We have a Kerry v Tyrone prediction for you plus all the betting odds as we preview their massive All-Ireland quarter-final matchup.
How To Watch Kerry v Tyrone
When? 3.45pm, Saturday, July 1stWhere? Croke Park, DublinTV Channel: Only available on GAAGO.ieKerry v Tyrone Preview
Kerry’s Form
League Form
Kerry came into this year’s National League as both defending league and All-Ireland champions after a spectacular 2022 season. There was some chatter coming out of Kerry that manager Jack O’Connor wasn’t ‘targeting’ the league this year, in other words squad development and getting key players in shape for Championship were the main objectives.The Kingdom very much looked like a team that didn’t have their focus on the league as they underwhelmed throughout the competition before eventually stumbling to a 5th placed finish with 3 wins and 4 draws.The debate around how teams should approach the National League is a fascinating one. One stat that tells a lot about how important the league has become in modern gaelic football is that only one team has gone on to win the All-Ireland in the last ten years after having a losing record in that year’s National League. Interestingly, that team was Kerry in 2014.Championship Form
After a disappointing league campaign the question was - could Kerry flick a switch come Championship? Could they suddenly start playing like the 2022 version of this team that dominated gaelic football? The answer it turns out was no, they couldn’t.Leaving aside the procession that is also known as the Munster Championship, which Kerry won again via victories over Tipperary and then Clare, the Kingdom struggled through their All-Ireland group stage.Kerry were drawn in the same group as Mayo, Louth and Cork. The opening game of their All-Ireland series campaign saw them welcome Mayo to Killarney in a game they went into as strong favourites. They were unable to live up to that favouritism as Mayo handed them their first Championship loss in Killarney since 1995 on a scoreline of 0-17 to 1-19.Next up for Jack O’Connor’s men was a trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to take on old rivals Cork. Once again this team looked nothing like they did last year as it took a David Clifford penalty (which shouldn’t have been a free not a penalty) to secure a 2-point victory.The final group game came against Louth in Portlaoise. This was the first time that Kerry looked anything resembling their old selves as they blitzed Louth 5-24 to 0-11 with Seán O’Shea scoring 1-08 and David Clifford adding 2-04.That win was surprisingly enough to secure top spot in the group as Mayo collapsed in the final 15 minutes against Cork to surrender a 6-point lead and lose out on automatic qualification to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.Kerry now face old foes Tyrone with a spot in an All-Ireland semi-final on the line.Tyrone’s Form
League Form
Tyrone had a solid spring which saw them finish the league in 4th place with 4 wins and 3 losses.The highlight of that campaign was a 3-point win over Kerry in Omagh while the lowlight was a 10-point trashing at the hands of Mayo in Castlebar.Overall, Tyrone could be pretty happy with how things went having secured Division 1 football for next year while developing squad players in the process.Championship Form
Tyrone’s first outing in Championship 2023 came against Monaghan in the quarter-final of the Ulster Championship. The Red Hand would be beaten that day in what was a thrilling game that Monaghan snatched at the death thanks to a last minute goal.The loss to Monaghan meant a premature end to Tyrone’s Ulster ambitions but it also gave them the chance to rest and reset for the All-Ireland series.Tyrone would be drawn in the novel All-Ireland group stages with Galway, Armagh and Westmeath.Their first game in the group saw them travel down to Salthill to take on fellow All-Ireland hopefuls Galway in a typically wet and windy Pearse Stadium. The Fergal Lohan and Brian Dooher managed team would suffer a 3-point defeat that evening.However, it is hard to draw any meaningful conclusions from that game as it was played in poor weather conditions and Tyrone played most of the game with 14-men and were even reduced to 13-men for a period.Next up was Armagh who they welcomed to Omagh for a massive Ulster derby. The Red Hand put in their best performance of the Championship to date which saw them hold off Armagh in a deserved 0-13 to 0-11 win.Many would have expected Tyrone to push on from that win but it turned out just the opposite. Westmeath came within a late missed John Heslin free of knocking the 2021 All-Ireland Champions out of this year’s Championship. Luckily for Tyrone a 0-18 a piece draw was enough to keep them alive.Tyrone’s third-placed group finish meant that they would have to travel to Ballybofey to take on Donegal to earn an All-Ireland quarter-final spot. They were able to do just that as they put Donegal out of their misery in a comfortable 8-point win which will give them confidence heading into their All-Ireland quarter-final with Kerry.Key Players To Watch
David Clifford (Kerry)
The best footballer in Ireland right now and it’s not particularly close. Clifford possesses everything that you could wish from a forward in gaelic football.He not only beats his markers for pace but he will also field the ball over his defender to go with his deadly accurate shooting.The Fossa man’s 2-04 from play last time out against Louth means he’s in his best form and will be raring to go against Tyrone this weekend. An indicator of how Clifford has been again this year is his status as 9/4 favourite to win Footballer of the Year.Darragh Canavan (Tyrone)
If you follow gaelic football you will be familiar with the Canavan name. Darragh is the son of one Peter Canavan, one of the finest forwards to ever kick a football.Darragh is following in his fathers footsteps as he has quickly become Tyrone’s best forward this season with his ability to find space in crowded defences and make defences pay with his deadly accuracy. You can rest assured that Canavan will be a thorn in Kerry’s side this Saturday in Croke Park.Kerry v Tyrone Head-To-Head Results
Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 2-09 | 2023 National LeagueKerry 2-11 Tyrone 1-15 | 2022 National LeagueKerry 0-22 Tyrone 3-14 | 2021 All-Ireland Semi-FinalTyrone 0-14 Kerry 0-13 | 2020 National LeagueTyrone 0-18 Kerry 1-18 | 2019 All-Ireland Semi-FinalWhatever it is about Tyrone they just seem to have Kerry’s number. The Ulster men have won four out of the last five meetings between these teams including the last time they met in the Championship back in 2021.Kerry v Tyrone Betting Odds
Kerry - 4/9Tyrone - 9/4Draw - 15/2Handicap - Kerry -3Kerry go into this game as strong favourites at odds of 4/9. Tyrone have been priced up as the 9/4 underdogs. You can back the draw after 70 minutes at 15/2.Kerry v Tyrone Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Kerry 0-15 Tyrone 1-11Kerry should have just enough to advance here by the skin of their teeth but I think the value in the betting market is on Tyrone. The Red Hand have famously been Kerry’s bogey team down through the years having most recently beaten a fancied Kerry in 2021 on their way to winning the All-Ireland themselves.Best Bet: Tyrone +3 @ Evens*Prices subject to fluctuation
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