The Championship is only getting hotter from now on. Here is our weekly betting preview in association with Ladbrokes focusing on this weekend's games...
Go here for more prices.
Dublin v Galway
The Croke Park hordes being what they are, the GAA have decided that this potentially thrilling and tense Leinster senior hurling championship encounter should serve as a curtain raiser for the turkey shoot in the football championship.
The bookies believe this is too close to call, giving the nod to Dublin - but only barely. Bets that stand out are Galway's rangy full forward Johnny Glynn to grab the opening goal. He's priced at 9/1, higher odds than a number of Dublin forwards.
Picks:
First score: Dublin point from a dead ball : 9/2
First goal - Johnny Glynn : 9/1
Dublin v Longford
The bookies believe this is not too close to call. The Division 4 runners up head to the capital this weekend and the locals in the Croke Park colosseum nonchalantly await their slaughter. It promises to be a forgettable day in Croker unless Dublin run up some kind of historic cricket score.
The handicap stands at a forbidding sixteen points. No one has much faith in the midlanders. Ladbrokes are offering 3/1 that Longford will only lose by between 13 and 15 points. This might be worth taking up.
Pick:
Dublin to win by 13-15 - 3/1
Fermanagh v Antrim
Fermanagh barged into the very Ulster-heavy for Division 2 for next season while Antrim continue to languish among the bottom feeders in Division 4.
A great deal has changed since last year's bewilderingly exciting quarter-final in Brewster Park, when Antrim held off a late Fermanagh raid to take the win. Fermanagh, under Pete McGrath, have found their mojo this spring and the four point handicap looks beatable.
Pick:
Fermanagh (-4) - evens
Tipperary v Waterford
Tipperary are a couple of notches above Waterford in terms of quality and are expected to dispose of them without much fuss before embarking on greater challenges.
Little of interest to be said about this game. Tipperary's failure to graduate from Division 3 will have irked them but Waterford's form in the lowest division was dismal and they only succeeded in finishing ahead of Wicklow and London. Should be wrapped up without much fuss.
The handicap sits at seven points.
Pick:
Tipperary (-7) - 10/11
