GAA Football ambassador Diarmuid Connolly gives his predictions, betting tips and expert opinion ahead of the weekend SFC action.
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WEXFORD V DUBLIN - LEINSTER SFC
The six-time All-Ireland winner was speaking to BoyleSports in advance of Saturday’s clash and thinks Brian Howard and Brian Fenton would make the perfect partnership in midfield.
He said: “We all know Dublin had a poor league and were relegated into Division Two. They only had two wins with one of those coming in the last game of the season.
“This fixture last year was a very close one I thought. Wexford set out their stall very defensively and I can see something similar happening in this round of the Championship. Dublin need to hit the ground running and they need to solidify that midfield partnership and the half back line.
“Is James McCarthy going to come in and start in midfield and stay there for the season. A big question mark on a lot of people’s lips is how is the fitness with Con O’Callaghan? Probably not looking at Wexford this coming Saturday but they will be looking later on this season. Can we get a full 15 off this Dublin squad?”
Brian Howard and Brian Fenton Midfield?
Connolly added: “James McCarthy is the Rolls Royce. He has 13 or 14 seasons into his Dublin career already and he is still going strong.
“When he came back for that Tyrone game earlier in the league, he made the difference. I like him at midfield but where do you play Brian Howard then? Do you play him at wing forward, which he has been playing pretty good at?
“He has been one of the stand-out Dublin performers. I would love to see the partnership of Brian Howard and Brian Fenton. They are club-mates and have that relationship. Two of them are built for midfield.
“It remains to be seen but I would imagine all three of those players are going to start just where Dessie Farrell picks them.
“Paddy Small had a breakthrough season a few seasons ago. Last season it didn’t really happen for him and obviously Dublin didn’t get to the All-Ireland SFC final. I would love to see Paddy Small have a good season and he is becoming one of Dublin’s go-to guys.
“Cormac Costello always knows where the goal and he is my man to score the first goal at 11/2.”
TYRONE V DERRY - ULSTER SFC
The six-time All-Ireland winner was speaking to BoyleSports in advance of Sunday’s clash and is predicting a facile victory for the hosts with an 8/1 prediction to score the first goal.
He said: “Tyrone remind me of Dublin. They had a slow start to the league this year and they slowly start to build momentum.
“They had three wins, three losses and one draw in the league, which is fair to get you mid table, but it won’t win you the league. I think Tyrone will have a plan set out.
“You will always have a hangover from the All-Ireland final leading into the league. It did start off slowly for them, but they are starting to build momentum now.
“I have been banging the drum for the last few years about this Derry team as they are building something really good there. They are going to have a big miss however as Ciaran McFaul is heading to Donegal Boston for the summer so he will be a huge miss for Derry.
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“He was launching their attacks and is a guy who breaks up a lot of the ball and is a real leader.
“I fancy Tyrone to win. They are at home and it’s probably going to be an emphatic win with Darren McCurry at 8/1 to score the first goal. He is the guy that has been making them tick the last couple of seasons.
“He seems to have had a bit of a re-birth after Mickey Harte left the scene because he wasn’t getting in under Harte, but the new management seem to really like him. They really fancy him and they backed him in the All-Ireland SFC final and left him on for the full game and they reaped the rewards.”
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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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WEXFORD V DUBLIN - LEINSTER SFC
The six-time All-Ireland winner was speaking to BoyleSports in advance of Saturday’s clash and thinks Brian Howard and Brian Fenton would make the perfect partnership in midfield.
?️ "Dublin need to hit the ground running & solidify that midfield partnership"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) April 28, 2022""
? Diarmuid Connolly previews Wexford v Dublin in Leinster SFC quarter-final action on Saturday.
? Sky Sports Arena, 6:30pm
Bet here ? https://t.co/O4rOvmyAwU#GAA @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/lZ8LOVG7lR
He said: “We all know Dublin had a poor league and were relegated into Division Two. They only had two wins with one of those coming in the last game of the season.
“This fixture last year was a very close one I thought. Wexford set out their stall very defensively and I can see something similar happening in this round of the Championship. Dublin need to hit the ground running and they need to solidify that midfield partnership and the half back line.
“Is James McCarthy going to come in and start in midfield and stay there for the season. A big question mark on a lot of people’s lips is how is the fitness with Con O’Callaghan? Probably not looking at Wexford this coming Saturday but they will be looking later on this season. Can we get a full 15 off this Dublin squad?”
Brian Howard and Brian Fenton Midfield?
Connolly added: “James McCarthy is the Rolls Royce. He has 13 or 14 seasons into his Dublin career already and he is still going strong.
“When he came back for that Tyrone game earlier in the league, he made the difference. I like him at midfield but where do you play Brian Howard then? Do you play him at wing forward, which he has been playing pretty good at?
“He has been one of the stand-out Dublin performers. I would love to see the partnership of Brian Howard and Brian Fenton. They are club-mates and have that relationship. Two of them are built for midfield.
“It remains to be seen but I would imagine all three of those players are going to start just where Dessie Farrell picks them.
“Paddy Small had a breakthrough season a few seasons ago. Last season it didn’t really happen for him and obviously Dublin didn’t get to the All-Ireland SFC final. I would love to see Paddy Small have a good season and he is becoming one of Dublin’s go-to guys.
“Cormac Costello always knows where the goal and he is my man to score the first goal at 11/2.”
TYRONE V DERRY - ULSTER SFC
The six-time All-Ireland winner was speaking to BoyleSports in advance of Sunday’s clash and is predicting a facile victory for the hosts with an 8/1 prediction to score the first goal.
?️ "They remind me of Dublin. They had a slow start to the league this year and they slowly start to build momentum"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) April 29, 2022""
? Diarmuid Connolly previews Tyrone v Derry in Ulster SFC quarter-final action on Sunday, 4pm.
Bet ? https://t.co/4R56e03mOf#GAA @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/YkhpDEFHuD
He said: “Tyrone remind me of Dublin. They had a slow start to the league this year and they slowly start to build momentum.
“They had three wins, three losses and one draw in the league, which is fair to get you mid table, but it won’t win you the league. I think Tyrone will have a plan set out.
“You will always have a hangover from the All-Ireland final leading into the league. It did start off slowly for them, but they are starting to build momentum now.
“I have been banging the drum for the last few years about this Derry team as they are building something really good there. They are going to have a big miss however as Ciaran McFaul is heading to Donegal Boston for the summer so he will be a huge miss for Derry.
WE HAVE TONS OF GAA SPECIALS RIGHT NOW ON BOYLESPORTS.COM
“He was launching their attacks and is a guy who breaks up a lot of the ball and is a real leader.
“I fancy Tyrone to win. They are at home and it’s probably going to be an emphatic win with Darren McCurry at 8/1 to score the first goal. He is the guy that has been making them tick the last couple of seasons.
“He seems to have had a bit of a re-birth after Mickey Harte left the scene because he wasn’t getting in under Harte, but the new management seem to really like him. They really fancy him and they backed him in the All-Ireland SFC final and left him on for the full game and they reaped the rewards.”
BOOST OR INSURE? MAKE YOUR CHOICE ON YOUR ACCA RIGHT HERE! T&Cs APPLY
FOLLOW BOYLESPORTS ON SOCIAL
Safer Gambling
Remember, please always gamble responsibly. Check out BoyleSports' dedicated Safer Gambling information.
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.