2025 All-Ireland Football Championship outright predictions and betting tips: Get on Galway at 6-1 to end long drought

Best bets for the 2025 All-Ireland Championship

Galway to win All-Ireland SFC
4pts 6-1 Boylesports 

Mayo to win All-Ireland SFC
1pt each-way 16-1 general 

Mayo to reach All-Ireland semi-final
4pts 6-4 Boylesports 

Kildare to reach Leinster final
3pts 13-8 Boylesports 

Tyrone to win Ulster
3pts 100-30 bet365, Boylesports 

Down to reach Ulster final
1pt 6-1 Boylesports 

Down to reach All-Ireland quarter-final
1pt 4-1 Boylesports 

Damien Comer to be Player of the Year
1pt 28-1 Boylesports

2025 All-Ireland Football Championship Preview 

Twenty-four years have ticked by since Galway last got their hands on the Sam Maguire, a massive drought for a county steeped in tradition with 50 Connacht championships and nine All-Irelands, but the taps could be turned on again in 2025 and odds of 6-1 about them going all the way looks sensational value. 

Galway have been in two of the last three All-Ireland finals and could have won both. They certainly should have got the job done last year when owning possession for long periods against Armagh only for their lack of conviction and composure in front of goal to cost them. This won't go down well with readers from the Orchard County, but you play that game ten times and the Tribesmen win at least seven of them. 

That minimum margin loss – 1-11 to 0-13 – must have stung badly, even more than the defeat in the 2022 decider when it was 0-16 apiece after 65 minutes only for Kerry to tag on the last four points of the game. It wasn't nearly as comfortable as the final scoreline suggested. 

Indeed, the only championship blip from Galway over the last three years was in 2023 and both their defeats that year were by a single point. They should have won those games against Mayo and Armagh, too. 

It is now or never for Pádraic Joyce and this Galway side. You get the impression this is probably the manager's last throw of the dice and, while they banked only eight points out of a possible 14 in the league this spring, they impressed more than any other side.

Shane Walsh didn't feature at all in the final group game when they scored 2-19 but conceded 3-24 to a rampant Kerry side. That game looked to mean a lot more to the Kingdom than it did to Galway. 

The games that really mattered to Galway in the league were the early ones. They beat Armagh by six points, Mayo by ten and Donegal by seven. There was a draw with Derry in there at Celtic Park, too. 

If the league really mattered to Joyce there is no way in this world he would have taken off Walsh and Robert Finnerty before half-time in their Croke Park clash with Dublin in mid-March. That pair missed about 2-10 between them according to their boss, who was furious with their finishing, and, in fairness, it was utterly astonishing how wasteful Galway were in front of goal that night. They lost by six but could just as easily have won by ten. 

One big thing to come out of that Dublin loss was the sight of Damien Comer sending shivers down the spines of defenders. He looked sharp and scored a screamer past Stephen Cluxton. If he can remain injury-free for the summer along with Shane Walsh, the stage is set for Galway to blossom. 

Walsh was in his element for the early rounds of the league and kicked more two-pointers than anyone else. The new rules allowed him the freedom to run amok. His kicking style is superb and he has the nous to get himself into loads of scoreable positions, too. 

Galway conceded a huge score to Kerry in the final group game of the league, but it would be foolish to read too much into that. They kept clean sheets in the opening two rounds against Armagh and Mayo. When they need to be tight and ruthless, the Tribesmen can turn it on. 

If Galway are to go all the way, it is critical that Comer stays fit and, if he can, he could be the catalyst for ending the drought. He is 28-1 to be crowned Footballer of the Year and that looks double the price it should be. He's unstoppable when on song. 

It could be a sizzling summer for Connacht teams as Mayo look overpriced at 16-1, too. They improved throughout the league and went from relegation contenders to finalists in the space of a few weeks. 

Kerry easily had their measure in the Division 1 decider, but Mayo have always been better suited to the heat of championship battle and they can reach the last four at the very least. 

In Ulster, Down are underrated in all markets. They had a shaky start to the league and ended up getting relegated to Division 3, but they have a side who are much better suited to summer football as they lack a bit of height and strength. Don't forget they beat Division 2 winners Monaghan in their final group game and they could be the surprise packages of this year's championship. 

You can back Down at 6-1 to reach the Ulster final, which basically means you are getting 6-1 about them winning one match against Donegal, Derry or Monaghan as they should have little difficulty disposing of Fermanagh in their Ulster opener. Indeed, it wouldn't be a surprise if they were to reach the last eight of the All-Ireland. 

It is hard to envisage Down winning Ulster, as Tyrone should have their measure if they meet in the the final. Malachy O'Rourke's magic is starting to work with Tyrone and they are a force to be reckoned with in 2025. 

Munster looks a straightforward assignment for Kerry, while Dublin ought to waltz through Leinster yet again. 

There is one bet that appeals in Leinster, however, and that is Kildare to reach the Leinster final. They are on the opposite side of the draw from Meath and look odds-on shots to get to a provincial decider so the 13-8 on offer is generous.

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Allianz Hurling League final predictions: Tipperary to push Rebel county close in League decider 

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