GAA Tips: Our 3/1 Double for The All Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals

By irishracing.com news

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-finals dominate the landscape this weekend as the four remaining counties descend on Croke Park.

Cork are the favourites to raise the Liam MacCarthy Cup, but the Rebels will need to be wary when they face a Dublin side fresh off a seismic shock when they defeated Limerick a fortnight ago. They face off on Saturday evening.

On Sunday afternoon, old rivals Kilkenny and Tipperary will lock horns at Headquarters for the right to contest this year's All-Ireland final, and their meeting promises to be a mouthwatering affair.

Tips

BoyleSports Betting Offer

Dubs to challenge Rebel rising

Cork are odds-on favourites to end their two-decade wait for an All-Ireland hurling crown. Pat Ryan's side have looked like the best team in the country over the duration of the season — save for the hammering they took from Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds in their Munster round-robin clash in May.

They gained some vengeance for that in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout, and the fact that John Kiely's side have been dumped out by Dublin in the quarter-finals has thrown the door wide open for Cork.

That door was open last summer too, of course, after Cork famously sent Limerick packing at this stage. Much fanfare followed before the Rebels were overthrown in the final by Clare.

Once bitten, twice shy? This is Cork's best chance in a generation, but they must be wary of a rising Dublin tide.

There was no fluke in the win over Limerick last month. Niall O'Ceallachain's side ground that out, with Kiely admitting afterwards that 'Dublin should be the story, not Limerick'.

Dublin rattled off 2-24 despite having skipper Chris Crummey sent off after 15 minutes. Seán Currie top-scored with nine, while substitute John Hetherton and Cian O'Sullivan landed the rapid-fire second-half goals that made the telling difference.

It was their biggest win since the 2013 Championship when they won the Leinster title and went on to contest their last All-Ireland semi-final. Fresh off his All-Ireland Club title with Na Fianna, O'Ceallachain has made a strong impression in the capital.

There is a big burden on the Cork shoulders to win the Liam MacCarthy now. With Seamus Harnedy ruled out, they are down a major driving force. Cork should still have the quality to get their win, but Dublin can hang in the battle and a seven-point handicap looks generous.

A place in the 2025 All-Ireland Final is on the line this Saturday 🔥

🥎 Dublin v Cork
⏰ 5pm
🏟️ Croke Park#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/8l4KlTX07t

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 2, 2025

Cats to edge Tipp

Sunday's second semi-final looks a belter on paper as Kilkenny and Tipperary draw swords in the Championship for the first time since 2019.

No love is lost between these old foes, as evidenced in their Allianz League meeting in the spring when 14-man Tipperary earned a 2-25 to 1-19 victory over 12-man Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.

Tipp have enjoyed their best Championship in six years. Liam Cahill's side are emerging once more as a force after some time in the doldrums.

They are, though, a young side and for many of the Tipp players this will be a first outing at GAA HQ. That in itself brings a massive challenge and it can take some time to adapt to the Jones' Road venue amid a packed house.

Kilkenny's spine is strong, with Huw Lawlor, Cian Kenny and the irrepressible TJ Reid to the fore for the Cats alongside the likes of Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody, who could be deployed from the bench.

There likely won't be much between them at the death, but Kilkenny's additional experience might sway things their way as Derek Lyng eyes his first All-Ireland final as bainisteoir.

Odds courtesy of BoyleSports and correct at the time of publishing