All-Ireland Football Championship: predictions and free tips

Free tips, best bets and analysis for the new All-Ireland football campaign

Best Bets

Kerry to win All-Ireland title
4pts 5-2 general

Tyrone to win All-Ireland title
1pt each-way 22-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Kerry-Tyrone to meet in All-Ireland final
1pt 20-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

David Clifford Footballer of the Year
2pts 5-1 Paddy Power

Tyrone to win Ulster
2pts 4-1 BoyleSports

Tyrone and Cavan to meet in Ulster final
1pt 14-1 Boylesports

Stephen O'Brien to win an All-Star
1pt 13-2 Paddy Power

Raymond Galligan (Cavan) to win an All-Star
1pt 50-1 Paddy Power

There's no Jim Gavin or Jack McCaffrey, there's been no league title this year either and there's no way of knowing how teams coped during the six-month period when inter-county action was sidelined- surely 2020 is the year Dublin's domination ends and the champions could make a shock exit from the All-Ireland at the semi-final stage.

There is little double that the current Dublin team are the best to have played the game, and they still have class acts like Ciaran Kilkenny, Paul Mannion, Con O'Callaghan, Brian Fenton, James McCarthy and John Small in their side but ask yourself this: are Dublin likely to be any better in 2020 than they were in 2019?

The answer is a definite no so backing them at evens, or a best price of 11-10, does not appeal.

Kerry were good enough to draw with Dublin in last year's All-Ireland final and, although it could be argued they were outclassed in the replay, they have most certainly progressed since then.

They claimed maximum points from their final two games in Division 1 to claim their 21st league title. Those were contrasting performances too, digging deep to fend off Monaghan before showing flair and flamboyancy to dispose of an understrength Donegal side last Saturday.

Kerry are adaptable. The days of every game they are involved in being a high-scoring shootout are gone. David Clifford works as hard as anyone and that sets the tone. They can play on the counter-attack, carry the ball when playing against the wind or kick accurately when they have the elements behind them.

Kerry should cruise through Munster and if they do so the winners of Connacht will be waiting for them in the All-Ireland semi-final. There is nothing much to fear there.

Clifford is outstanding. His raw ability is mind-blowing and Paddy Power are being exceedingly generous in offering 5-1 about him being crowned Footballer of the Year. He is only 11-4 to achieve the feat with Boylesports.

Clifford has already captained Kerry to a title, and was by far their best player along the way, so already has some credit in the bank.

It could be argued 5-1 is short given there about 500 runners in the race, but it is about double the price it should be. If he stays injury free, he is unstoppable.

Tony Brosnan, who kicked six points in the recent win over Donegal, looks a nice addition to the Kerry attack. Sean O'Shea and Stephen O'Brien are proven match-winners too, while Peter Keane will always have the option of using Tommy Walsh as a target man.

It is fair to say the Kingdom have a forward unit more than capable of going all the way and they now have a defensive structure to complement it.

If Tyrone can get over Donegal in Ballybofey, they could turn out to be Kerry's biggest danger and could take out Dublin in an All-Ireland semi-final. They have already beaten them in the league this year.

Tyrone were beaten fair and square by Donegal a fortnight ago, but it was some achievement to avoid relegation by beating Mayo in Castlebar and their performance in the first hour was indicative of a team going places fast.

The one concern with Tyrone is always whether their forwards are good enough but Conor McKenna's return from Australia has given a new lease of life to their attack. He is a class act.

Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte are seasoned campaigners at this stage, but their pace and experience counts for a lot. Niall Sludden is superb when on song, while Darren McCurry, Daragh Canavan and Kyle Coney will give Mickey Harte plenty of options up front.

If Harte can mastermind a rare win in Ballybofey, and it won't be easy, they will be odds-on to win Ulster. It is worth taking the 4-1 on offer now and the 22-1 about them going all the way. If they clear the first hurdle, they will be very dangerous indeed.

Betfair and Paddy Power have a market on who will meet in the All-Ireland final and odds of 20-1 about a decider between Kerry and Tyrone catch the eye. A repeat of the 2008 decider could be on the cards.

The preliminary quarter-final in Ulster this weekend is a massive match as the winners of Monaghan and Cavan will have quite a clear passage to the provincial decider, avoiding Tyrone, Donegal and Armagh

Monaghan do not appear to be progressing under Seamus McEnaney so 14-1 for Tyrone and Cavan to meet in the Ulster final is worth taking.

If Cavan do have a prolonged stay in the championship, it will offer a glimpse of just how talented their goalkeeper Raymond Galligan is. His kicking is outstanding and he often pops up with long-range frees. He is 50-1 to win an All-Star and that is worth a small investment.

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