Weekend Gaelic football predictions and GAA betting tips

Best bets

Cork to score over 18.5 points
2pts 20-21 Paddy Power

Down -1
4pts Evs Boylesports

Down to score over 1.5 goals
2pts 6-5 Boylesports

Down to score over 2.5 goals
1pt 4-1 Boylesports

Meath
2pts 11-8 Boylesports

Mayo to lead at half-time
2pts 11-4 Ladbrokes

Galway -3
2pts Evs general

Cavan +7
2pts 5-6 general

Armagh
4pts 6-5 Ladbrokes

No Monaghan goal
1pt 8-1 Paddy Power

Monaghan to score under 1.5 goals
2pts 2-1 general

Weekend Gaelic Football predictions

Cork vs Kerry

GAA+, 4.45pm Saturday

It was only six weeks ago that Cork had Kerry on the ropes in the Munster championship. They led by a point and had an extra man with just seven minutes remaining, but couldn't land the knockout blow and it was the raging hot favourites who obliged after extra-time.

The two teams have gone in different directions since then with Kerry accelerating through the gears and kicking big scores against Clare and Roscommon, whereas Cork produced an outrageously bad second-half showing against Meath last Saturday.

But recent form seems to go out the window when these Munster rivals meet in the championship and it wouldn't be a surprise if Cork were to give the All-Ireland favourites another massive fright on home soil.

Taking Cork with a seven-point handicap is tempting but a safer play might be backing the Rebels to score 19 points or more.

They managed to score 1-20 in difficult and wet conditions when the sides met six weeks ago so they should manage at least 19 points on this occasion. This could be tighter than people think.

Down vs Louth

5.30pm Saturday

Leinster champions Louth seemed to be suffering from a hangover against Monaghan in the opening round of the All-Ireland series last weekend and the headache might disappear any time soon as a visit to Newry to face an improving Down side could inflict further pain on Ger Brennan's history-makers.

Monaghan beat Down by six points in the end, but it was 24 scores to 12 (1-23 to 4-8). The Wee Country kept themselves in the game with goals but the losing margin flattered them.

Louth were pretty poor for 50 minutes of the Leinster final against Meath, too, and it was only in the last 20 minutes when Sam Mulroy and Tommy Durnin began to boss the game. Keep those two quiet and you always have a great chance against Louth.

Louth edged Down 2-17 to 0-22 when these sides met in Division 2 of the league, but that doesn't tell the full story as Down were wasteful when they had the aid of a strong breeze in the first half of that encounter and paid the price.

Down are developing quite nicely. They have already beaten Monaghan in the league, did well for long periods against Donegal in the Ulster championship and their 3-27 to 1-16 defeat of Clare in round one of the All-Ireland series was a clear indication they are moving in the right direction.

Down have home advantage here and can defy a one-point handicap. They netted three times against Clare and could have got more, so backing them to score over 1.5 goals and 2.5 goals again this week is worth a wager.

Roscommon vs Meath

6pm Saturday

Meath managed to score only three points in almost half an hour with the wind last weekend against Cork but produced a sterling second-half performance when playing into the elements to grind out a huge win over Cork.

The returning Jordan Morris played a pivotal part in that success, while Matthew Costello was absolutely superb, as he has been all year for the Royals.

Roscommon seem to have gone a bit stale following their Division 2 league final loss to Monaghan and Meath might have a little bit more momentum going into this clash. It looks likely to develop into a shootout and if Morris, Costello, Ruari Kinsella, James Conlon and Eoghan Freyne bring their scoring boots, the visitors should have enough firepower up front to get the job done.

Tyrone vs Mayo

GAA+, 7pm Saturday

We seem to be in the centre of yet another Mayo crisis. A shock loss to Cavan following a heartbreaking Connacht final loss to Galway combined with manager Kevin McStay having to step down for health reasons would suggest they just want 2025 to end and to start fresh again in 2026.

But, we should all know by now that Mayo are most dangerous when attacked by adversity so expect to see Mayo explode from the blocks in Omagh and tear into Tyrone from the first whistle, just as they did against Galway in the provincial final.

There were just two points between these sides when they met in the league in March – 0-11 to 0-9 – and there might not be much between them again here.

Tyrone are coming to the boil nicely under Malachy O'Rourke and a championship win over Donegal in Ballybofey is a collector's item. There are very positive signs.

But there seems to be too much recency bias factored into the betting for Tyrone's showdown with Mayo and odds of 11-4 about the away side leading at half-time seem huge. There is surely some sort of bounce in them after that wretched Cavan display.

Derry vs Galway

GAA+, 2pm Sunday

It is squeaky-bum time for Galway, who cannot afford another loss in their quest for Sam Maguire.

All-Ireland finalists in two of the last three years, Galway were poor against Dublin and paid the penalty. Now they have to go to Derry and avoid defeat or else their championship challenge could be over. You wouldn't want to be facing champions Armagh in the final round and needing maximum points for survival, that's for sure.

Galway should have enough nous to get the job done in Derry, though. A sharper Shane Walsh is key, but the Tribesmen need to be getting more from their men in the middle third of the pitch. If they do, a three-point handicap should be taken care of with relative ease.

Cavan vs Donegal

2pm Sunday

Donegal's bubble was burst in Ballybofey as Tyrone came away with something sacred – a rare championship win for the visitors to the cauldron.

It will be interesting to see what happens next for Donegal and Jim McGuinness as I have long held the opinion that there are vastly overrated and a seven-point handicap away to Cavan in round two of the All-Ireland series looks on the high side.

The hosts are flying high on the back of a surprise success over Mayo and they have the potential to keep this in the melting pot for at least an hour. Back Cavan to keep within a seven-point handicap.

Dublin vs Armagh

RTE, 4pm Sunday

Two contrasting styles are on show here as the last two All-Ireland winners go head-to-head in a fascinating showdown at Croke Park.

Dublin have tended to press high up the pitch, whereas Armagh reverse into zonal mode around the arc when out of possession. It is a contrast of styles but the Orchard County have looked far more fluid than the Dubs in 2025.

Not only did they get the job done in Derry, but they now have their best player back on the pitch in the shape of Rian O'Neill. Perfect timing.

Dublin have been just about keeping their heads above water all year and this could be the day their current crop are found out on the big stage. They lack leaders, lack legs around the middle and could be in for a long day.

Monaghan vs Clare

4pm Sunday

Monaghan have been a joy to watch for a lot of 2025 and they dismantled Louth with the minimum of fuss last weekend.

It should be plain-sailing against Clare, the worst team left in the All-Ireland series, but expect Monaghan to prevail by scoring lots of points rather than goals.

They netted only once against Louth but racked up 23 points, while they didn't find the net at all against Donegal in the Ulster championship (0-21) and only once in their Division 2 league final win over Roscommon (1-26).

It is hard to resist a little nibble on them not scoring a goal against Clare at 8-1, while odds of 2-1 about them not getting more than one definitely appeal.

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