Clare full forward Niall Gilligan expects Tipperary to live up to their favourites' billing in tomorrow's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Waterford, but feels it will be Kilkenny who will be lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup next month. The Sixmilebridge clubman, whose Clare team defeated Waterford by nine points in the opening round of the Munster championship before losing to Tipp by eight in the provincial decider, predicts a narrow win for Liam Sheedy's men who he believes the "jury is still out" on. He said: "Definitely Liam Sheedy has done a brilliant job, not alone with the team but in his management and his perception within the media. "As a unit, everyone seems behind each other - the supporters and the team. There is no bad vibe coming from the county, which is a great thing in trying to win an All-Ireland. You don't want any trouble or dissenting voices. "Tipperary are the bookies' favourites and are entitled to be - just about. I marginally favour them. "But if Dan Shanahan and Ken McGrath and 'Brick' Walsh and Stephen Molumphy especially can up their game a little, and if John Mullane and Eoin Kelly can play as they have in the last two games, Waterford are right in there," he adds. But whoever prevails, he cannot see them halting the three-in-a-row chasing champions. "Kilkenny look streets ahead of everyone else. It's definitely Kilkenny's to lose. Unless they get over-complacent, I can't see anyone beating them." Tweet

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