David Jennings' Gaelic football betting preview featuring Tyrone v Donegal

Tyrone v Donegal
Kingspan Breffni
RTE 2 & BBC2 NI, 5pm Saturday

The betting suggests otherwise but Donegal can prove themselves to be the best side in Ulster by beating Tyrone and taking a giant leap towards defending their provincial crown. There is no way they should be as big as 2-1 on current form.

Tyrone were beaten All-Ireland finalists in 2018 but Mickey Harte decided halfway through the league that the style of play which got them to that date with Dublin was not going to be enough to go one better in 2019.

They are now kicking the ball more and deploying Mattie Donnelly and Cathal McShane as their target men up front. It does work well but it leaves more gaps at the back and Donegal are equipped to punch holes in their system.

Don't forget Donegal gave Dublin their biggest fright in 2019 and they are a better side now. They were patient against Fermanagh and didn't panic despite going long periods without scores. It was a sign of how far Donegal have come under Declan Bonnar.

The most important aspect of that six-point win over Fermanagh was the performance of Paddy McBrearty. If you didn't know it, you never would have guessed he had suffered such a nasty knee injury last year. He kicked five points and was as confident as ever.

With McBrearty back on top form, Michael Murphy playing as well as he ever and dictating the tempo of games and Jamie Brennan on fire, Donegal have a better attacking unit than Tyrone and that gives them the edge in what is likely to be a higher-scoring shootout than we are traditionally used to in Ulster.

Donegal have the potential to reach an All-Ireland final in 2019 and, with Tyrone still in transition and trying to perfect their new style of play, Bonnar's charges can exact revenge for last year's last-gasp loss in the final round of the Super 8s in Ballybofey.

Recommendations
Donegal
3pts 2-1 Betway
Donegal -2
1pt 100-30 BoyleSports

Offaly v London
O'Connor Park, 1.30pm Saturday

Offaly almost caused a massive shock in their Leinster opener away to Meath and only succumbed to the Royals in the final ten minutes after establishing a 0-13 to 0-9 lead midway through the second half.

Bryan McMahon's goal was a fortunate one and Meath didn't create any other goal chances so this is a game where goals could be hard to come by and the 9-2 on offer about no goals makes plenty of appeal.

London only scored 0-10 against Limerick and 0-7 against Leitrim and Waterford in Division 4 of the league so their attacking unit should not pose much threat to a tight and dogged Offaly defence which kept Meath at bay for long periods.

Under 12.5 London points looks a safe play with weather conditions set to be poor at Tullamore.

Recommendations
London under 12.5 points
3pts 4-6 Paddy Power
No goals
1pt 9-2 BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Leitrim v Wicklow
Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 3pm Saturday

There seems to be a buzz back in Wicklow football and their never-say-die performance against Kildare certainly got the fans back on side.

They have been all the rage in recent days with their odds shortening all the time to secure a rare win in the qualifiers but home advantage can see Leitrim prevail.

After reaching the Division 4 final and securing promotion, most expected Leitrim to give Roscommon a right rattle in their Connacht opener but the concession of a few soft early goals put paid to that prospect.

The form of that game could hardly have worked out better with Roscommon seeing off Mayo, and Leitrim can bounce back. They are fancied to win by three points or more and should reach 15 points in the process.

Recommendations
Leitrim -2
2pts 21-10 BoyleSports
Leitrim over 14.5 points
2pts 8-11 BoyleSports
Leitrim over 1.5 goals
1pt 11-4 BoyleSports

Wexford v Derry
Innovate Wexford Park, 4.45pm Saturday

Wexford must be kicking themselves after their Leinster exit to Louth as they had the Wee County on the ropes for long periods.

It was only in the final ten minutes that Louth got their noses in front and the manner of the defeat will have hurt.

Derry enter the qualifiers brimming with confidence after their impressive display against Tyrone. They won Division 4 of the league in the spring too and things are finally starting to look up for the Oak Leafers.

This is a game they simply must win and they should do so quite comfortably.

Recommendations
Derry -4
3pts 10-11 Hills
Wexford under 15.5 points
3pts 8-11 Paddy Power

Louth v Antrim
Gaelic Grounds, 7pm Saturday

How do you recover from a 26-point defeat? That is the big question as Louth try to put their Dublin nightmare behind them in the qualifiers as they welcome Antrim to the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

It must surely have scarred them mentally and Antrim can take advantage of their vulnerability with a shock success.

Antrim exceeded expectations against Tyrone and cut open last year's All-Ireland finalists to score two goals.

It could be argued that Antrim have a better set of forwards to Louth and the 11-4 on offer about an away win must be snapped up.

Recommendations
Antrim
2pts 11-4 general
Louth under 18.5 points
4pts 8-11 Paddy Power

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