Ballyhale, Kilmacud and Nemo: odds and best bets for a huge GAA club weekend

Crokes come into this in the best shape of any team in the province. They won their first Dublin title since 2022 on 24 October, beating neighbours Cuala 2-17 to 0-12. They led 1-11 to 0-6 at half-time in wind and rain, and Ronan Hayes finished with 1-6.

Mount Leinster Rangers, the Carlow champions and Leinster winners in 2013, are dangerous at home, but Carlow club hurling has rarely been a match for Dublin’s best. Crokes are 2/13 in normal time and Rangers 9/2. The value is on the handicap: an 11-point win over Cuala suggests Kilmacud can clear 6.5 comfortably.

The best-balanced senior hurling tie of the weekend. Kilcormac-Killoughey won a fourth Offaly title in a row on 17 October, holding off Ballinamore 0-19 to 0-17 in Tullamore – without county captain Charlie Mitchell and club captain Jordan Quinn. Adam Screeney hit 0-8 in the final after 0-16 in the semi-final, and he’s the best forward on the pitch on Sunday.

Naas have run Kildare hurling for most of the last decade and will feel this is the year. bet365 make K-K 4/6, Naas 29/20 and the draw 15/2, with the line at K-K -1.5 (10/11). Screeney and four straight county titles make the Offaly champions a fair price.

The story of the weekend. The Harps won the first Laois senior title in their history last month, beating favourites Camross by 16 points. Now they host Leinster’s most decorated club. Ballyhale are 1/25 in normal time and 18/1 is the draw, so the only real question is the margin.

The line is Ballyhale -10.5 at 10/11 and The Harps +10.5 at 4/5. A home crowd riding a historic high can keep this tight for 40 minutes, but Ballyhale’s bench usually decides these games late. We lean Ballyhale on the handicap – but not heavily.

Two county champions who have waited a long time for this. Shelmaliers beat favourites Rathnure 1-18 to 2-13 at Wexford Park on 25 October for their first Dr Bowe Cup since 2020. Rory Banville’s 0-12 (nine frees) shows how much runs through him, and Conor Hearne’s 1-1 early in the second half won it.

Lough Lene Gaels had lost three Westmeath finals in a row before getting over the line. The emotional high is real, but the step up to a Wexford senior side is big. Shelmaliers are 4/7, the Westmeath champions 33/20 and the draw 8/1, with the handicap tight at Shelmaliers -1.5 (4/5).

Rathgormack made history last month with the first Waterford four-in-a-row in 21 years, beating The Nire 2-13 to 0-10. The problem is who they’ve drawn. Éire Óg beat them in this competition last year and have won 31 of their last 32 Clare championship games since 2021.

Mark McInerney, who scored the winner against Rathgormack last year, came into the county final with 3-42 in five games. Éire Óg are 4/9 to win and -2.5 at 10/11 – we think they’re better than a three-point margin suggests.

Nemo are back. After three straight Cork final defeats they beat St Finbarr’s 1-19 to 2-12 and are 2/9 favourites, with Loughmore-Castleiney 11/4.

Don’t let that price fool you. Loughmore beat Clonmel Commercials 0-15 to 0-13 for a fourth Tipp title in three seasons – their third final win over Commercials since 2021 – and they don’t panic in tight games. Nemo should win, but five points is a lot to ask.

Salthill-Knocknacarra, All-Ireland winners in 2006, won their first Galway title since 2012 thanks to Tomo Culhane’s last-gasp goal against Moycullen (2-12 to 1-14). Galway champions usually win this kind of game, hence 1/14 against the Leitrim champions at 11/2.

But they won their county final by a point, and the handicap asks them to win by nine. Ballinamore +8.5 is the side we like.

St Brigid’s have reached two All-Ireland club finals in three seasons, but it took extra time to keep their Roscommon title against Pádraig Pearses. New Sligo champions St Mary’s have nothing to lose.

Brigid’s are 1/25, but a 12-point margin is a big ask this early in the provincial series – especially for a side dragged to extra time a fortnight ago.