Antrim capable of surprising depleted Clare

The Leinster final is probably the most significant hurling match this weekend, but it may not be the most interesting. For the first time since their introduction three years ago, the All-Ireland qualifiers don't look entirely predictable, which makes today's four games quite attractive, especially Tipperary against Offaly and Antrim against Clare.

The qualifiers, being honest about it, just haven't been competitive so far, the outcome of the groups practically guaranteed before a game was played.

This time it's different, and I do expect some funny results over the next three weekends. It's just what hurling needs because, while I think the quarter-finals system is good, the make-up of them was always known well in advance.

Of course, everything could still end up as expected, but at least there is some uncertainty in the air and definitely the opportunity for a team or two to pull off a surprise. And one place that could well happen is in Thurles this afternoon, when a wounded Tipperary come up against a hungry Offaly.

Tipperary are extremely vulnerable here. They suffered a very painful defeat to Limerick last Sunday after the epic battle over three matches, and trying to get over the physical and mental exertions of all that in six days is a lot to ask.

Offaly, in contrast, really put it up to Kilkenny for the first 45 minutes of their Leinster semi-final. Kilkenny had to get quite serious to put them away. It's worth recalling as well that Offaly did beat Waterford in the league, a great result, leaving them the last county to beat the league champions.

So from all the hype and energy surrounding the second replay in Limerick last Sunday, Tipperary have to raise themselves again for a three o'clock game on a Saturday afternoon. The one clear advantage they have is that the game was fixed for Thurles, perhaps a little unfairly on Offaly, but that was the luck of the draw. But I wouldn't be getting too carried away here given the task facing Tipperary.

It's just that Offaly will be ravenous for the win, knowing the whole season could turn on it. And they certainly won't fear Tipperary. Babs Keating talked this week about circling the wagons - and a win here would get their show back on the road - but it all depends on how well they get over last Sunday.

I still think they have the players and scoring potential to get past Offaly. It will be a huge struggle, but if they play to their full potential Tipperary can just about get over the finish-line first.

If there is going to be one big reversal of the odds I reckon it will be in Casement Park. Clare were very poor in their Munster quarter-final against Cork. I don't know how much of it is to do with all the talk of unrest, but the bottom line here is that Tony Considine is struggling without key players, such as Brian Lohan, Seánie McMahon, Tony Griffin, Davy Fitzgerald and Tony Carmody.

This is the central axis of last year's team he's missing, and on top of that there are the four suspended players from that Cork game - Barry Nugent, Colin Lynch, Andrew Quinn and Alan Markham. Lynch and Markham are central players so we're talking about a very weakened Clare team, and Antrim can definitely capitalise. At 13 to 2 outsiders they're also one of the more generous bets of the weekend.

Antrim's hurlers can always give the best teams a fright, especially at Casement Park. In Terence McNaughton and Dominic McKinley, they have top men who command respect and know exactly what it takes to compete at this level. I was very impressed with the quality of their hurling in the Ulster final despite the atrocious weather, and I for one will be availing of those generous odds.

Dublin against Cork is another attractive game for the simple reason that Dublin will be competitive. I still think they were slightly flattered by the one-point defeat to Wexford, but they are definitely an improving side.

The problem is Cork have found some real spark again, which was actually missing last year, despite chasing a third All-Ireland, and are probably the second- or at least third-best team in the land right now.

Unfortunately, I don't expect anything other than an easy Galway victory against Laois. The only real purpose of this game is for Ger Loughnane to confirm the final make-up of his championship team, and which players are best suited to which positions. No one was overly impressed by Galway in the league, and I can't imagine Loughnane was either, but their season starts here, and that makes their performance and line-up all the more intriguing.

I know the argument about Galway competing in the Leinster championship is more or less dead at this stage, but I still feel they would be so much better off having gone in against the likes of Kilkenny and Wexford. Instead, what we now have is a provincial championship where Kilkenny have simply taken over, and as a result there is very little anticipation about tomorrow's final in Croke Park.

No one can blame Kilkenny for this situation. They've done incredible work over the years at underage level, at county-board level, and also at senior management level, and the end result is they've raised the bar higher than ever before, and it's up to other counties to follow.

Having said all that, I think Wexford will be closer to them tomorrow than most people think, though I still find it impossible to see how they can win. Keith Rossiter and Declan Ruth have looked good at centre and full back, and they've bulked up the forward line by including Darren Stamp and David O'Connor. They also have a very organised and professional manager in John Meyler.

But Kilkenny are unbelievably strong right now, and the way Brian Cody rewards them for their efforts means the competition for places is intense. That raises the level at training, which in turn raises the level in games. There's nothing ruthless about that, it's just the latitude afforded to Cody such is the depth of his panel.

Maybe there is a weakness somewhere in this Kilkenny team, as All-Ireland champions they might not be quite as hungry as last year. But I don't think Wexford are the team to uncover that weakness, not yet anyway.