Here are our previews for this weekend’s Round 4 clashes taking place in the Leinster and Munster senior hurling championships:

 

Saturday, June 8th

Leinster SHC round 4

Wexford v Carlow, Innovate Wexford Park, 7pm

When these two last met back in 2013 it was Wexford that edged an All-Ireland qualifier by 2-16 to 0-20 at Innovate Wexford Park.

Now they cross swords again on Saturday with Davy Fitzgerald’s men ranked as whopping 1/50 favourites to condemn Carlow to their fourth defeat of the campaign.

Defeat here sees the Barrowsiders returning to the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2020 and they’ll have their work cut out again this weekend in trying to prevent the likes of Conor McDonald, Rory O’Connor and Lee Chin from doing irreversible damage over the 70 minutes.

The Slaneysiders should have no fuss.

Verdict: Wexford

Munster SHC round 4

Cork v Waterford, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 7pm - Sky Sports

Waterford are playing for pride after last weekend’s comprehensive loss to Limerick and are 9/1 outsiders to land Cork with a second defeat of the campaign.

The Rebels produced the second-half goods against the All-Ireland champions on their last assignment and manager John Meyler has called for more of the same this weekend with another provincial final place in mind.

It’ll be the second year in-a-row where these two have met with Waterford already out of contention for a top three finish in the Munster SHC table, with the Leesiders winning by 1-23 to 0-20 on that occasion.

A similar margin could well pop up at the finish on Sunday, especially when you consider the form of Patrick Horgan and Co the last day. 

Verdict: Cork

 

Sunday, June 9th

Leinster SHC round 4

Kilkenny v Galway, Nowlan Park, 2pm – RTE

The early throw-in on Sunday is at Nowlan Park where Kilkenny are fancied by many to gain their first championship win over Galway since the 2016 Leinster final.

These two met three times in last year’s Leinster championship with the Tribesmen winning twice (‘round robin’ in Pearse Stadium and final replay at Semple Stadium) and one game ending in a draw (final at Croke Park).

However, the Leinster champions are again expected to be without injured star Joe Canning and haven’t been performing the same without the Portumna man, beating Carlow by six before drawing with Wexford the last day.

Brian Cody’s Cats, on the other hand, have been a touch more convincing so far and get the verdict with home advantage in their favour.

Verdict: Kilkenny

Munster SHC round 4

Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 4pm – RTE

The clash of the weekend comes to the home of the All-Ireland champions and the heat is on for Limerick and Clare as defeat on Sunday will likely mean elimination from the 2019 championship.

Clare were the only side to defeat John Kiely’s men on the latter’s route to the Liam McCarthy Cup and how they’d love to pull off another victory over them this weekend.

Being trounced by a red-hot Tipperary side last weekend will not have gone down well in the Banner County and co-manager Donal Moloney says he’s expecting a backlash from his players here.

If it’s true, we could well be in for an epic on Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds where the stakes will be at the highest they’ve been so far this season.

Verdict: Limerick

Follow the hoganstand.com live match tracker this weekend for latest score and minute-by-minute updates from the football and hurling championships.

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