GAA SFC Finals are this Saturday & Sunday from Munster, Leinster, Connacht & Ulster and we have predictions, bettinf tips and odds.
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GAA Football ambassador Diarmuid Connolly gives his predictions, betting tips and expert opinion ahead of the action this weekend. Take a look below.
Dublin v Kildare - Leinster SFC Final
Diarmuid Connolly has backed Dublin to cement their All-Ireland credentials by winning a 12th consecutive Leinster title.
Dublin’s dominance in the province will be put on the line against Kildare at Croke Park on Saturday and the Lilywhites go in having beaten their Leinster rivals in their most recent meeting in the GAA National League clash in Newbridge.
“I wouldn’t look too much into the league game,” Connolly told BoyleSports. “Dublin must have been putting in some hard training back then because they look top of the ground at the minute and have put up two huge scores. They are mean defensively too, so Kildare will have to get their full forward line firing.
“I’m hoping to see Paddy Small get some minutes, we haven’t seen a lot of him and I’m not hearing much out of the Dublin camp, which is always a good sign too.
“I was watching Ciaran Kilkenny last week and everything Dublin did well, he was involved in. Sometimes at this time of year you don’t see him looking as fit as he does this time, he looks really fit and I think he’ll have a big say on Sunday. Everything goes through him, he’s a tough man to mark and he’s getting 40 or 50 possessions a game, which is phenomenal.
“But the key matchup for me is Brian Fenton and Kevin Feely in the middle of the field. They are two athletic men who drive their teams forward and whoever wins that particular battle could have a big say in the outcome.
“Kildare are going along nicely and I was impressed by them against Louth. But if they are conceding 2-15 to Westmeath, I think Dublin could run away with this one if they get their tails up.”
Kerry v Limerick - Munster SFC final
Kerry host Limerick in the GAA Munster Senior Football Championship final this weekend at Fitzgerald Stadium and Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly fancies a comfortable Kingdom win.
The six-time All-Ireland winner can’t see anything other than a Kerry victory, but is predicting a high-scoring game with Limerick scoring plenty of goals in their last few games.
He said: “This is a huge deal for Limerick to reach the Munster final. The hurlers probably get all the praise and it’s the flip side with Dublin as the footballers get all the praise. Limerick got to the Division Three final this year and were unlucky not to win it."
"They have moved up to Division Two now and are scoring a lot of goals. They got two against Clare and two against Tipperary the last day, so they are a team who can get a few goals.”
“The handicap betting is huge with -15 points for Kerry. The odds are crazy, they are 1-100 to win but let’s be honest, Kerry are going to win. I’d be very surprised if they don’t. They were slow to start the last day against Cork and they have only had one real Championship game this year."
"They put up 23 points, but they didn’t look like they got out of second gear and looking at who came off the bench for them, it’s an embarrassment of riches!”
“We know what this Kerry forward line can do. What has impressed me the most with this side this season is how they are setting up defensively. They are real mean at the back and not giving away a whole pile. This is huge because we know they can score, but they were weak in their defence. But not this year.”
“We all know there is huge pressure on Kerry to win the All-Ireland. I was impressed the last day by Sean O’Shea. He scored 10 points and everything goes through him. We didn’t see much of him in the league this year, but he is going to have a huge summer and it’s looking like a Kerry v Dublin semi-final if that’s the way it all works out.”
Galway v Roscommon - Connacht SFC final
Diarmuid Connolly has backed Roscommon to dent Galway’s All-Ireland credentials by winning Sunday’s GAA Connacht Final.
Padraic Joyce’s side will start the provincial showdown as odds-on favourites, but Connolly stressed Roscommon’s league form over their rivals could them the edge.
“I’m surprised at the odds for this one,” Connolly told BoyleSports. “Roscommon have already beaten Galway twice this year, albeit once when Galway had a weakened team out."
"Roscommon were the better team on the day in the Division 2 Final and while Shane Walsh made an impact when he came on late, he wasn’t the difference that day. Roscommon were full value for the win and I think they have a great chance."
“Enda Smith is their go-to guy and he dominated the Galway midfield in the league final, I was so impressed with him. Conor Cox will be on the frees and Ciaran Murtagh and Donie Smith could have a big say."
“Galway have gone up to Division 1 which is a huge boost and Paul Conroy for me has been their standout player this year. He’s chipping in with the scores and they do have a lot of good players."
“Damien Comer isn’t chipping in with the same amount of scores, but if he fires on all cylinders he could pull a goal or two out of the bag. However if they’re to win, Shane Walsh will need to have a huge game.”
Donegal v Derry - Ulster SFC Final
Derry face Donegal in the GAA Ulster Senior Football Championship final this weekend in Clones and Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly fancies Donegal to be crowned champions.
The six-time All-Ireland winner is predicting a win for Donegal but isn’t ruling out a draw at 7/1.
He said: “Derry are very much the form team in Ulster at the moment but I have a feeling this Donegal side are building something special and I think the 7/1 available for the draw is a great price. If I was going with a team to win, I would go against Derry slightly.”
“They had a great first half and had a great lead against Monaghan. They have been immense and stood out for me the last day, but I think Donegal have a better scoring rate and I’m going for them at 10/11.”
“I’m predicting there to be over 33.5 points in this match at 10/11. Derry do set up quite defensively but they can get goals at the other end and rope Donegal into that quick counter attack with the likes of Conor Glass in midfield.
"Gareth McKinless is the lynchpin and the guy who drives them forward from that number 6 spot. Then the two half forwards sit into his place so they are set up at the back if they get turned over.”
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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.
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GAA Football ambassador Diarmuid Connolly gives his predictions, betting tips and expert opinion ahead of the action this weekend. Take a look below.
Dublin v Kildare - Leinster SFC Final
Diarmuid Connolly has backed Dublin to cement their All-Ireland credentials by winning a 12th consecutive Leinster title.
Dublin’s dominance in the province will be put on the line against Kildare at Croke Park on Saturday and the Lilywhites go in having beaten their Leinster rivals in their most recent meeting in the GAA National League clash in Newbridge.
? "I'm hoping for a high scoring game...I'm sticking with my man this week!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 26, 2022""
Diarmuid Connolly previews Dublin v Kildare in the Leinster SFC Final, Saturday, 5pm.
Bet ? https://t.co/nLDXWSSfjj#GAA #Dublin #Kildare @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/kkwDAugOMp
“I wouldn’t look too much into the league game,” Connolly told BoyleSports. “Dublin must have been putting in some hard training back then because they look top of the ground at the minute and have put up two huge scores. They are mean defensively too, so Kildare will have to get their full forward line firing.
“I’m hoping to see Paddy Small get some minutes, we haven’t seen a lot of him and I’m not hearing much out of the Dublin camp, which is always a good sign too.
“I was watching Ciaran Kilkenny last week and everything Dublin did well, he was involved in. Sometimes at this time of year you don’t see him looking as fit as he does this time, he looks really fit and I think he’ll have a big say on Sunday. Everything goes through him, he’s a tough man to mark and he’s getting 40 or 50 possessions a game, which is phenomenal.
“But the key matchup for me is Brian Fenton and Kevin Feely in the middle of the field. They are two athletic men who drive their teams forward and whoever wins that particular battle could have a big say in the outcome.
“Kildare are going along nicely and I was impressed by them against Louth. But if they are conceding 2-15 to Westmeath, I think Dublin could run away with this one if they get their tails up.”
Kerry v Limerick - Munster SFC final
Kerry host Limerick in the GAA Munster Senior Football Championship final this weekend at Fitzgerald Stadium and Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly fancies a comfortable Kingdom win.
The six-time All-Ireland winner can’t see anything other than a Kerry victory, but is predicting a high-scoring game with Limerick scoring plenty of goals in their last few games.
? With Kerry at 1/100 to beat Limerick on Saturday, Diarmuid Connolly has picked out some tasty bets for the match which we have BOOSTED!
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He said: “This is a huge deal for Limerick to reach the Munster final. The hurlers probably get all the praise and it’s the flip side with Dublin as the footballers get all the praise. Limerick got to the Division Three final this year and were unlucky not to win it."
"They have moved up to Division Two now and are scoring a lot of goals. They got two against Clare and two against Tipperary the last day, so they are a team who can get a few goals.”
“The handicap betting is huge with -15 points for Kerry. The odds are crazy, they are 1-100 to win but let’s be honest, Kerry are going to win. I’d be very surprised if they don’t. They were slow to start the last day against Cork and they have only had one real Championship game this year."
"They put up 23 points, but they didn’t look like they got out of second gear and looking at who came off the bench for them, it’s an embarrassment of riches!”
“We know what this Kerry forward line can do. What has impressed me the most with this side this season is how they are setting up defensively. They are real mean at the back and not giving away a whole pile. This is huge because we know they can score, but they were weak in their defence. But not this year.”
“We all know there is huge pressure on Kerry to win the All-Ireland. I was impressed the last day by Sean O’Shea. He scored 10 points and everything goes through him. We didn’t see much of him in the league this year, but he is going to have a huge summer and it’s looking like a Kerry v Dublin semi-final if that’s the way it all works out.”
Galway v Roscommon - Connacht SFC final
Diarmuid Connolly has backed Roscommon to dent Galway’s All-Ireland credentials by winning Sunday’s GAA Connacht Final.
Padraic Joyce’s side will start the provincial showdown as odds-on favourites, but Connolly stressed Roscommon’s league form over their rivals could them the edge.
?️ "Roscommon have already beaten Galway twice this year, albeit once when Galway had a weakened team out."
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 27, 2022""
? Diarmuid Connolly previews Galway v Roscommon in the Connacht SFC final on Sunday, 1.45pm.
Bet here ? https://t.co/nbZl9LEELA#GAA @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/U49AqVRQLV
“I’m surprised at the odds for this one,” Connolly told BoyleSports. “Roscommon have already beaten Galway twice this year, albeit once when Galway had a weakened team out."
"Roscommon were the better team on the day in the Division 2 Final and while Shane Walsh made an impact when he came on late, he wasn’t the difference that day. Roscommon were full value for the win and I think they have a great chance."
“Enda Smith is their go-to guy and he dominated the Galway midfield in the league final, I was so impressed with him. Conor Cox will be on the frees and Ciaran Murtagh and Donie Smith could have a big say."
“Galway have gone up to Division 1 which is a huge boost and Paul Conroy for me has been their standout player this year. He’s chipping in with the scores and they do have a lot of good players."
“Damien Comer isn’t chipping in with the same amount of scores, but if he fires on all cylinders he could pull a goal or two out of the bag. However if they’re to win, Shane Walsh will need to have a huge game.”
Donegal v Derry - Ulster SFC Final
Derry face Donegal in the GAA Ulster Senior Football Championship final this weekend in Clones and Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly fancies Donegal to be crowned champions.
The six-time All-Ireland winner is predicting a win for Donegal but isn’t ruling out a draw at 7/1.
?️ "He is is the lynchpin and the guy who drives them forward from that number 6 spot!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) May 27, 2022""
? Diarmuid Connolly previews Donegal v Derry in the Ulster SFC final on Sunday, 4pm.
Bet here ? https://t.co/WNmqWv066b#GAA @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/CJQbZEpaVb
He said: “Derry are very much the form team in Ulster at the moment but I have a feeling this Donegal side are building something special and I think the 7/1 available for the draw is a great price. If I was going with a team to win, I would go against Derry slightly.”
“They had a great first half and had a great lead against Monaghan. They have been immense and stood out for me the last day, but I think Donegal have a better scoring rate and I’m going for them at 10/11.”
“I’m predicting there to be over 33.5 points in this match at 10/11. Derry do set up quite defensively but they can get goals at the other end and rope Donegal into that quick counter attack with the likes of Conor Glass in midfield.
"Gareth McKinless is the lynchpin and the guy who drives them forward from that number 6 spot. Then the two half forwards sit into his place so they are set up at the back if they get turned over.”
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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.