The Allianz National League gets underway for both sides on Sunday afternoon as Galway host Mayo in a highly anticipated Division 1 clash at Pearse Stadium.
With both counties coming off strong league campaigns last season and traditionally setting the benchmark in the division, this early meeting should offer a clear indication of where each side stands heading into the 2026 campaign.
Match Info
Match Details
Competition: Allianz National Football League Division 1
Venue: Pearse Stadium, Salthill
Referee: Conor Lane
How to Watch
How To Watch
Date: Sunday, 25 January 2026
Throw-in Time: 1:45pm
TV / Streaming: TG4
Betting Odds
Match Betting Odds
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Galway | 15/8 | 34.78% |
Mayo | 4/7 | 63.64% |
Draw | 15/2 | 11.76% |
Mayo come into this contest as clear favourites at 4/7, reflecting an implied chance of 63.64%. Galway are priced at 15/8, while the draw is available at 15/2, suggesting our oddsmakers expect Mayo to have the edge despite Galway’s home advantage.
Galway vs Mayo Prediction – NFL D1 ‘26
Total Points Betting
Over 39.5 Points @ 4/5
Under 39.5 Points @ 10/11
Over or Under 39.5 Points? Mayo v Galway NFL D1 ‘26
Handicap Betting
Galway +2 @ Evens
Mayo -2 @ Evens
Handicap Draw (+2) @ 17/2
Goalscorer Betting
Goalscorer Betting
Player | First Goalscorer | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|---|
No goalscorer | 11/2 | N/A |
Robert Finnerty | 7/1 | 21/10 |
Ryan O’Donoghue | 15/2 | 9/4 |
Matthew Tierney | 8/1 | 12/5 |
Tommy Conroy | 8/1 | 12/5 |
Darragh Beirne | 8/1 | 12/5 |
Bar | 10/1 | 3/1 |
First Goalscorer in Galway vs Mayo: NFL Division 1 ’26
Team News
Galway Team
Galway – Starting XV
1. Connor Gleeson (Dunmore MacHales)
2. Johnny McGrath (Caherlistane)
3. Seán Fitzgerald (C.P. Bhearna na Forbacha)
4. Jack Glynn (Claregalway)
5. Finnian Ó Laoi (An Spidéal)
6. Dylan McHugh (C) (Corofin)
7. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
8. Seán Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)
9. Matthew Tierney (Oughterard)
10. Liam Silke (Corofin)
11. Ciarán Mulhern (Mountbellew Moylough)
12. Daniel O’Flaherty (Salthill Knocknacarra)
13. Fionn McDonagh (Maigh Cuilinn)
14. Robert Finnerty (Salthill Knocknacarra)
15. Oisín McDonagh (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir)
Galway – Substitutes 16. Conor Flaherty (Claregalway) 17. Brian Cogger (Corofin) 18. Cian Hernon (C.P. Bhearna na Forbacha) 19. Seán Ó Maolchiaráin (Oileáin Árann) 20. Shay McGlinchey (Tuam Stars) 21. Mattias Barrett (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir) 22. Cein Darcy (Ballyboden St Enda’s) 23. Shane McGrath (Dunmore MacHales) 24. Mikey Mulryan (Caltra) 25. Shane Walsh (Kilmacud Crokes) 26. Liam Ó Conghaile (An Spidéal)
Mayo Team
Mayo – Starting XV
1. Robbie Hennelly (Raheny)
2. Eoin McGreal (Garrymore)
3. Rory Brickenden (Westport)
4. Enda Hession (Garrymore)
5. Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites)
6. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)
7. Sean Morahan (Castlebar Mitchels)
8. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels)
9. David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen)
10. Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
11. Ryan O’Donoghue (C) (Belmullet)
12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
13. Darragh Beirne (Claremorris)
14. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
15. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
Mayo – Substitutes 16. Jack Livingstone (Breaffy) 17. Liam Golden (Ballina Stephenites) 18. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore) 19. Fenton Kelly (Davitts) 20. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) 21. Conal Dawson (Westport) 22. Seamus Howard (Belmullet) 23. Diarmuid Duffy (Ballinrobe) 24. Fergal Boland (Aghamore) 25. Cian McHale (Moy Davitts) 26. James Carr (Ardagh)
Form
Recent Form & League Finishes
Galway
League finish in 2025: 3rd
Galway had a solid league campaign in 2025 as they finished 3rd in Division 1. They would go on to Connacht success, beating Mayo in the provincial final, before bowing out earlier than many would have expected at the quarter-final stage of the All-Ireland series.
Mayo
League finish in 2025: Runner-up
Mayo topped the round-robin stage of Division 1 in last season’s National League but would be well beaten in the final by Kerry. After losing to Galway in the Connacht Final, they would fail to make it out of their All-Ireland Series group in what was a disappointing campaign.
The Andy Moran era begins on Sunday in Salthill against old foes Galway. Look for the visitors to lay down a marker under new management.
Head-to-Head
Head-to-Head
These sides have one of the most storied rivalries in the sport of Gaelic football, with many epic duels across league and championship in recent seasons. Galway have had the better of proceedings in recent times, but the green and red will look to strike back this time around.
25 June 2023 (All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-final): Galway 0-12 – 1-10 Mayo (Pearse Stadium)
28 January 2024 (National League): Galway 0-10 – 2-12 Mayo (Pearse Stadium)
5 May 2024 (Connacht Final): Galway 0-16 – 0-15 Mayo (Pearse Stadium)
2 February 2025 (National League): Mayo 0-16 – 0-26 Galway (MacHale Park)
4 May 2025 (Connacht Final): Galway 1-17 – 1-15 Mayo (MacHale Park)
Match Prediction
Galway vs Mayo Prediction
Prediction: Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-17
These teams know each other so well given their numerous encounters over recent seasons. With that said, there typically isn’t much between these teams but I expect that not to be the case this time around.
Galway are down some key players for this game such as Shane Conroy, Paul Walsh, and Matthew Thompson among others. Mayo, on the other hand, will be close to full strength with star players returning like Tommy Conroy who is listed to play in the full-forward line on Sunday.
Mayo should have enough to win here rather comfortably and an early-season league clash between two well-matched sides often leans towards a controlled, tactical contest, and that points towards a lower-scoring outcome.
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