GAA Betting: Kerry Still The Frontrunners For All-Ireland Title
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Now that all the teams in the country have kick-started their campaigns, the best betting sites for GAA are once again assessing who the main contenders are for this year’s All-Ireland senior football championship.
A fortnight after some counties got their summer programmes up and running, National Football League winners Kerry began their championship odyssey for 2025 with a Munster semi-final clash against Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Saturday.
Below, we’ll take a look at the betting market and the contenders for this year’s crown.
Provincial Football Action Heats Up
While there were a couple of occasions when it looked like the Kingdom were going to take control, Cork refused to throw in the towel and extra-time was required before Kerry sealed a 3-21 to 1-25 triumph.
This was one of four provincial championship games to take place on Saturday and thanks to a 2-18 to 1-15 victory against Tipperary at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare will be joining Kerry in a Munster showpiece for the third year in succession.
At Brewster Park in Enniskillen, Down found themselves trailing by seven points deep into the second period of their Ulster quarter-final duel with Fermanagh, before goals from Daniel McGuinness and Ryan McEvoy provided the catalyst for the Mourne men to earn a 2-19 to 0-23 success.
In Carrick-on-Shannon’s Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, Ryan O’Donoghue registered nine points in a 0-20 to 0-13 victory for Mayo over Leitrim in a Connacht semi-final, but this was a much closer contest than many had anticipated.
Moving on to Sunday and Galway became the second team to reach this year’s Connacht decider after they enjoyed a convincing 1-24 to 0-18 win at the expense of Roscommon.
It was expected the Rossies might offer stubborn resistance, but instead the Tribesmen convincingly advanced with the help of impressive scoring hauls by Robert Finnerty (0-8), Matthew Tierney (1-3) and Paul Conroy (0-5).
In an Ulster quarter-final at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones, Donegal held off a late rally from Monaghan to secure a 0-23 to 0-21 triumph and book their spot in a forthcoming penultimate round game against Down.
Kerry Remain Favourites For All-Ireland Crown
Before commencing their championship campaign, Kerry were regarded as the favourites to reclaim the All-Ireland senior football title for the first time since 2022.
Despite not being entirely convincing in the Cork game – and finding it difficult to cope with the second-half dismissal of Paudie Clifford – this still remains the case in the eyes of Irish bookmakers.
Currently, BoyleSports rate the Kingdom at 11/4 as frontrunners to collect the Sam Maguire Cup in July.
Although most didn’t feel they’d need extra-time in order to see off the challenge of Cork last weekend, Jack O’Connor’s men still came through the contest and it is anticipated they will now go on to collect their 12th Munster senior football championship crown in 13 years.
It would also be a massive surprise if Kerry didn’t feature at the business end of the competition and with their past pedigree in the Sam Maguire Cup, it would be foolish to discount their chances at any point.
Donegal And Dublin Also In The Running For Sam Maguire Glory
Donegal are very much breathing down their necks at the moment and after a productive return to the O’Donnell hot seat last year, Jim McGuinness will be hoping his troops can deliver the goods to an even bigger extent in 2025.
The return of Michael Murphy from retirement did capture headlines earlier in the year, but with Peadar Mogan, Ciaran Thompson, Daire O Baoill and Michael Langan in fine scoring form against Monaghan last Sunday, there are threats throughout their team.
McGuinness guided Donegal to an All-Ireland crown back in 2012 and Ladbrokes currently view the Ulster outfit as second favourites for this year’s top prize at 7/2.
Whilst there are a couple of GAA betting sites who are offering the same odds on Dublin to win the All-Ireland senior football championship, the vast majority see the Metropolitans as a 9/2prospect.
Having produced a workmanlike performance at best in their last-eight win against Wicklow in Aughrim, Dublin will continue their quest for a 15th successive Leinster SFC title when they face Meath in a semi-final encounter at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise this coming Sunday.
Another provincial success appears to be a very likely proposition for Dessie Farrell’s men, but only time will tell if the loss of key figures such as Michael Fitzsimons, Jack McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, James McCarthy and Paul Mannion will be felt in the knockout stages of the Sam Maguire Cup.
Galway Also Live Contenders For An All-Ireland Title
Coming hot on their heels in the race for the All-Ireland crown are Padraic Joyce’s Galway, the side that ended their championship campaign in 2024.
A number of betting apps rate the Tribesmen’s chances of claiming their 10th Sam Maguire success at 11/2.
The westerners have made it to two of the last three All-Ireland finals and going by the clinical nature of their display against Roscommon last weekend – in the absence of Shane Walsh for the whole game and Damien Comer for the bulk of the action – they could have a major say in the destination of the All-Ireland title at the very least.
Armagh And Tyrone Also In The Mix
In last July’s All-Ireland decider at Croke Park, it was Armagh who pipped Galway to the crown by a single point (1-11 to 0-13).
Yet despite being the current holders of the crown, the Orchard County are rated at 14/1 to retain their title.
The same general odds are available on Tyrone, who interestingly will be taking on Armagh in an Ulster semi-final in Clones this coming Saturday.
Considering both teams are recent All-Ireland winners – Tyrone won the crown in 2021 – they will perhaps both be hoping to show they are credible contenders for the Sam Maguire Cup this weekend.
Mayo Seen As Championship Outsiders
Although they have made regular All-Ireland final appearances in modern times, Mayo’s last showpiece outing was in a defeat to Tyrone four years ago.
They haven’t been able to progress beyond the quarter-final stage since then and that probably explains why they are down the pecking order in the betting for this year’s competition.
The best odds on them finally securing the Sam Maguire Cup for a fourth time are 20/1 with QuinnBet.
However, Kevin McStay’s men are still seen as an outside bet for an All-Ireland title, whereas the likes of Derry (40/1), Monaghan (50/1) and Roscommon (80/1) are unlikely challengers for the crown in 2025.