Derry vs Tyrone Preview
Round two of the Allianz Football League takes place this weekend, and there are several exciting matches to look forward to. This Sunday, February 4th, at 3:45 pm, Derry welcomes Tyrone to Celtic Park. Both teams were the underdogs heading into last week’s fixture. However, both GAA clubs picked up deserved wins.
Last week, Derry faced the most successful Gaelic football team in NFL history, Kerry. Although Kerry went without the Clifford brothers, many expected them to dominate the newly promoted side. However, Derry showed a lot of spirit and won the match by one point. Tyrone faced Roscommon and finished the match with a man down. Brilliant teamwork and lethal finishing helped the Red Hands jump up to second on the table.
Derry vs Tyrone Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Derry vs Tyrone has been a rare fixture over the past few years. Partly because Derry was in Division Three of the NFL as recently as 2021. For them to be back in Division One so soon is a sign they are not to be underestimated this season. The two GAA clubs took part in the Dr McKenna Cup a couple of weeks before the season started, but they did not meet.
Tyrone could not get out of the group stage after being drawn with Donegal and Armagh. They narrowly lost both games and did not advance to the knockout stage. Derry topped the group against Down and Cavan, seeing them play a semi-final against Armagh. After comfortably dispatching the Orchard men, Derry defeated Donegal 0-12 to 0-06 to defend their title. They have won the McKenna Cup for two consecutive years.
The last meeting between Derry and Tyrone came in the 2023 Dr McKenna Cup. The two went head-to-head at multiple stages in the competition as they were both drawn into Group B. They played each other in the last match of the group stage, and it ended level with 0-10 apiece. Thanks to the draw, both went through to the knockout stages as Tyrone finished first on point difference and Derry was the best loser. Tyrone outclassed Cavan in their semi-final, but Derry needed penalties to beat Down. Setting up a thrilling final.
We travel to Celtic Park this weekend for our Allianz League double header against @Doiregaa.
Our Senior Hurlers get their Allianz League campaign underway at 1.30pm followed by our Senior Footballers at 3.45pm.
🎟️ Advance ticket sales only at https://t.co/wIDpHYmT5P or… pic.twitter.com/fGu2REKcmy
— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) January 29, 2024
Although the sides shared the points ten days prior, on January 21, 2023, Derry dominated Tyrone. The Oak Leafers won by a 12-point margin, giving them the first Dr McKenna Cup in over ten years. The score finished 1-05 to Tyrone and 3-11 to Derry. Darren McCurry got Tyrones’ only goal of the game. Whereas Oisin McWilliams and Niall O’Donnell scored in open play and Shane McGuigan neatly converted from the spot. Derry had a fantastic game plan to frustrate and exploit Tyrone. Will they have something similar in store for the Red Hands this weekend?
While the two clubs have not faced off in this competition for several years, they have both started this campaign brightly. Newly promoted, Derry is already proving they belong at the top, having beaten Kerry at the Austin Stack Park. Tyrone had the advantage of playing at home against Roscommon, but the result has surprised even their most passionate fans. Going into this round of fixtures will help determine who has the legs to challenge for the top two spots and who will have to look over their shoulder next weekend.
Derry vs Tyrone Predictions
Predicting GAA fixtures is always challenging, but as the season goes on, we learn more about which players to look out for. Looking at online sports betting websites, there is a consensus that Derry is going to win this game. They are the clear favourites at the bookies, and they have odds of 2/5. If you were to bet €10 on Derry to win, it would return €14.00. For Tyrone to walk away victorious, the odds are 5/2. Placing the same value bet on the away side will yield €35.00 at full-time. The two clubs tied in the Dr McKenna Cup in 2023, and a draw this week is worth 15/2.
Our prediction this week aligns with what the bookies are saying. We think Derry is going to win this match, but it will be close. Since gaining promotion from Division Three in 2021, Derry has turned things around in the NFL. They came third in Division Two the next year and achieved promotion again in 2023, ahead of Dublin. They are on a roll, and after beating Kerry last weekend, we don’t think Tyrone can stop them. We predict Derry to win by one to three points at the final whistle.
Tyrone deserves some credit. Even though they have struggled against Derry in recent years, they started the season on the front foot against Roscommon. They continued to play well even after going down to 14 men when Conn Kilpatrick got a straight red. Tyrone scored 17 points in Round One and Derry scored 15. However, neither side has found the back of the net. We predict only one side is going to score during this match, and it’s more likely to be Derry.
Because it is early in the season, a lot can change between how a team starts the NFL season and how they finish. One way to mitigate this risk is to explore live betting. If you were considering betting on this GAA event, we think a good option could be the first team to score. Seeing as neither club has beaten a goalkeeper yet, this dry streak could continue. With the odds of no goals at 5/1 now, you can afford to wait and see how the match plays out before betting on this market.
Derry vs Tyrone Betting Tips
This week, there are several interesting Gaelic football matches to bet on. With this choice comes a lot of responsibility, as anything can happen in 70 minutes. Last week, the Allianz FL season began with upsets and some cracking football. Two of the highlights for us were Derry and Tyrone. However, with Derry capitalising without the ball against Kerry, can they find another gear heading into this matchup?
Historically, betting on Derry seems the best move. Not only have they beaten Tyrone recently, but it came in an important game. The Oak Leafers have been on a roll in the NFL the past few seasons, securing promotions and surpassing expectations. Tyrone has finished in the middle of the table the past few seasons, including fourth in 2023. With the increased competition in the group, Tyrone will need to win these types of matches to stay clear of the relegation zone.
If you are looking for better returns when betting on Derry, the handicap market is a fantastic candidate. The odds of the home side winning by one to three points has odds of 11/4. Placing a simple €10 wager on this option will return €37.50 if they can pull it off. Compare this to Tyrone winning by the same margin at 9/2, and you can see this will be a tight game. It is unlikely we will see either team running away with it, which is fantastic for a neutral. However, it means the game can swing, and live wagers have a higher chance of falling flat.
As we enter the second round of fixtures, now could be a great time to sign up for an online betting platform. Sportsbooks like Novibet offer players a welcome bonus when they join. This is great news, as players can use promotions to place bets on sporting events without risking their funds. That means you can take a risky bet this weekend and not lose any of your hard-earned cash. Remember, we have a long season ahead of us. The knockout stage of this competition is where the big money can be made, so don’t get carried away this early on.
For those betting on Gaelic football this weekend, it’s essential to pay attention to every game. All the Division One teams get one chance against each team, so look for who is winning at home or on the road. We expect big clubs like Kerry, Dublin, and Mayo to rise to the top. It might be worth a few bets on the underdog this season, especially if nobody finishes the campaign unbeaten.
