Derry vs Kerry Preview
Derry and Kerry clash in the National Football League on February 2nd at Celtic Park after their entertaining meetings last season. The Oak Leaf County hopes to bounce back after a surprise defeat last weekend and Kerry wants to get their NFL campaign off to a fast start. The match will start at 1:45 pm this Sunday.
Derry won their first title in 16 years after beating Dublin in the final last year. Their spectacular season has not carried over to 2025 just yet, following their defeat at the hands of Tyrone. Kerry agonisingly missed out on the 2024 NFL final on points difference and will be determined to take that extra step this season. Can Derry bounce back from last week’s disappointment, or will Kerry start the season with a bang?
Derry vs Kerry Predictions
Correct score predictions: Derry 0-15 – 1-16 Kerry
Derry entered the National Football League season as defending champions after winning their first league title in well over a decade. They had an excellent season, winning all but one of their games in Division One before beating Dublin on penalties in the final. It was an unceremonious return, as The Oak Leaf County fell to defeat on the opening day of the season. They now face a fresh Kerry side who are gunning for their 24th NFL title this season.
Kerry is one of the most successful counties in Gaelic football and has been a force to be reckoned with over the last decade. They had a convincing performance last season but fell agonisingly short of the NFL final on points difference. Heading into 2025, they will be looking to build on their convincing performances in recent years, with a team packed with talent across all areas of the field. They have the chance to show they mean business against the defending champions, and we believe they can do just that. Our GAA prediction is for Kerry to get off to a winning start in 2025.
The likes of David Clifford, one of the best GAA Footballers game today, will be key to Kerry’s attack. Clifford’s ability to break down defences, score from hard angles, and create opportunities for his teammates makes him a focal point in the Kerry lineup. Alongside him, Paudie Clifford, Shane Ryan, and Jack Barry add experience and skill in both the attack and midfield, providing balance to the team.
Kerry is known for their attacking power. Manager Jack O’Connor has put together a fast-paced attack that puts immense pressure on defences. That has not affected their strength elsewhere on the field. They have combined their potent attack with a solid defence and midfield unit. That gives them opportunities to dominate the length of a GAA field, particularly when they are in possession.
O’Connor’s team will dominate possession, trying to control the tempo and create scoring chances through their free-flowing attacking play. They will look to stretch Derry’s defence with fast ball movement and smart runs from Clifford and others in the forward line. However, Derry will counter this by sitting deep. They will soak up pressure and hit Kerry on the break when the opportunity arises. The key to this game will be whether Kerry can break down Derry’s tight defensive structure and how Derry responds to Kerry’s offensive firepower.
This will be a tight game. Kerry’s defence can be vulnerable. While they have solid defenders like Tadhg Morley and Jason Foley, fast counter-attacks can occasionally catch them out. Against a team like Derry, which thrives on discipline and counter-punching, Kerry will need to ensure they’re not too exposed at the back.
Derry’s defence is one of the best in the country, and they are likely to focus on keeping things tight at the back and making it difficult for Kerry to break them down. Chrissy McKaigue, a seasoned campaigner, will be central to their defence, marshalling the back line with his leadership and experience. In attack, Shane McGuigan is their standout forward. He is capable of scoring from all areas and providing a genuine threat to Kerry’s defence. His ability to convert frees and create scoring opportunities for others is vital to Derry’s success.
Derry vs Kerry Betting Tips
Match Result
This will be a tight game between two of the strongest teams in the division. Their clash last season came down to a single point and the GAA football betting odds have them barely separated.
We think Kerry can gain revenge after their defeat last season. A bet on The Green and Gold is worth 4/5. Derry are slight underdogs at 5/4. If you think the reigning champions can get back to winning ways, a €10 stake returns €12.50.
Winning Margin
This looks set to be an extremely tight contest between two of the best sides in Division One. Last season’s clash saw just one point between the clubs and we expect around the same this year. We are sticking with our prediction for a Kerry victory. A bet on Kerry to win by 1-3 points is worth 11/4.
Handicap
Derry are +1 underdogs with our online betting site in this game, but we are more interested in the alternative handicaps. The Oak Leafers are worth 8/15 with a +3 handicap. They have only lost by that margin twice in their last nine games.
First Half Points
Considering both teams’ styles, this game might see a fast start, especially with Kerry looking to dominate possession and attack early. Derry will probably be looking to exploit any early gaps and take advantage of Kerry’s attacking movement with swift counter-attacks. The first half could set the tone for the rest of the game, and both teams can pick up quick points. National Football League betting will favour a high-scoring first 30 minutes. Bet on over 17.5 first-half points.
Derry vs Kerry Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in January 2024 in their Division One season opener. A tense back and forth set the tone for Derry’s title-winning season against one of the top teams in the league. They saw out a 15-14 victory at Austin Stack Park in a determined performance.
Derry avenged their All-Ireland semi-final loss in the season prior with a hard-fought win in the Allianz League opener. Despite missing the Clifford brothers, Kerry struggled to match Derry’s intensity. Mickey Harte’s side took a 0-08 to 0-04 lead into halftime. Derry controlled the midfield with Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers, while Shane McGuigan starred with 0-07, including a crucial late free to seal the win.
Kerry fought back in the second half, with Conor Geaney and Dylan Casey scoring goals to level the game. Derry’s defence held strong, and goalkeeper Odhran Lynch saved a vital Kerry shot. As the game neared its conclusion, McGuigan’s calm free in injury time secured the win for Derry, who started their return to Division 1 in the best possible fashion.
Derry had a disappointing start to their title-defending season in their opener against Tyrone on January 25th. despite leading for portions of the game, they fell to a 2-13 – 1-9 defeat at O’Neills Healy Park. A 10-minute blitz before the final whistle helped Tyrone to the victory and sunk Derry’s heart.
The sides were level in the closing stages, but Tyrone finished strongly, showcasing their attacking depth. Despite a great start from Derry, with Brendan Rogers’ early score and a superb second-half goal from Conor Glass, Tyrone’s control of the kick-out and strong defensive play gave them the edge. Tyrone’s Michael McKernan played a pivotal role, scoring early and assisting in their first-half goal.
Although Derry briefly led in the second half, Tyrone responded with vital points and a goal from Peter Teague. McCurry’s late two-pointer and contributions from substitutes helped Tyrone finish comfortably, making O’Rourke’s debut successful as Tyrone dominated the closing stages.
Kerry is yet to play in Division One this season and this will serve as their season opener. They enter this season as NFL favourites, despite their struggle to see out title wins in recent years. They had an All-Ireland win in 2022 but have struggled in close encounters, losing by two points in the 2023 final and 2024 semi-final. Midfielder Diarmuid O’Connor has spoken of the mental toll of consecutive years of disappointment but emphasised the importance of learning from past experiences.
Kerry remains a strong team, but their reliance on key players like David Clifford and O’Connor, combined with a lack of depth on the bench, poses challenges. The loss of Cillian Burke to the AFL and the retirements of Adrian Spillane and Stephen O’Brien further expose these weaknesses.
Kerry’s focus for the upcoming season will be to integrate new players and adapt to the GAA rule changes, which may favour their attacking strengths. While favourites for both League and Championship titles, the pressure to deliver remains, and 2025 could offer a defining moment for this team.
