Get on Meath free-taker Newman to finish the campaign as top scorer at 20-1

Michael Newman, who returned to the Meath squad at the start of the year after a short exile, finished eighth in the scoring charts in the league this spring with 1-33 in eight games and he could finish the championship in top spot thanks to his side's seemingly straightforward passage to a Leinster final.

Meath kick off their provincial campaign with a rare home tie at Pairc Tailteann against Offaly on Sunday, a game they are 1-14 to win with Paddy Power. It ought to be as easy as the betting suggests.

Victory there would secure a clash with Carlow, who were relegated to Division 4 of the league this spring. Expect another wide-margin win for Meath there.

Westmeath or Laois await in a Leinster semi-final before a crack at the Dubs.

It is hard to envisage anything other than Dublin winning Leinster but, if Meath do reach the provincial decider, it means they have to win only one other match to reach the Super 8s.

By that stage Newman could have racked up quite an impressive individual scoring tally.

The Kilmainham clubman is deadly accurate from place balls and his scoring percentages from frees during the league was extremely high.

Conor McManus topped the scoring charts last year with 2-47 but he had nine games to reach that total after Monaghan went through the qualifiers to get to the Super 8s and then onto an All-Ireland semi-final.

Newman could easily average nine points per game in his first three outings in Leinster this year and that would put him on 27 points before even a Leinster final is played.

Meath could play eight games this year thanks to their very kind draw in Leinster and fresh from securing promotion to Division 1 for the first time in over a decade, confidence should be sky-high.

Newman is 20-1 to be the championship's top scorer and that looks double the price it should be. He has no problem taking frees from the wrong side for a right-footed kicker and will be on penalties too, provided Barry Dardis is not on the pitch.

Michael Murphy remains Donegal's main man, as was evident in the Division 2 league decider, where he scored seven points and set up several other scores. He deserves another All-Ireland and 2019 could be the year.

Given his ability to strike at the biggest moments in matches and the way he alternates between midfield, centre-forward and full-forward to try and impact games, Murphy has the potential to light up this year's championship so 40-1 is too big about a footballer of his calibre winning the top player's gong at the end of the year.

Murphy is 5-1 to win an All-Star. In recent years the selection panel have had no hesitation in moving players out of their most familiar positions so there is always the option of moving Murphy to midfield, where he could play plenty of football this summer.

Jamie Brennan is also worth a small wager at 200-1 for Footballer of the Year. He's a joy to watch when on song.

Dublin have won the last four All-Ireland titles yet only Jack McCaffrey and Brian Fenton have been crowned Footballer of the Year in that time.

If Dublin justify odds-on favouritism and win their fifth title on the trot, the Footballer of the Year will almost certain be a Dub and the only who appeals most at the prices is the rapidly-improving Brian Howard at 50-1.

Recommendations
Michael Newman championship top scorer
2pts 20-1 Ladbrokes
Michael Murphy Footballer of the Year
1pt 40-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
Brian Howard Footballer of the Year
1pt 50-1 BoyleSports
Jamie Brennan Footballer of the Year
0.5pt 200-1 BoyleSports
Michael Murphy to win an All-Star
2pts 5-1 Paddy Power

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