh, B Ryan, J Bergin, TJ Reid, E Cody.

Wexford

Mark Fanning (GK); S Reck, L Ryan, C Flood; J O’Connor, G Bailey, S Murphy; D O’Keefe, L McGovern; R O’Connor, C McDonald, P Morris; L Chin, J O’Connor, K Foley.

Betting

Bookies expect a close game with Kilkenny having odds to win at 4/9.

A draw in this fixture would give a big payout with odds of 10/1.

Wexford are not favorites but are close with odds of 2/1 to win.

Prediction

No matter what side wins this match, it will be close until the end. Kilkenny’s main problem is that they rely too heavily on TJ Reid.

Wexford can target him and try nullifying his threat. If they can succeed, then Wexford will have the advantage in this game.

Unbelievable game tonight and fair play to @WaterfordGAA, a fantastic performance and a well deserved win.
In defeat this man was nothing short of incredible @_tjreid
One of the all time great performances in @CrokePark #waterford #kilkenny #gaa #hurling #hurlingchampionship pic.twitter.com/9qQJoMDHPG

— The Hurling Podcast (@hurlingpodcast) November 29, 2020

A Twitter List by IrishScoresGAA

The post Leinster Hurling Preview: Kilkenny v Wexford- Live scores, Team News, Betting appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Two games will be played to mark the return of fans in what will be the biggest crowd in Ireland since COVID-19.

Galway vs Dublin and Kilkenny vs Wexford, will all meet to decide who faces who in the Leinster Final on the 17th of July.

Each game was originally set to be played in Portlaoise, but Leinster GAA announced at six o’clock on Monday evening that the games have been moved to Croke Park,

It will be the first sporting event of its kind in Ireland since the pandemic began with all-inter county matches only able to hold no more than 200 fans.

Leinster GAA are delighted to announce the Senior Hurling Semi Finals this Saturday will now take place in Croke Park.

8,000 spectators will watch Dublin v Galway (2pm) and Kilkenny v Wexford at (4.30pm)

Ticketing details and relevant information will be confirmed tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/IHeojXWIr3

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) June 28, 2021

“Leinster GAA are delighted to announce the Senior Hurling Semi-Finals this Saturday will now take place in Croke Park,” read a Leinster GAA statement on Monday.

“8,000 spectators will watch Dublin v Galway (2 pm) and Kilkenny v Wexford at (4.30 pm). Ticketing details and relevant information will be confirmed tomorrow.”

Dublin and Wexford booked their place in the Semi-Finals with comprehensive wins over Antrim and Laois.

The Dubs winning by an 18-point margin, while Wexford hammered Laois by 20 points.

Saturday evening will also see Cork face off against reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Limerick at the Semple Stadium in Thurles at 7.00 pm.

The game will also see a return for some spectators, with a guarantee of up to 2,400 fans.

While Tipperary and Clare will go head-to-head in the second Munster Semi-Final on Sunday the 4th of July.

This will represent a change in the covid-19 restrictions in Ireland, with many sporting events now allowing thousands of fans into stadiums.

All games will be shown live on Sky Sports Arena, with coverage starting at 1.00 pm.

The post 8,000 spectators allowed to attend Leinster SHC Semi-Finals in Croke Park appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

These five men are at the very top of their games and will no doubt put all their talents on display when inter county hurling returns in October.

Noel McGrath (Tipperary)

Awarded man of the match for his performance in the All Ireland, 2019 was arguably the Loughmore – Castleiney man’s best year in a Tipperary jersey.

The move to midfield by Liam Sheedy has proven to be a masterstroke by the Tipperary boss, with biggest surprise of 2019 the fact that McGrath was overlooked for a Hurler of the Year nomination.

The 29 year old appears to be getting better with age and in this new position for the senior team seemingly bringing the best out of him, Tipp fans will hope for many more performances like the one they got in the 2019 All Ireland.

There is literally no hurler in Ireland with better vision than Noel McGrath

Takes out all of Laois with one pass

Some touch from Callanan. Class by Tipppic.twitter.com/zXmNF6g6Ym

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 14, 2019

Cian Lynch (Limerick)

The 2018 hurler of the year is one of the most stylish hurlers to ever grace the game.

But behind the style there is definitely substance with the Patrickswell man’s work rate an often under appreciated part of his overall skill set.

The 24 year old is a magician in possession,  with his ability to carry the ball from his midfield position pretty much unrivaled in the game, while he is more than capable of pitching in with important scores for his team.

Jamie Barron (Waterford)

A two time All-Star, Barron has often been the highlight in a struggling Waterford side over the last couple of years.

A bundle of energy in midfield with a fair helping of class to go with it, Barron has managed to maintain his excellent form even if his team’s performances in the Championship have slipped.

Since reaching the All Ireland final in 2017 Waterford have had three senior hurling managers, with fans of the Deise hoping current manager Liam Cahill can be the man to inspire them once more after a couple of quiet Championships by their standards.

Fundamental to Waterford will be the performances of the fleet-footed The Nire club man.

Jamie Barron gets a classy point for @WaterfordGAA pic.twitter.com/8triBiA3af

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 8, 2019

Diarmuid O’ Keefe (Wexford)

O’ Keefe is a driving force from midfield in Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford team that are making great strides under the Clare legend.

The 28 year old picked up his first All-Star for his form in 2019, as he put on a midfield masterclass for much of the season.

The St Anne’s clubman is full if running for his team and is a nightmare for opposition midfielders, because he never seems to stop.

Diarmuid O’Keeffe seals it for @OfficialWexGAA. pic.twitter.com/KrmleqHyXJ

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 16, 2020

David Burke (Galway)

If Galway want to right the wrongs of their disastrous 2019 Championship then the 2017 All Ireland winning captain is going to be instrumental for Shane O’ Neill’s team.

An inspirational figure in Galway, Burke is capable of sublime moments on a pitch, and is well worth his place on this list of the top 5 midfielders in hurling.

Whether that’s coming up with a massive score for his team, or clearing a ball from his own defence, the St Thomas’ man is someone Galway are going to need to play at the highest level if they are going to get back into the All Ireland equation, when the Championship begins.

The post The top 5 midfielders in hurling appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.