Clare's Niall Gilligan has sided with many and said that this year's All-Ireland SHC is 'Kilkenny's to lose', but still expects a tight contest this Sunday to decide who joins the Cats in the final. Gilligan struck his 20th Championship goal in Clare's win over Waterford in the Munster SHC this year, but since then the Deises have came back strong under his Sixmilebridge club-mate Davy Fitzgerald to land a place in the last four of the All-Ireland against Tipperary. "All the right noises have come from them and as I have said before, the Waterford team we beat in the Championship was missing Eoin Kelly, Ken McGrath, Stephen Molumphy and a couple of others," said Gilligan. "No matter who you are, you will struggle without players like those. They have rebounded well under Davy (Fitzgerald), although the draw has probably been kind to them in some ways. The bookies will fancy Tipp but I'm expecting a tight game." While Gilligan expects a close encounter this weekend, his money is still on Brian Cody's men to go all the way and retain their All-Ireland crown. "Looking back at last weekend it seems to be Kilkenny's to lose. They can really only beat themselves at this stage. It was a brilliant performance," admitted Gilligan. Tweet

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