GAA Betting: The All-Ireland Football Championship: Dublin The Team To Beat
Daire Walsh
After another thrilling weekend of action in the All-Ireland senior football championship, the best betting sites are once again taking a look at who they believe are the main challengers for the Sam Maguire Cup in 2024.
After watching Mayo and Cavan get their campaigns under way a week earlier, reigning All-Ireland SFC holders Dublin got up and running in Group Two against Roscommon at Croke Park last Saturday.
Although the final score flattered the Sky Blues, who had come under pressure for large stretches of the game, goals from Con O’Callaghan and Colm Basquel helped Dessie Farrell’s men to record a 2-19 to 0-13 victory.
In Group One, Armagh faced Westmeath for the second year running in the All-Ireland series.
The Lake County threatened to push them all the way once again, but their Ulster counterparts eventually pulled through on a score of 0-16 to 0-11, thanks to a five-point haul from Rory Grugan.
In Group Three, Oisin Gallen registered an impressive tally of 0-7 as Donegal continued their resurgence under Jim McGuinness with an excellent 0-21 to 0-14 triumph over Tyrone.
Meanwhile, it was a memorable Saturday night in Group Four at Inniskeen as Louth recorded a 3-10 to 0-9 win over Meath, which was their first win over their neighbours in the championship for 49 years.
Dublin Remain The Most Likely All-Ireland Winners
Even before kick-starting their Leinster Senior Football Championship odyssey, Dublin were regarded as the favourites to retain the Sam Maguire Cup, and after four straight wins against Meath, Offaly, Louth and Roscommon, that remains the case.
The Dubs are back in action on Saturday against Cavan at Breffni Park. It will be Dublin’s first match away from Croke Park in this year’s championship, but the capital men are still expected to re-establish their title credentials.
Almost all of their main performers have seen action in recent weeks and they appear to be ticking along nicely, even if they haven’t fully hit their stride just yet.
GAA betting sites such as BoyleSports have Dublin at 13/8 in the race for All-Ireland glory.
Kerry The Leading Challenger To Dublin’s Crown
As has been the case throughout the championship to date, 2022 winners Kerry are currently the second favourites to secure an All-Ireland senior football title for the 39th time in their history.
The Kingdom are back in action on Sunday and are expected to build on a comprehensive victory against Monaghan last Saturday, when they make the journey to Pairc Tailteann in Navan to face Meath.
With David Clifford, Paul Geaney and Sean O’Shea combining for 14 points, Kerry had far too much in the tank for Monaghan in their opening game of Group Four.
Almost always in the mix for top honours, it is anticipated the Munster men will once again go deep in the 2024 championship and they are 5/2 on new betting sites.
Galway Starting To Motor Again
When securing their SFC title in 2022, it was Galway that Kerry got the better of. An initially promising 2023 ended in a preliminary quarter-final exit at the hands of Mayo, but the Tribesmen are starting to grow in confidence once again.
After following up a Connacht final triumph over Mayo with an All-Ireland Group One win against Derry, Galway are one of just four counties not to have suffered defeat in this year’s championship thus far.
Westmeath will entertain them at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday and having overcome them in the 2023 edition of the group stages, Padraic Joyce’s side will be hoping to do so again.
Damien Comer and Rob Finnerty did pick up knocks in that aforementioned success over Derry, and with the attacking pair being joined by the likes of Shane Walsh, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney up front, there is an increasingly formidable look to their line-up.
Having the measure of Derry bolstered their All-Ireland chances on betting apps where they can be backed at 9/1.
Derry And Armagh Viewed Differently Ahead Of Their Clash
Having suffered back-to-back losses to Donegal (Ulster) and Galway (All-Ireland) since their National Football League Division One final triumph over Dublin, Derry will be desperate for a return to winning ways on home soil against Armagh on Sunday (4pm).
Armagh are now in their 10th season under the management of Kieran McGeeney, and even though any victory over the Orchard men is a hard-earned one, they will want to show they are All-Ireland contenders.
Overcoming Derry would certainly send out a statement, but for now bookmakers are only offering odds of 22/1 on them adding to their Sam Maguire Cup success in 2002.
Although Derry have fallen behind Galway in the betting order, they are still worth a look as the fourth favourites for the All-Ireland at 12/1.
Donegal Emerging As Potential All-Ireland Candidates
After conquering them in the early stages of the Ulster championship, before following it up with a brace of wins over Tyrone and a penalty shootout provincial final success against Armagh, Donegal are fast marking themselves out as a possible dark horse for this year’s All-Ireland.
A win over Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday would put them in pole position to top Group Three which would see them qualify automatically for the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Following their excellent performance and result against Tyrone, Donegal are 14/1 prospects for the Sam Maguire.
Tyrone And Mayo Seen As Outsiders
Tyrone’s odds have drifted to 40/1 in the wake of their second defeat of the championship to Donegal. Nevertheless, they are expected to get the better of Clare in Omagh this Sunday and progress to the knockout rounds.
Mayo are also anticipated to be in the mix beyond the group stages of the All-Ireland championship and in advance of facing provincial rivals Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park on Saturday, they are 16/1.
Despite the scoring prowess of Sam Mulroy (1-6) and Ciaran Lennon (2-1) in their victory against Meath, Louth, along with the likes of Cork, Monaghan and Roscommon – are seen as rank outsiders for what would be shock All-Ireland final successes.