Kilkenny vs Wexford Preview
The Allianz Hurling League is back, and we have an exciting game to start Division One, Group A, this Sunday. Kilkenny vs Wexford is one of the first matches to enjoy this NHL season. Kilkenny is one of the fresh additions to the group following their success last campaign. Wexford only managed fifth in the table last year and is aiming to be a lot further from relegation this time around.
Both GAA clubs have been in Division One of the Allianz HL for several years. However, Kilkenny has experienced more success in this competition recently. The last time the Stripey Men won a title was the Covid-affected season in 2021. They shared the title with Galway as the Division One final never took place. Wexford has won the NHL on four occasions, but the most recent victory was over 50 years ago. Both sides will want to improve on last season, but who will win on Sunday?
Kilkenny vs Wexford Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Kilkenny welcomes Wexford to Nowlan Park this Sunday, February 4, at 1:45 pm. The two clubs faced off recently in the 2024 Walsh Cup but have not met in the NHL since 2021. Looking at the historical results, Kilkenny is the team to beat. Since the first meeting in 1900, Kilkenny has won 54 times and only lost on 22 occasions. Out of the 80 meetings, only three have ended in a draw.
The two clubs faced off in the semi-final of the Dioralyte Walsh Cup. It was a good game from a neutral perspective, with Wexford hanging on for the win despite disciplinary issues. The Yellowbellies went down to 13 men during the game because of a straight red and a black card handed out by referee Pádraig Dunne. He sent Tomás Kinsella off for his involvement in a brawl with around half an hour to play. Murphy got his black card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The score was 0-12 to 0-6 at halftime, but it finished 0-18 to 2-11 thanks to some heroics from the men in purple and gold.
When the clubs last met in the NHL, it was the third round of Division One Group B. Kilkenny was on the home side, and they comfortably dispatched Wexford thanks to an emphatic display by one of the best hurlers of all time, T.J. Reid. Reid was instrumental in the dominant performance, scoring one goal and registering 18 points. The halftime score saw the Stripey Men lead by 14 points at halftime. The final score could have been worse, but Wexford fought back to close the gap to ten. It finished 2-27 to 0-23, proving Kilkenny was the superior team in the league table that year.
It’s clear that if you look at the results from over the past five or ten years, Kilkenny has the advantage. They have won more NHL titles and beaten Wexford by some comfortable scorelines. However, when the clubs faced off a few weeks ago in the Walsh Cup, Wexford came out on top. Say what you want about Wexford last winning the National Hurling League in the 70s. This could be the year that changes. Having picked up the Walsh Cup by defeating Galway, we could see a new Wexford this season. If they get a result this weekend against Kilkenny, it would be a sign of intent.
Kilkenny vs Wexford Predictions
Since this is one of the first matches of the new Allianz HL, both teams will fancy their chances. However, online sports betting sites see this contest as only going one way. Kilkenny is the clear favourite, with odds of 4/11 for a home win. That means a ten-euro bet will return €13.64 if they can hold off Wexford. Betting on the away club this time out has odds of 5/2, which would turn €10 into €35. Draws are uncommon in the NHL, and betting on that outcome this week will see odds of 9/1.
Our prediction for the Kilkenny vs Wexford match is a lot closer than what the bookmakers are suggesting. While Kilkenny has the advantage of playing at home and significantly more wins over the past 80 meetings, Wexford is in fine form. They dispatched the Yellowbellies in the semi-final of the Walsh Cup and went on to win the competition. We predict Wexford will be within touching distance the entire match and could nick it at the end.
Predicting GAA matches is never straightforward. Even though Kilkenny is the favourite, there is a lot to consider going into this weekend. Perhaps the biggest swing against Wexford is that they must get a result on Kilkenny turf. Achieving a win on the road is difficult no matter where you go, and Kilkenny has won many times at home against Wexford over the years. If you are searching for an underdog wager this week, Wexford might be one of the most likely. However, that does not mean you should take an enormous risk. There is still a good chance the home side runs away with the scoring, so do not risk more than you can afford to lose.
We predict both teams will be within touching distance for most of the match. There might be periods where Kilkenny rattles in a few in quick succession, but Wexford can do the same. It’s unlikely that either side will win by over five points unless a red or black card is in the match. Wexford proved their worth by hanging on with 13 men a few weeks ago against Kilkenny.
If you are considering live betting on this event, take your time before placing a wager. If either side finds the back of the net, the odds will fluctuate. This could mean it’s a great time to bet against the winning side or you could find yourself on the wrong side of fortune. Live betting is difficult to get right at the best of times, but this could be an especially troublesome fixture. There are plenty of other GAA matches to bet on this weekend, and we have a long season ahead. Don’t look for a hero bet this early in the campaign.
Kilkenny vs Wexford Betting Tips
Betting on hurling matches is often great fun, but the first week of a season is full of uncertainty. Will Kilkenny field a team anything like the one we saw a few weeks ago in the cup competition? Does Wexford have the character to mount a serious title charge this season? Questions like these could go either way, but Kilkenny is the favourite for a good reason. They have been better in the NHL for the past couple of seasons and have won the competition the greatest number of times alongside Tipperary.
While we back Wexford to get a surprise result this week, there are plenty of other markets to consider. Looking at the handicap bets, Kilkenny has a -4 with even odds. That means if they overturn a four-point deficit, you will win the value of your stake as profit. Wexford gets a +4 handicap for this fixture, meaning your bet is a winner if they are within three points of Kilkenny. The odds for this market are 10/11, which returns €19.09 from a ten-euro wager.
2024 Allianz Hurling League, Round 1
Kilkenny 🆚 @OfficialWexGAA
🗓️ Sunday 4th February
🕛 1:45pm
📍UPMC Nowlan ParkAdvance ticket sales only at selected Supervalu or Centra stores or ⬇️https://t.co/7yh5EixvxY
General Admission:
•Adult – €20
•Student/OAP – €15… pic.twitter.com/olLThHC7hx— Kilkenny GAA (@KilkennyCLG) January 27, 2024
While we have recommended a wager on Wexford this weekend, it is not the most likely result of this fixture. Previous matches suggest Kilkenny will have no trouble on home turf. Plus, they usually start the NHL season on the front foot. If you were going to bet on hurling matches this weekend as an accumulator, this leg could let you down. While we saw positive signs from Wexford last week, their resurgence back to the top of hurling is long overdue. If you are determined to bet on this fixture, only wager a small amount.
If you find a sports betting platform offering GAA bets, then you can register for a welcome bonus. New players typically receive a bonus when they make their first deposit. That means you can bet on this match, or any fixture, this weekend, with reduced risk. Instead of putting your deposited funds on the line, you can use the offer to place bets and receive actual cash. This is the perfect opportunity to risk it on the underdog. If you get it right, you can enjoy a large payout. If you get it wrong, then you only lose the promotion.
