All-Ireland championship: match previews, where to watch and free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for this weekend's action in the All-Ireland football championship

Dublin v Westmeath

Sky Sports Mix, 6.15pm Saturday

Best bets

Westmeath +14
3pts Evs Betfair, Paddy Power

Dublin to win by seven, eight or nine points
1pt 11-2 Paddy Power

Match preview

The 2020 All-Ireland championships might be unique, a winter wonderland for GAA fans, but it will be a dour dogfight for the teams involved given the majority of the games are going to be played in dreadful conditions.

The weather was woeful at Ballybofey last Sunday when Donegal dumped Tyrone out of the Ulster championship, and the previous day we saw how difficult it was for Monaghan to get scores during the second half of their shock exit to Cavan.

The forecast is much better this weekend, but there is a big difference between Croke Park in summer sunshine and O'Moore Park under footlights in November so that is why the 14-point handicaps for Dublin's Leinster opener against Westmeath looks too high.

Had this game been played as originally scheduled in May, the handicap would have been no more than 16 points and bookmakers have not read enough into the contrasting conditions.

The early goal Dean Rock was gifted against Meath should really have paved the way for a landslide success, but Dublin stumbled over the line on a scoreline of 1-20 to 0-19. There were stages of their final league outing with Galway where they looked less slicker than usual despite the fact they ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Jack McCaffrey is a massive loss. His ability to turn defence into attack with his sublime solo runs will be sorely missed over the next few weeks, while it will only be from now until Christmas that we get a grasp on the full ramifications of Jim Gavin stepping down as manager.

Even if Gavin were still in charge, McCaffrey was playing and Dublin were the well-oiled machine we have seen over the last five years, it might still be asking a bit much for them to defy a 14-point handicap in the cold night air of November.

Westmeath looked good against Laois in their first outing after the resumption, scoring 1-18 in an eight-point win, and they got back within two of Kildare with ten minutes remaining in their last league outing before conceding late scores.

John Heslin, Ger Egan and Kieran Martin will also provide Westmeath with an outlet and give their defensive unit some respite, so this could be closer than the betting suggests.

Of course Dublin's class can be expected to shine through when it matters, as their odds of 1-500 suggest, but the winning margin might be single-figures. It could be worth having a small wager on the hot favourites winning by seven, eight or nine points at 11-2.

Cavan v Antrim

1.15pm Saturday

Best Bet

Antrim to lead at half-time
2pts 4-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match Preview

Cavan were shock 100-30 winners over Monaghan last Saturday, but that stamina-sapping encounter which went to extra-time might take its toll on the Breffni boys.

Both sets of players were out on their feet as the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark and Raymond Galligan deserves full credit for kicking the match-winning free given how far he was from goal.

That kick should see Cavan progress to an Ulster final but it would be no surprise to see them start sluggishly against a fresher Antrim side who looked slick when scoring 2-14 in their win over Waterford during the final round of fixtures in Division 4.

Cavan can escape from the encounter unscathed, but odds of 4-1 about Antrim taking a lead into the break make plenty of appeal.

Cork v Kerry

4pm Sunday

Best Bet

Kerry -5
2pts 10-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Cork under 15.5 points
2pts 5-6 Paddy Power

Match Preview

Surely there is no better way to enter a championship than on the back of wins over Monaghan and Donegal which helped secure a 21st league title?

Kerry are no bigger than 5-2 for All-Ireland glory after topping Division 1 of the league and they can make light work of Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Cork caught Kerry on the hop in last year's Munster final, scoring 3-10 and pushing the Kingdom hard in the closing stages, but Peter Keane's men still prevailed by four points.

Kerry are in a much better place now than they were then. David Clifford's is continuing to progress, Tony Brosnan has settled in and a better defensive structure has seen them keep clean sheets in their last two league outings.

Kerry have played two competitive games since inter-county football resumed, whereas Cork were given a walkover by Longford and steamrolled a deplorable Louth side by 18 points. The lack of a tough, hard-hitting encounter since last year's championship could catch them out.

Roscommon v Mayo

1.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
2pts 6-4 Paddy Power

Match Preview

Roscommon conceded five goals in the Super 8s last year while Mayo concluded their league campaign by scoring three goals in their landslide success over Galway and then conceding three to Tyrone which sealed the deal on their relegation to Division 2.

There is more spice in the Mayo attack of late with Tommy Conroy proving himself to be a real goal-poacher. Darren Coen has impressed too and the ability to interchange Aidan O'Shea between midfield, centre-forward and full-forward is a big asset.

The current Mayo side do not look as if they will ever be involved in a drab, low-scoring affair.

Roscommon will go into the clash with confidence high. They saw off Mayo in last year's Connacht championship (2-12 to 0-17), while victories over Armagh and Cavan enable them to return to the top flight of the league. They ended the campaign top of Division 2.

The 33.5 total points spread should be passed, but that is odds-on and better value is the 6-4 available with Paddy Power for three or more goals in the match.

Wicklow v Meath

1.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Meath -6
4pts 8-11 Boylesports

Match Preview

Meath were relegated from the top flight of the league but they ended the campaign on a high thanks to a draw with Monaghan and that confidence-booster should ensure there are no surprises in Aughrim.

Andy McEntee has paired together one of the country's best midfield partnerships in Bryan Menton and Ronan Jones while up front Jordan Morris adds scoring power to an attacking unit that already includes Shane Walsh and Cillian O'Sullivan.

Wicklow finished their league campaign strongly with wins over Antrim and Wexford, but they still failed to get out of Division 4 and there should be a huge gulf in class between the two sides.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport