Shane Stapleton looks ahead to Dublin v Clare and Galway v Tipperary to identify some of the big match-ups in hurling this weekend.
Rhys Shelly v Eanna Murphy
Shelly has established himself as Tipperary’s number one this season, with manager Liam Cahill giving the Moycarkey-Borris man his championship debut against Limerick.
That suggested huge confidence in the netminder, and his laser-like puckouts and bravery to fire into any gap gives an indication of how Tipperary approach games now.
Shelly is a bigger man than Barry Hogan — whom he has displaced — but there are a few lingering questions marks after mistakes led to goals conceded against Waterford and Offaly.
Since Colm Callanan retired from inter-county duty, the goalkeeping position has attracted much discussion in Galway.
Murphy is now very much the number one and while he has come on in leaps and bounds in the past two seasons, there are nagging doubts at key moments.
He is a smaller frame than some of the other goalkeepers at this level and occasionally he makes a big error, as seen in how Cian O’Sullivan’s tame shot went to the net for a Dublin goal.
Whichever keeper here has the better day could well help their team come out on top.
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