GAA Betting: Kerry Favourites For All Ireland Crown
By
Following another series of provincial contests last weekend, betting sites continue to update their market on who the main challengers are for this year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Although there was no action across the Connacht and Munster championships on Saturday and Sunday, no fewer than 12 counties took to the field of play in the remaining two provinces.
Below, we’ll take a look at the betting market and the contenders for this year’s crown.
Beginning in the early afternoon on Saturday, All-Ireland champions Armagh came away with a hard-earned 1-34 to 1-23 victory against Antrim in a much-discussed Ulster quarter-final at Corrigan Park in Belfast.
Their next opponents in the penultimate phase of the Ulster SFC on April 26 will be near neighbours Tyrone – who secured a convincing 1-24 to 0-20 success at the expense of Cavan in Omagh on Sunday.
In the Leinster championship, 15-in-a-row chasing Dublin held off a spirited display from Wicklow to eventually claim a 2-21 to 0-18 triumph.
On the other hand, Meath trailed Offaly by 10 points at half-time in Navan, but they produced an outstanding second-half fightback to win by a final score of 1-25 to 0-21.
Whereas the Royal County and Dublin will meet in a forthcoming Leinster championship semi-final, Louth and Kildare are set to clash on the opposite side of the draw.
A day before Louth had five points to spare over Laois (2-16 to 0-17), Kildare squeezed past the challenge of Westmeath by the slender margin of two points (2-17 to 0-21).
Kingdom Head The Market
Despite what happened last weekend, and in the one that preceded it, a county yet to kick-start their 2025 championship campaign remain favourites with betting apps for All-Ireland glory.
Kerry, the most successful team in the Sam Maguire Cup with 38 titles, claimed a 24th National Football League crown courtesy of a 1-18 to 1-12 final win over Mayo at Croke Park.
Having looked like being in relegation trouble at certain times during the spring, the Kingdom experienced an upturn in form and appear to be in good shape ahead of their Munster championship bow against Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday.
With the Clifford brothers – David and Paudie – in fine form, the expectation is that Jack O’Connor’s side will be one of the teams to watch in the summer of 2025.
In advance of their trip to the Leeside this weekend, they are rated as 11/4 favourites by Boylesports to win the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time in three years.
Donegal Will Have A Say
Coming behind them in the odds offered by GAA betting sites at 7/2 are Jim McGuinness’ Donegal.
They have been in championship action already and underlined their credentials with a 1-25 to 1-15 preliminary round win against Derry.
This Sunday, they will return to provincial action in an Ulster quarter-final against Monaghan.
Daire O Baoill and Patrick McBrearty were in impressive form against Derry, and with Michael Murphy slowly finding his feet after coming out of inter-county retirement, the O’Donnell men pose a formidable threat.
Don’t Discount The Dubs
After previously being inseparable from Donegal in the betting for the All-Ireland championship, Dublin are now 9/2 for the Sam Maguire with William Hill.
While they began their Leinster odyssey in winning fashion last Sunday, it was a far-from-perfect performance by the Sky Blues, and there are some doubts over Dessie Farrell’s charges after they lost some experienced figures in the off-season.
A big plus for Dublin is the form of newly-appointed captain Con O’Callaghan, who finished the Wicklow game with an impressive personal tally of 1-7.
There will also be a determination amongst their ranks to make amends for an early quarter-final exit to Galway in last year’s All-Ireland championship, but it remains to be seen just how far they will go in the coming months.
Galway A Team To Fear
Dublin’s 2024 conquerors, Galway, are back in Connacht championship action for a semi-final showdown with Roscommon this Sunday.
After producing a strong second-half display to overcome New York by 17 points in the opening round, they will be looking to keep their hopes of securing a fourth successive provincial title alive.
The Tribesmen have reached two All-Ireland deciders in the past three years and are currently available at odds of 6/1 to win the championship.
Tyrone And Armagh Under The Radar
The most recent All-Ireland winners from their province, the meeting of Tyrone and Armagh on Saturday, should tell a lot about where both teams are in 2025.
They earned ultimately comprehensive victories in their championship openers, but while the latter are reigning All-Ireland champions, there is little to separate them in the betting from 2021 victors Tyrone.
Ahead of their mouthwatering provincial clash, most bookmakers rate this northern duo can be backed at the same price of 11/1 with Quinnbet.
Mayo Seen As Outsiders
Although Mayo reached a Division One league final against Kerry and overcame Sligo in a recent Connacht quarter-final, the consensus was that there was scope for improvement in both performances.
In advance of their provincial semi-final against Leitrim this Saturday – a game they are expected to win – the best odds available on Mayo ending a 74-year wait for a fourth All-Ireland crown are 20/1 with William Hill.
Beyond the seven counties mentioned above, the teams remaining in the All-Ireland senior championship are only considered rank outsiders at best.
Derry are priced at 40/1, a far cry from the beginning of last year’s Sam Maguire Cup when the Oak Leaf were seen as one of the major contenders for top honours.