Clare vs Galway Preview
Clare and Galway clash in the National Hurling League for the first time since 2023 on February 8th at 7:30 pm. The Banner Men are on a losing streak to Galway, but enter this fixture as reigning champions.
Galway is back in Division 1A after gaining promotion last season. They are still adapting to the challenge and enter this fixture with one win and one loss. Can Clare break their duck against the Tribesmen, or will Galway continue to dominate the reigning champs?
Clare vs Galway Predictions
Score Prediction: Clare 1-27 – 0-18 Galway
Galway enters this game with a formidable panel that blends experience and younger talent. The Tribesmen won promotion to Division 1A after finishing third last season and narrowly missed out on progressing into the knockout stages of the All-Ireland Championship. They have started 2025 steadily but now face the reigning National Hurling League champions.
Clare was dominant in 2024. They achieved the National League and All-Ireland hurling title for the first time in their history and their first national title in eight years. Kilkenny shocked Clare in their opening NHL game, beating them by two points, and the Banner Men must rectify that. This is a game Clare really should be winning against a newly promoted side. Our GAA prediction is for Clare to get back to winning ways on Saturday.
Clare has a dynamic forward line, spearheaded by Tony Kelly. Kelly can turn a game in minutes and he will be a key figure. Aidan McCarthy is the supporting party behind the former Hurler of the Year. He scored a career-best 109 points last season, including 42 in the National League, making him the second-top scorer. Clare can back up their attack with a resolute defence.
Patrick O’Connor and Adam Hogan anchor a Clare back line that allowed just 98 points in the National League last season. Hogan claimed the Young Hurler of the Year award and made his debut in the All-Star team after his All-Ireland winning season. That excellent backline offers a balanced defence and attack, making Clare one of the hardest teams to break down.
Galway’s defence looked like their biggest weakness early this season. They have allowed 56 points in two games, more than any other side across all five leagues this season. Their scoring form has not been strong enough to take teams on blow for blow. Other clubs in the division will exploit the holes in their defence, and Clare will smell blood when looking at that form.
Tactically, both sides will look to play an aggressive, fast-paced game. Galway has shown a preference for a direct style of hurling in recent years, often relying on their long, accurate deliveries to the forward line. Clare will look to match that with a high press, putting significant pressure on Galway’s puck-out strategies. Conor Whelan will need to be at his best for the Tribesmen, but may not deal with Clare’s physicality.
The battle for the middle third will be key in this match. Both teams have strong midfielders who will attempt to dictate the flow of the game. Clare’s David Fitzgerald is the central figure for the reigning champions. He will use his physicality and aerial dominance to create opportunities for quick passes into the forward line. The six-foot-four All-Star is a commanding presence and can win the battle in the middle for Clare.
Clare will look to control the tempo of the game and have shown their ability to make use of possession whenever they have it. This game will be tight, but Clare has just a bit more flair. A flash of brilliance from Kelly or McCarthy is all it takes to edge this game for the Banner Men. The reigning champions have enough balance to hold off the Galway attack.
Clare vs Galway Betting Tips
Match Result
This game will be tight and that is reflected in the GAA hurling betting markets. Clare is the narrow favourite, worth 5/6. The reigning champions are as tough a contest as you can get in this league and have vastly improved since their last meeting. The rise of young players like Hogan has breathed new life into their panel and we think like a bet on Clare to win on Saturday.
Galway’s record against Clare has not gone unnoticed. They have defeated the Banner Men twice in their previous two meetings in the league in 2022 and 2023. If you think they can overcome the odds and come back to haunt Clare upon their return to Division 1A, a bet on Galway to win is worth 11/10 with our online bookmaker.
Points Total
Galway had a very leaky defence in their opening two games, allowing 56 points. No team in the National Hurling League has allowed more. Clare scored a steady 21 points in their opening game and should have no problem putting points up here. We think Galway can also hold up their end of the bargain with the home advantage. Placing a wager on the over in this fixture is the right move for anyone betting on the National Hurling League.
Live Betting
The smallest of margins can often decide hurling matches. If a significant gap does emerge between these great sides, it’s likely because of the referee’s involvement. Betting on either team to receive a red or black card could be a profitable yet somewhat risky wager. You can also check in on the live betting markets if the game looks to be getting heated.
Clare vs Galway Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in March 2023. Galway overcame Clare with a dominant second-half performance at Cusack Park, securing a 1-24 to 0-22 win. Clare made a strong start, racing to a 0-8 to 0-1 lead after 14 minutes. Aidan McCarthy and David Reidy lead the charge. However, Galway responded by bringing Conor Cooney into midfield, narrowing the gap to just one point by halftime, 0-12 to 0-11.
Galway took control in the second half, with the sides level on four occasions by the 47th minute. They finished strong, outscoring Clare 1-9 to 0-7, including a decisive 59th-minute goal from Conor Whelan. Cooney’s five points from play helped seal the victory as Galway maintained their dominance over Clare.
Clare last played on January 24th, meeting Kilkenny in a rematch of last year’s Division One final. It was a massive game that ended a 12-year wait for a win at Cusack Park. In a dramatic finish, Eoin Cody and Luke Hogan’s injury-time points sealed the 0-21 – 0-23 victory. It was huge for the county as it reversed a five-match losing streak to the Banner.
Clare started strong, with David Reidy’s five points helping them build a 0-9 to 0-2 lead in the opening quarter. However, Kilkenny fought back, particularly through Billy Drennan’s free-taking and wing-backs Fionan Mackessy and Mikey Carey. Clare lost two key players to injury, including captain David McInerney, which affected their performance.
Kilkenny drew level early in the second half, and Clare’s resilient performance did not last. Kilkenny got their noses in front in the final stages of the game and they held off a late comeback. Clare’s bench contributions, including scores from Keith Smyth and Paddy Donnellan, briefly regained the lead. But, it was Kilkenny, driven by Martin Keoghan, that saw them finish strongly and claim victory.
Last week, Galway bounced back in style to defeat Kilkenny in a thrilling National League clash at UPMC. They recovered from a tough opening defeat to Tipperary. Despite a reshuffled lineup under manager Micheál Donoghue, Galway controlled much of the game, particularly in the first 45 minutes. They got off to a great start, building an eight-point lead after Declan McLoughlin’s second goal. The Tribesmen held off a Kilkenny rally at the death, responding to Eoin Cody’s goal to score four straight points and secure a 2-19 – 1-19 victory.
Kilkenny were far from their best, with Eoin Cody struggling to find his usual form and Paddy Deegan’s midfield deployment not yielding the desired results. Martin Keoghan was a standout, scoring seven points from play, while Huw Lawlor and David Blanchfield were solid defensively. Galway was impressive throughout, with McLoughlin’s early goal and five points from Pádraic Mannion and Gavin Lee. The two defenders expertly marshalled Cody and delivered at the other end of the pitch.
After a lively first half, Galway extended their lead in the second with McLoughlin’s second goal, putting them in control. Kilkenny mounted a comeback, sparked by an excellent save from Darach Fahy and Cody’s late goal, but Galway held firm. Darren Morrissey’s key runs and Conor Whelan’s clinching score sealed the win, leaving the league standings finely poised after two rounds.
