Football predictions & betting tips: Mayo can get back to winning ways

Free GAA football tips, best bets and match previews for this weekend's Allianz Football League fixtures.

Best bets

Mayo -2
2pts 21-20 bet365

Donegal -1
2pts 6-5 bet365

Meath
2pts 2-1 BoyleSports

Mayo v Kildare

1.45pm Saturday

There is still so much to play for in Division 1 as five sides are fighting for survival, while a place in the final against Kerry is also up for grabs for quite a few.

Mayo are in the box seat for that date in the decider. A victory over Kildare in Carrick-on-Shannon would surely seal the deal and, while they have lost their last two games, James Horan's charges are strongly fancied to get back to winning ways.

Given a victory in Omagh would have all but secured Mayo's place in the decider, it was surprising to see Horan name such an experimental side against Tyrone. He surely won't be so keen to give minutes to fringe players this time.

Aidan O'Shea lined out at centre-back last weekend and he remains a work in progress in that position, but his ability to retain possession in the middle third remains an asset.

Padraig O’Hora returns at corner-back along with Conor Loftus and Jack Carney in the half-forward line and it would come as little surprise were Paddy Durcan to see quite a bit of the action too. The return of James Carr is imminent as well.

Kildare have not yet erased the possibility of relegation, but they have been the surprise package of the spring and their latest victory over Monaghan, in which they scored 0-24, was easy on the eye.

Mayo appear to be a few steps further up the ladder at present and, with a place in the decider at stake, they should have enough ammunition to get over the line by four or five points.

Donegal v Armagh

1.45pm, Sunday

Donegal left Croke Park empty-handed last Sunday but there were more positives than negatives to be dissected from the display and they can conclude the campaign on a high by grabbing maximum points from their outing with Armagh.

There are signs that Paddy McBrearty and Michael Murphy are returning to peak form, while Ryan McHugh was exceptional against the Dubs. Brendan McCole didn't give Ciaran Kilkenny a sniff and looks a reliable man-marker.

This Donegal team has a lot more to offer in 2022 and a comfortable win over Armagh can be the catalyst for a decent campaign. You can back them at 6-5 to win by two points or more and that looks decent value.

Meath v Derry

2pm Sunday

There is no denying Meath have been pretty poor throughout the campaign but they have banked four points out of six, are unbeaten in their last three matches and look overpriced at 2-1 to beat Derry at home.

Meath were the bankers in this column last weekend and, while they got the job done in the end, there were quite a few scares along the way.

That 0-10 to 0-9 win over Clare may not have been glamorous but winning ugly is exactly what this Meath team needed to do and it should spur them on.

Shane Walsh and Jordan Morris contributed half of Meath's total against Clare but it is around the middle where the Royal County are strongest with Ronan Jones and Bryan Menton forming a pretty formidable midfield partnership.

Derry were held to a draw last weekend in Roscommon and, while on a line through Clare they should win this and book a place in the final, they look too short in the market and are worth taking on.

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