GAA predictions, odds and Gaelic football betting: Classy Kerry set to dominate

Free GAA football tips, best bets & analysis for the 2022 season.

Best Bets

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

Meath to win Division 2
2pts 7-2 Paddy Power

Westmeath to win Division 3
2pts win 5-2 BoyleSports

Cavan to win every match in Division 4
2pts 2-1 BoyleSports

Gaelic football preview

Thy Kingdom come! Kerry have more or less won the Division 1 league title three times in the last five years and they can continue their dominance at the top table by winning it in 2022 as well.

That's 'more or less' because there was actually no winner last year as the spoils were shared between Kerry and Dublin. They didn't play the final as the Kingdom had their Munster championship opener fixed for a fortnight after their landslide semi-final success over subsequent All-Ireland champions Tyrone.

That 6-15 to 1-14 victory suggested a stunning season was in store for Kerry but it didn't work out like that as Tyrone caught them cold in the last four of the All-Ireland race.

This group of Kerry footballers are too talented not to win an All-Ireland but that could well change in 2022 now that prodigal son Jack O'Connor has returned to the helm having had a stint with Kildare.

Once Peter Keane vacated the job, O'Connor was always going to be the hot favourite and he has a proven track record of getting the best out of his native county. He is an All-Ireland-winning manager but this is arguably the best group of players he has ever had to work with. You can expect results.

Kerry are hurting too following heartbreaking All-Ireland exits for the last two years.

In David Clifford, they have the most naturally talented footballer anywhere and his older brother Paudi was without doubt their most consistent performer in 2021. Add Sean O'Shea and Paul Geaney into the mix and you have the most exciting set of forwards in the business.

A comfortable victory over Kildare should tee Kerry up nicely for a crack at Dublin in round two. They are at home for that crunch clash and will be favourites. They also have Donegal, Mayo and Tyrone at home - arguably three of their toughest opponents.

They have Kildare, Monaghan and Armagh away from home but it is hard to envisage them not taking maximum points from each of those so a place in the final ought to be theirs.

Odds of 5-4 about Kerry lifting the league title are decent but even better value is the 5-2 about them doing just that and Kildare also getting relegated.

The Lilywhites look out of their depth at the top table and, to add insult to injury, they will play four of their seven games outside Newbridge. They are 1-3 for the drop and that looks about right.

Andy McEntee had to survive a vote of club delegates to remain in charge of Meath but he could have the last laugh as the Royals look overpriced at 7-2 to win Division 2.

Meath have a decent recent record of getting out of Division 2 and there were more positives than negatives from their Leinster championship defeat to Dublin last year. They are definitely making progress.

Cillian O'Sullivan is blossoming with every passing year and his pace has the potential to unlock defences.

Meath begin their campaign with a tricky assignment away to Galway in Salthill, but they can sneak a win there and that should set the tone for a successful campaign. They are hard to beat at Pairc Tailteann and promotion will be one of McEntee's main aims this year.

Westmeath are just 13-8 with Paddy Power to win Division 3 but you can get 5-2 with BoyleSports, and that is worth snapping up. They have a straightforward opener at home to Wicklow and look a cut above the rest of their rivals.

It is hard to believe 2020 Ulster champions Cavan will be plying their trade in Division 4 and anything less than promotion would be a disaster for the Breffni boys.

They should outclass their seven opponents in the bottom division and odds of 2-1 about them winning every game, including the final, catch the eye.

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