Who would have known that Amir Kahn was such a fantastic impressionist? Not only was he mimicking Bernard Dunne with his first round knockout to Colombia’s Breidis Prescott on Saturday night, but he did so with an excellent Bruce Grobbelaar “spaghetti legs” impersonation.

I think Sky Sports may be looking for a refund on his contract after this display. Still, if boxing isn’t for Amir, he could always get on the phone to Alistair McGowan!
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It is the biggest weekend in the hurling calendar and what a game we have in prospect.

Brian Cody’s magnificent Kilkenny team, one of the best teams of the last three decades, take on the flair and bravery of Davy Fitzgerald’s rejuvenated Waterford.

Waterford have the forwards to trouble Kilkenny in Mullane, Shanahan, McGrath and Kelly and I am backing the lively Mullane to score a goal anytime.

However, when having a look at this you have to take a step back and leave romanticism to the side. I cannot see past the Cats and the way they played against Cork after such a long break was awesome. Kilkenny are just so strong and ruthless.

I am looking at Kilkenny to win by more than four points so the -4 handicap betting is where my money will go.

I am also backing Kilkenny to be leading at half time and full time.

Check out the latest GAA betting here.

Leon

Check out this weekend’s top sports fixtures in our Weekend Sporting Diary.
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Last week’s semi-final wasn’t exactly the close encounter I had predicted, and on that evidence a win for either Tipperary or Waterford could be a curse more than anything. Kilkenny blew their biggest rivals of the last ten years out of sight, and that’s bad news for Sunday’s eventual winners.
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Not much on sports wise this weekend, only the Olympics, the USPGA Championship, an All Ireland hurling semi final and a couple of football quarter finals, the start of the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, the Eircom Premier League, oh, and the Community Shield! Here’s a little more info on the weekend’s top sporting events.

Friday – 8^th August

Golf - USPGA Championship

The USPGA Championship started yesterday and runs till Sunday at Oakland Hills. Our man Padraig Harrington is still in contention after a topsy turvy first round.

Check out the betting markets on this weekend’s USPGA Championship here.

Eircom Premier League

Cobh Ramblers and Derry City get the weekend’s soccer underway at St Colman’s Park at 7:45pm.

Check out the betting markets on this weekend’s Irish soccer here.

Saturday - 9^th August

The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games got off to a spectacular start at eight minutes past eight Beijing time on Friday. The highlights of the opening weekend should be the men’s 400m Freestyle and the women’s 100m Butterfly events.

Check out the betting markets on the 2008 Beijing Olympics here.

All Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

Armagh take on Wexford (2:00pm) before Galway do battle with Kerry (4:00pm) in Croke Park on Saturday. The Orchard men will be strongly fancied to progress as the “Yellow Bellies” still have a number of question marks hanging over their defence.

The Kerry v Galway game on the other hand, is a little more difficult to call. Galway have impressed with their direct style of play this year, but have lost four possible starters due to injury (Joe Bergin, Declan Meehan, Sean Armstrong and Nicky Joyce). That blow and the attacking prowess of the Kingdom may prove decisive.

Check out the betting markets on this weekend’s GAA here.

Coca-Cola Football League Championship

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship kicks off on Saturday at 12:45pm when Birmingham host Sheffield United at St Andrew’s. There are 11 fixtures in all, with Nottingham Forest v Reading on Sunday. Don’t worry; the cold turkey is nearly over.

Sunday - 10^th August

The Community Shield

For the first time in twelve years a team from outside the “big four” of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will contest the FA Community Shield, as Portsmouth take on the aforementioned Man U at Wembley on Sunday at 3:00pm. Thanks be, I hear you say. Come on you blues!

Check out the Community Shield betting markets here.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final

Kilkenny face Cork in Croke Park at 4:00pm on Sunday in what should be an absolute cracker. Cork are on a strong run at the moment and with young stars like Cathal Naughton and Shane O’Neill shining, they will be seeking to dash Kilkenny’s dreams of three-in-a-row.

Check out the betting markets on this weekend’s GAA here.

Eircom Premier League

After a narrow 4-3 aggregate defeat at the hands of Dynamo Kiev in the Champion’s League mid-week, Drogheda United will be hoping to bounce back at Richmond Park on Sunday evening when they take on St Patrick’s Athletic (7:00pm).

Check out the betting markets on this weekend’s Irish soccer here.

Brendan

The two biggest teams in hurling over the past decade meet again at Croke Park this Sunday with a place in the All-Ireland Final at stake. Some people are calling this the final in all but name, although I suspect Tipperary and Waterford would dispute that. What’s not in doubt is that this is one of the most hotly anticipated games of the summer.

As usual with these two it’s hard to call. Kilkenny have only played two matches in this year’s Championship, although their combined total for the two games is 7-45 and the long break has done ‘The Cats’ no harm in the last two campaigns. Henry Shefflin has been as impressive as usual, notching up a personal tally of 1-18.

Cork, on the other hand, have had plenty of game time already this year, with Sunday’s match being their fifth of the summer. The backdoor system has allowed ‘The Rebels’ to re-discover their form, with one vital exception. Diarmud O’Sullivan has been a long way from his imperious best this year, and was called ashore in both the last two games. Cork manager Gerald McCarthy has kept the faith with the Cloyne man for this game, and you wouldn’t put it past him to turn in a big performance, but any mistakes will be ruthlessly punished by the most lethal attacking force in the game.

Verdict: Nip and tuck most of the way, with Kilkenny shading it at the end.

Sean