Kerry v Mayo predictions and gaelic football tips: Cliffords hold the key

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

Best bets

Over 2.5 goals in Kerry v Mayo
2pts 5-4 BoyleSports

Over 3.5 goals in Kerry v Mayo
1pt 7-2 BoyleSports

Paudie Clifford Man of the Match
1pt 10-1 Paddy Power

Galway -2
2pts 6-5 BoyleSports

Galway over 1.5 goals
2pts 6-4 BoyleSports

Limerick
1pt 6-4 BoyleSports

Cavan -3
2pts 11-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Already advised

Kerry to win Division 1 and Kildare to be relegated
4pts 5-2 January 29

Kerry v Mayo

TG4, 4pm Sunday

Dublin may have something to say about it during the summer, and Tyrone too, but right now the two best teams in the country are Kerry and Mayo and it is fitting that they should be the ones slugging it out for silverware at Croke Park on Sunday.

There was just a single point between the sides when they met in round five at Tralee, the home side prevailing by the narrowest of margins on a 1-12 to 0-14 scoreline. It was harsh on Mayo who deserved a share of the spoils at the very least.

If Seán O'Shea starts for Kerry, I would fancy them to take the title for the fourth time since 2017. He has been missing for the last few games, and didn't feature against Mayo earlier in the campaign, but his presence is pivotal to the Kingdom.

David Clifford is the finisher in the Kerry side but his older brother Paudie is most certainly the provider. His relentless running is tailor-made for Croke Park and it is worth remembering he received three man-of-the-match awards in last year's championship.

He is now the man who makes Kerry tick and looks a big price at 10-1 to be picked as TG4's man of the match.

Add Paul Geaney to the two Cliffords and O'Shea and you have got by far the best attacking unit in the business and one which no team might be able to stop in 2022.

The worry is at the back where Dylan Casey was taught a harsh lesson by Darren McCurry last Sunday. The nippy Tyrone attacker kicked 1-7 and the Austin Stakes defender couldn't cope with his pace and guile.

This could develop into a high-scoring shootout with goals on the menu.

Kerry have scored ten goals in the league, three against Monaghan in round four, and it is hard to see Mayo keeping a clean sheet given the quality Jack O'Connor has at his disposal up front.

Mayo netted twice against Kildare, Dublin and Monaghan and the odds on goals look very generous in the decider. Three or more goals should be an odds-on shot but you can get 5-4 with BoyleSports while the same firm are offering 7-2 about over 3.5 goals.

Kerry are fancied to come out on top in what promises to be edge-of-the-seat stuff between two sides at the peak of their powers right now.

Galway v Roscommon

TG4, 1.45pm Sunday

There was a bit of shadow boxing going on in the Galway camp last Sunday, as Pádraic Joyce brought an experimental side to Dr Hyde Park for the final round of matches in Division 2, safe in the knowledge that his troops were in the decider.

Roscommon got the job done - 1-20 to 1-15 - but it would be foolish to take that outcome at face value.

Galway have been by far the best side in the division this year. They beat Meath by seven points, Down by six, Offaly by four, Cork by eight, Clare by six and, most impressively, Derry by 11.

That Derry side came out a week later and won in Meath.
There is now pace and power in the Galway attack with Matthew Tierney, in particular, catching the eye against Derry with his 1-3. Add Damien Comer, Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy into the mix and you have got serious scoring power.

Galway are fancied to defy a two-point handicap but, just as good value is the 6-4 on offer about them scoring two or more goals. They have done so against Derry, Clare, Offaly and Cork and have scored a goal in all seven rounds.

Limerick v Louth

TG4, 4.45pm Saturday

Limerick secured promotion to Division 2 for the first time since 2007 with a most impressive 1-16 to 0-14 win over Fermanagh last weekend and it is a surprise to see them installed as outsiders for the Division 3 final.

Louth do have a win over Limerick in the bank, 1-14 to 1-12, but that was in round three and Limerick look a bit of value at 6-4 to exact revenge on the day that matters most.

Cavan v Tipperary

TG4, 2.30pm Saturday

Cavan should never have been in Division 4 in the first place but they have managed to get themselves out of that mess and can add a cherry to the top of the cake with a comfortable final victory over Tipperary.

Tipperary caught Cavan on the hop in round five, but the Breffni boys have got their act together since, and on all known form over the last couple of years it should be a straightforward assignment for them.

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