GAA Betting – Allianz Football League 2011
Round 1 of the new Allianz Football League gets underway this Saturday when last year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship runners-up Down (7/4) take on Mayo (4/7) in Castlebar. Both teams are well capable of winning the Division 1 title this season so expect a closely contested affair at MacHale Park.
Dublin (4/6) begin their league campaign on the road when the travel to the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night to battle it out with a low-on-confidence Armagh (6/4). The Dubs will be ready for the fight having got one over on their bitter rivals Meath (4/5) in the O’Byrne Shield Final last weekend. The Royal County, who play Division 2 football this season, will need to pick themselves up quickly following their extra-time loss to The Dubs last week as they’ll need to be firing on all cylinders if they are to get anything from their tough opening day fixture away to Laois (5/4).
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The most eye-catching game in the Allianz Football League this weekend is without doubt the Division 1 match-up in Tralee between Munster rivals The Kingdom of Kerry (5/4) and The Rebels of Cork (5/6). The two sides clashed a couple of weeks ago in the McGrath Cup semi-final and it was The Kingdom that came out on top after extra-time. Celtic Park is the venue on Sunday for the meeting of Derry (5/4) and Tyrone (5/6). Both teams have made an encouraging start to the new GAA season winning each of their three games. You have to go way to back to 1984 to find the last time Tyrone won in Derry so I fully expect the home side, who have been racking up high scores in recent games, to run out convincing winners. Another county I’m punting to win this weekend is Westmeath (11/8). They begin their Division 3 campaign in Drogheda against Louth (4/6). The Wee County will still be feeling the ill effects of their loss to Kildare in last week’s O’Byrne Cup Final, after seemingly being in cruise control for the majority of the game. Louth’s best performer, Adrian Reid, suffered an ankle injury against Kildare and his loss is a crucial blow to Louth. At the odds on offer Westmeath look a cracking bet to get their Division 3 campaign off to the best possible start.
Best Bets:
Derry to beat Tyrone 5/4 (2pt win)
Westmeath to beat Louth 11/8 (2pt win)
2pt Treble @ 10/1
Derry 5/4 Meath 4/5 & Antrim 13/8
