Kilkenny v Clare Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview – All-Ireland Semi-Final

We have a Kilkenny v Clare prediction along with the betting odds for you ahead of their All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final.

How To Watch Kilkenny v Clare

When is Kilkenny v Clare

3.00 pm, Saturday, July 6th

TV Channel

RTÉ 1 and BBC Two

Live Stream

It is also being streamed live on the RTÉ Player or BBC iPlayer.

Who is the Referee?

Liam Gordon

Where is Kilkenny v Clare

Croke Park, Dublin

Kilkenny v Clare Odds

Kilkenny are favourites as we head into Saturday’s big game at odds of 10/11. Clare are expected to challenge “The Cats” all the way though currently priced at 5/4 while the draw is considered a 15/2 chance.

Handicap Betting

Kilkenny:-1 @ 10/11

Clare: +1 @ 5/6

Handicap Draw: -1 @ 10/1

Team News

Kilkenny Team News

Clare Team News

Kilkenny v Clare Preview

Kilkenny’s Form

Kilkenny come into the 2024 GAA season following a 2023 season which saw them finish in second spot in Division 1 Group B with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss in a group which included Tipperary, Waterford, Dublin, Antrim and Laois before winning their Semi-Final against Cork 0-22 to 2-22. However, they were disappointingly dispatched 2-20 to 0-15 against Limerick.

In the Championship last season they finished second in Leinster with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss before winning the Leinster Final against Galway 4-21 to 2-26. They beat Clare in the All Ireland Semi-Final 2-22 to 1-22 before losing the final against Limerick 2-15 to 0-30.

Kilkenny had a strong 2024 League Campaign finishing second following a record of 3 wins 1 draw and 1 defeat to finish 2 points behind league phase winners Clare but ahead of Cork, Wexford, Waterford and Offaly. That defeat came against Clare in a 0-19 to 0-16 scoreline. In the league semi-final overcame Limerick 1-15 to 3-17 but were again beaten by Clare this time 3-16 to 1-20 in the league final

Kilkenny topped the Leinster Championship going unbeaten with 3 victories and 2 draws to finish ahead of runner-up Dublin by a sole point to qualify for the Leinster Final. In the Leinster Final, they had a dominant 3-28 to 1-18 win over Dublin which qualified them for this semi-final against Clare.

Clare’s Form

Last season Clare had a poor league campaign finishing 4th from 6 teams in Division 1 Group A with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats from their 5 games. However, Clare found form for the Munster Championship where they topped the table with a record of 3 wins and 1 defeat to advance to the Munster Final.

Clare had a brilliant 2024 League Campaign finishing it unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 draw from their 5 games against Kilkenny, Cork, Wexford, Waterford and Offaly to top Division 1 Group A. In the League Semi-Final, they continued their flying form with a 1-24 to 2-13 victory over Tipperary and topped the lot when they overcame Kilkenny in the Division 1 Final 3-16 to 1-20.

They continued their brilliant form with a solid showing in the Munster Championship finishing the group stage with 3 wins and 1 defeat to finish runners-up to Limerick with only a points difference (+23) separating both sides. In the Munster Final, they lost to Limerick by 1-26 to 1-20 score which meant they dropped into the All Ireland Quarter Final which proved to be light work for them with a 2-28 to 1-19 win against Wexford.

Kilkenny v Clare Rivalry

Both counties first played each other in Championship hurling for the 1932 All Ireland Final where Kilkenny were 3-3 to 2-3 winners.

As of 2022 Clare and Kilkenny have met eight times in the hurling championship including meeting twice at the All-Ireland final stage. Clare have recorded just one defeat of Kilkenny in all of those meetings.

Kilkenny vs Cork Previous Championship Results

2023: Kilkenny won 1-25 to 1-22

2022: Kilkenny won 2-26 to 0-20

2006: Kilkenny won 2-21 to 1-16

2004: Kilkenny won 1-11 to 0-9

2004: Draw 1-13 to 1-13

Trends

Kilkenny has won 4 of their last 4 championship meetings with Clare’s only one coming back in 1997. The Cats also remain the only team in this year's championship to go unbeaten with four wins and two draws under their belt.

Key Players To Watch

Aidan McCarthy (Clare)

The left corner forward who plays his club hurling with Inagh-Kilnamona has been Clare’s biggest threat in the Championship this season with a total of 1-35 and an average of 9 points across his 4 games making him the 6th highest scorer in the country with his best performance coming with a total of 1-10 against Limerick.

T.J Reid (Kilkenny)

A veteran of the game who has continued to age like a fine wine is T.J. Reid who turned 36 last November. His total of 4-46 total for Kilkenny this season and an average of 9 points across his 6 matches shows there are plenty of legs in the old dog yet! It would take an 11-point total for him to move to third in the Championship top-scorer list at the weekend.

Kilkenny v Clare: Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Kilkenny 2-20 Clare 0-20

Kilkenny are unbeaten this season but that will mean nothing if they don’t book their place in another All-Ireland Final at the weekend.. For a team which was so dominant from 2006-2016 winning 10 finals and making 11 are now without a win since 2015 having lost finals in 2016, 2022 and 2023. This is very much a famine for the county.

Clare are a strong side and have been building in recent years towards their best chance yet of winning an All-Ireland for the first time since their 2013 victory over Cork. They are slight underdogs for this game but should go very close to a win.

Kilkenny love Croke Park and I can see them notching a few goals to make the difference.

Best Bet: Kilkenny -4 @ 11/5

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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