KING CON: Con O'Callaghan can help drive Cuala to a second successive All-Ireland title this afternoon pic seamus loughran
KING CON: Con O'Callaghan can help drive Cuala to a second successive All-Ireland title this afternoon pic seamus loughran KING CON: Con O'Callaghan can help drive Cuala to a second successive All-Ireland title this afternoon pic seamus loughran

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Club Championship final: Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Cuala (Dublin) (today, Croke Park, 3.45pm, live on TG4)

AS far as pairings go, you couldn’t ask for much more from today’s All-Ireland Club Hurling final as the champions from the last two years, Na Piarsaigh and Cuala, meet at Croke Park.

Reaching back-to-back finals is an amazing achievement and Cuala deserve a lot of credit regardless of the outcome.

Just 44 days separated last year’s final win over Ballyea and their 2017/18 championship opener – a four-point loss to Ballyboden.

They responded with two wins to come out of their group before facing a series of challenging knock-out games in Dublin against St Brigid’s (won by three points), St Vincent’s (won by six points) and Kilmacud (won by three points) to secure a third county title in succession.

Once the Leinster campaign kicked in however, they improved with every step.

Con O’Callaghan chipped in with 1-3 from play in the wins over Dicksboro and St Martin’s while he hit another 1-2 in the Leinster final against Kilcormac-Killoughey as Cuala became the first Dublin side to retain the provincial title.

Liam Mellows presented little opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final with Mattie Kenny’s men easing to a 1-17 to 0-11 success.

They are not a one-man band though and in free-taker David Treacy and Colm Cronin, a genuine goal threat, they have forwards who could really revel playing on the Croke Park pitch.

Na Piarsaigh, meanwhile, have posted some massive scores en-route to the final.

Their lowest tally throughout the campaign has been 24 points, a total they reached in the Limerick semi-final against Doon, the Munster final against Ballygunner and the All-Ireland semi-final against Slaughtneil.

To finish with 3-15 against the Ulster champions was a remarkable feat.

Despite being almost unbackable favourites heading into the game, they trailed 2-6 to 1-6 at the break – and were extremely fortunate to be within striking distance as Slaughtneil tore into them.

The Limerick side then lost Conor Boylan and Tommy Grimes to red cards within five minutes of the restart and that should have signalled the end of their journey.

However, Shane O’Neill’s side regrouped, refocused and took control – winning the second half by an astonishing 12 points despite being two men short for most of it.

Shane Dowling’s wonder goal, after he came off the bench following a long injury lay-off, was the highlight, but O’Neill would have been delighted with how many 50-50s his backline won when the pressure was on.

This is a team with real heart and desire, and they’ll need to show that again with Boylan and Grimes failing to have their red cards overturned for today’s clash.

While the Limerick side have shown real fight, Cuala have once again demonstrated just how classy they are, particularly in attack.

They look like they hold slightly more aces as they attempt to become the fifth club to retain the title after Portumna, Athenry, Birr and Sarsfields.

Odds: Na Piarsaigh: 1/1 D: 8/1 Cuala: 11/10

Verdict: Cuala

DIVISION ONE QUARTER-FINALS

Dublin v Tipperary

(tomorrow, Parnell Park, 3pm)

DUBLIN’S 9/1 price tells you all you need to know about this quarter-final tie with Pat Gilroy’s men in real danger of a hiding. They were poor in Division 1B and required a final day win over Laois to avoid a relegation play-off. Rian McBride was a late substitute in that game but he comes into the starting 15. Four teams finished on six points in Division 1A with Tipp’s livewire attack giving them top spot on scoring difference. Tipperary had 17 points to spare in a recent challenge match between the counties and they should be comfortable once again.

Odds: H: 9/1 D: 16/1 A: 1/14

Verdict: Tipperary

Offaly v Kilkenny

(tomorrow, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 1pm)

KILKENNY should ease to a routine win in Tullamore even if Offaly rested some players against Antrim last week – a game they lost. Kevin Martin has brought seven players back into his team for the visit of the Cats, who will still be without the injured Joe Lyng.

Odds: H: 11/1 D: 25/1 A: 1/40

Verdict: Kilkenny

Wexford v Galway

(tomorrow, Innovate Wexford Park, 2pm, live on TG4)

THE outcome of this game may depend a lot on how All-Ireland champions Galway respond to last week’s loss to Limerick, a result that ultimately denied them a return to Division 1A. The Tribesmen were eight points up at the break, but they were simply harried and hassled out of it after the break. Wexford are deemed underdogs here, but Davy Fitzgerald’s side will not be too fearful of a Galway side that has yet to hit any great heights this season.

Odds: H: 7/5 Draw: 9/1 A: 8/11

Verdict: Wexford

Limerick v Clare

(TOMORROW, Gaelic Grounds, 4pm, live on TG4)

CLARE have made one change for this Munster derby with Colm Galvin returning from a back injury with Ian Galvin dropping out. Limerick will enter this match on a real high after their gutsy comeback against Galway last week, a win that secured Division 1A hurling for the first time since 2010. Treaty boss John Kiely may be without Gearoid Hegarty and Graeme Mulcahy though.

Odds: H: 1/1 D: 9/1 A: 1/1

Verdict: Clare

DIVISION 1A RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

Cork v Waterford

(Tomorrow, Páirc Uí Rinn, 3pm, deferred on TG4)

WATERFORD find themselves in the relegation play-off despite being just two points off table-toppers Tipperary. That’s how fine the margins were in Division 1A, even if these two sides always looked the most likely to make up the relegation spots. Cork lost at home to Waterford by five points a few weeks ago as the Diese won 1-20 to 1-15. It was one of only two goals the Rebels conceded in five games, but they just seem to be unable to win close contests – and that could be their downfall again here.

Odds: H: 1/1 D: 9/1 A: 1/1

Verdict: Waterford

DIVISION 1B RELEGATION PLAY-OFF

Antrim v Laois

(tomorrow, Dunloy, 2pm)

NIGEL Elliot comes back into the Antrim team as they try to secure Division 1B hurling in 2019. The Saffrons are unlucky to be in this position having pushed Galway and Dublin so hard in the early stages of the season, but at least they will be boosted by last week’s win in Offaly. Laois, by contrast, were hammered by Dublin and could lose out here.

Odds: H: 13/10 D: 9/1 A: 8/11

Verdict: Antrim

DIVISION 2A FINAL

Westmeath v Carlow

(tomorrow, Portlaoise, 2.30pm)

BOTH sides performed admirably in a tough looking Division 2A with Westmeath winning all five games, a run that included a four-point win in Carlow. This is a match that should go down to the wire, but Westmeath’s winning run can continue.

Odds: Westmeath: 4/6 D: 8/1 Carlow: 6/4

Verdict: Westmeath

DIVISION 2B FINAL

Down v Mayo

(tomorrow, Kingspan Breffni, 1pm)

DOWN are sweating on the fitness of Brook Byers and John McManus as they attempt to avoid a third Division 2B final loss in six years. Mayo will have Keith Higgins on board as he sticks with hurling for the time being.

Odds: Down: 1/1 D: 9/1 Mayo: 10/11

Verdict: Down