The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final takes centre stage at Croke Park on Saturday and Diarmuid Connolly gives his tips & predictions for the match.
The Dublin legend has told BoyleSports he expects an upset of the odds as Kilmacud Crokes seek to topple favourites Kilcoo. Take a look below!
BET ON THE ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HERE
He said: "Croke Park should always lend itself to a high-scoring game and I fancy Kilmacud Crokes. They’ve been written off plenty of times this season and I’ve read a couple of interviews where Robbie Brennan has been very modest and playing up Kilcoo as red-hot favourites. But I don’t see it that way.
"I think Crokes are a formidable outfit. They might not have the star power that they usually have with Paul Mannion out injured, but they are a solid team and I expect them to win here. Croke Park suits them, it’s a big pitch and they have a lot of good young runners.
ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL MARKETS AVAILABLE HERE
"There has only been one match in the Leinster and All-Ireland series that they haven’t won by four or more, so the 11/2 about Crokes to beat a 3-point handicap is a huge price here.
"I’ve been very impressed by Callum Pearson, I like the way he plays football. He’s very direct with the ball and he has a good eye for goal, so at 16/1 he’d be my shout for man of the match. In Dara Mullin they have someone who is really athletic.
"He stands out as a good first goalscorer bet at 9/1 as he has electric pace, he’ll always take on his man and he’s another with a good eye for goal.
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"Kilcoo however are a very good side and they’ve been knocking at the door for a few years. But they haven’t really been pushed to the pin of their collar this year, bar maybe their Ulster semi-final against Derry champions Glen.
"If the Brannigan brothers in defence have a good game, that will set out the stall for Kilcoo. But if they don’t finish it off like they failed to do in normal time in the semi-final against St Finbarr’s, I don’t think they will get away with it this time and I see Crokes having a big second half.
Match Betting
8/13 Kilcoo
13/2 Draw
15/8 Kilmacud Crokes
Handicap Betting
10/11 Kilcoo (-1)
13/2 Draw (-1)
5/4 Kilmacud Crokes (+1)
1/7 Kilcoo (+3)
11/1 Draw (+3)
11/2 Kilmacud Crokes (-3)
TG4 Man of the Match
10/1 Jerome Johnston
10/1 Ryan Johnston
12/1 Craig Dias
12/1 Shealan Johnston
14/1 Daryl Branagan
14/1 Rory O’Carroll
14/1 Dara Mullin
14/1 Conor Laverty
14/1 Shane Cunningham
14/1 Celium Doherty
14/1 Paul Devlin
First Goalscorer
7/2 No goalscorer
13/2 Jerome Johnston
15/2 Ryan Johnston
9/1 Callum Pearson
9/1 Dara Mullin
11/1 Conor Laverty
11/1 Tom Fox
12/1 Shane Cunningham
14/1 Shealan Johnston
14/1 Paul Devlin
14/1 Shane Horan
14/1 Craig Dias
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More about the author:
Diarmuid Connolly is a six-time GAA All-Ireland Football winner with Dublin. During his illustrious career he also won two All-Star awards. He retired from inter-county football in October 2020.
The 6′ 1″ forward still plays for club team, St Vincent’s, with whom he won five Dublin Senior Football Championship titles.
Connolly also won ten Leinster Senior Football Championships with St. Vincent’s as well as four National Football League titles.
He also joined the Dublin hurling panel as a dual player where he won an U21 Leinster medal.
The Dublin legend has told BoyleSports he expects an upset of the odds as Kilmacud Crokes seek to topple favourites Kilcoo. Take a look below!
BET ON THE ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HERE
?️ "I think they're such a formidable & solid outfit, I expect them to win here!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) February 10, 2022""
? @dermoc123 previews Kilcoo v Kilmacud Crokes in the All-Ireland Club SFC Final, this Saturday.
? TG4, 5pm.
Bet here ? https://t.co/NI3eHwhBSN#GAA @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/frMHxV2X1d
He said: "Croke Park should always lend itself to a high-scoring game and I fancy Kilmacud Crokes. They’ve been written off plenty of times this season and I’ve read a couple of interviews where Robbie Brennan has been very modest and playing up Kilcoo as red-hot favourites. But I don’t see it that way.
"I think Crokes are a formidable outfit. They might not have the star power that they usually have with Paul Mannion out injured, but they are a solid team and I expect them to win here. Croke Park suits them, it’s a big pitch and they have a lot of good young runners.
ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL MARKETS AVAILABLE HERE
"There has only been one match in the Leinster and All-Ireland series that they haven’t won by four or more, so the 11/2 about Crokes to beat a 3-point handicap is a huge price here.
"I’ve been very impressed by Callum Pearson, I like the way he plays football. He’s very direct with the ball and he has a good eye for goal, so at 16/1 he’d be my shout for man of the match. In Dara Mullin they have someone who is really athletic.
"He stands out as a good first goalscorer bet at 9/1 as he has electric pace, he’ll always take on his man and he’s another with a good eye for goal.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF GAA SPECIALS RIGHT NOW ON BOYLESPORTS.COM
"Kilcoo however are a very good side and they’ve been knocking at the door for a few years. But they haven’t really been pushed to the pin of their collar this year, bar maybe their Ulster semi-final against Derry champions Glen.
"If the Brannigan brothers in defence have a good game, that will set out the stall for Kilcoo. But if they don’t finish it off like they failed to do in normal time in the semi-final against St Finbarr’s, I don’t think they will get away with it this time and I see Crokes having a big second half.
Match Betting
8/13 Kilcoo
13/2 Draw
15/8 Kilmacud Crokes
Handicap Betting
10/11 Kilcoo (-1)
13/2 Draw (-1)
5/4 Kilmacud Crokes (+1)
1/7 Kilcoo (+3)
11/1 Draw (+3)
11/2 Kilmacud Crokes (-3)
TG4 Man of the Match
10/1 Jerome Johnston
10/1 Ryan Johnston
12/1 Craig Dias
12/1 Shealan Johnston
14/1 Daryl Branagan
14/1 Rory O’Carroll
14/1 Dara Mullin
14/1 Conor Laverty
14/1 Shane Cunningham
14/1 Celium Doherty
14/1 Paul Devlin
First Goalscorer
7/2 No goalscorer
13/2 Jerome Johnston
15/2 Ryan Johnston
9/1 Callum Pearson
9/1 Dara Mullin
11/1 Conor Laverty
11/1 Tom Fox
12/1 Shane Cunningham
14/1 Shealan Johnston
14/1 Paul Devlin
14/1 Shane Horan
14/1 Craig Dias
BET ON BOYLESPORTS' CURRENT OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS HERE
Safer Gambling
Remember, please always gamble responsibly. Check out BoyleSports' dedicated Safer Gambling section for more information on responsible gambling.
More about the author:
Diarmuid Connolly is a six-time GAA All-Ireland Football winner with Dublin. During his illustrious career he also won two All-Star awards. He retired from inter-county football in October 2020.
The 6′ 1″ forward still plays for club team, St Vincent’s, with whom he won five Dublin Senior Football Championship titles.
Connolly also won ten Leinster Senior Football Championships with St. Vincent’s as well as four National Football League titles.
He also joined the Dublin hurling panel as a dual player where he won an U21 Leinster medal.