Dublin vs Kerry Preview
The Dublin vs Kerry fixture in Gaelic football is perhaps one of the most divisive in the GAA. Geographically and politically, the two areas couldn’t be further apart. Kerry is on the southwest coast and Dublin is on the northern reaches of the east coast. The capital city doesn’t preserve the typical traditions that are still found in the much less populated Kerry County. As such, the animosity has spread to the football field and is one of the most eye-catching games in the entirety of GAA competition.
Both Kerry and Dublin have found their feet this season after opening-round defeats. They enter this contest on the back of important victories. Not just for team morale and confidence, but for the outcome of the National Football League group stage. Kerry is two points behind the league leaders Derry, but Dublin is four points adrift. Both clubs need the points, but who will come out on top this Saturday, February 24, at 7:30 pm?
Dublin vs Kerry Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Kerry and Dublin have met multiple times in All-Ireland competitions, including the 2023 All-Ireland final at Croke Park. Dublin was successful in that fixture as an inspired performance from Paul Mannion allowed the Dubs to lift the trophy. It finished 1-15 to 1-13 in favour of the team from the Irish capital city.
That was Dublin’s 12th victory over Kerry at the top level of Gaelic football. However, the overall series works in Kerry’s favour as they have triumphed on 18 occasions. There have been three stalemates between the two teams. While Kerry holds that historical bragging right over Dublin, Dublin has dominated the fixture since 2011. The Dubs have won six of the last eight meetings.
Dean Rock played a crucial role in Dublin’s dominance over Kerry in the past decade, scoring 29 points, the highest for any Dublin player. However, Rock won’t play any part in this match as he retired last summer. Mikey Sheehy is his counterpart on the Kerry team. He holds the record for the most points scored against Dublin for a Kerry player, with 36 during his tenure between 1973 and 1988.
Dublin vs Kerry Predictions
This fourth-round match from the National Football League pits two teams which have yet to find their true identity for the 2024 season. Dublin started the season poorly, with two losses to open up the campaign. They found a victory in round three against Roscommon at Croke Park. If Dublin is to have any chance of having a successful season, they will need to build on that home form and win all their home games.
Kerry is a team that doesn’t care whose ground they’re on, they expect to win. The County team has won the All-Ireland championship 38 times, which has set a precedent for victory for its fans. The Kingdom started the season with a shock loss to Derry at Austin Stack Park but has since won two games. They comfortably dispatched Monaghan and then won by a single point against Mayo. Looking at the form points towards a Kerry win, but anything can happen at Croke Park.
Dublin vs Kerry Betting Tips
The most popular markets for this Gaelic football fixture are game betting on the result, either 2-way or 3-way. The 2-way only accepts predictions for the home or away side. Wagering on a win for Dublin on a 3-way selection will yield market odds of 11/8 while opting for a Kerry win is less profitable at 4/5. For those looking for the most financially beneficial selection, a draw is appealing at 15/2. However, ties are uncommon in GAA football, particularly in this fixture. The bookmaker sees Kerry as the more likely to win. The 2-way odds are currently around 6/5 for a Dublin win, while a Kerry victory is trending at the 8/13 mark.
The Novibet betting platform offers more markets for GAA football, like predicting the half-time and full-time results. If you predict Kerry will destroy Dublin from the first whistle to the last, a wager on them to lead at half-time and win the match could be advantageous. Other selections include choosing the first team to score. These odds are usually similar. Currently, both are at around 11/10 but can change for live betting, depending on the team’s performance.
Another key market option in GAA betting is to select the winning margin. Is there a Kerry landslide on the cards? If you think so, a bet on them winning by 16 points or more against Dublin presents some lucrative returns of 33/1. Of course, if the victory won’t be that big, you can opt for a smaller winning margin but with lower odds. Or betting on Dublin to win will have good returns regardless of the score.
Live betting is an exciting option for Gaelic sports, as games can turn on their heads quickly. If you’re watching the game live, it could be a good idea to bet against the current result to profit from the result turning on its head. Dublin may clinch an early lead, but Kerry could quickly come back. Betting on Kerry at that point would be rather profitable.
After watching this match, you might think that one of these teams could go all the way. It could be a good time to bet on the All-Ireland final. Making a GAA prediction this early will always have good returns. Or if you’re eager for more GAA football betting, there are plenty more games like Betting on Ballygunner in the match against Derry City and St. Patricks. Be sure to check out our welcome bonus if you’re interested in betting on Gaelic football or wagering on Gaelic sports.
Kerry Team News
While the games between Monaghan and Mayo were very different in terms of their winning margins, Kerry stayed resolute in their team selection. They have got a special group of players. Seán O’Shea might just be the embodiment of that sentiment with his 11 points across the two recent games. Kerry romped to victory in both games, albeit it was much harder against Mayo. O’Shea was critical in the latter game as he scored four points in a fixture with zero goals.
Congratulations David Clifford. 👏 This week's https://t.co/IQdeyDdgDH Fotballer Of The Week. 💚💛https://t.co/1AfxfN485s#WeAreKerry #CiarraíAbú pic.twitter.com/ViL2wBgTfD
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) February 20, 2024
David Clifford marked his return to the Kerry County team with a goal in round two and picked up where he left off in round three as he scored five points against Mayo. One of his points was the difference, giving Kerry the victory. There’s no doubt that the man from Tralee will play a major role in this game, given he is one of the best GAA football players in the contemporary era. A selection on him to score is a very safe wager when betting on the NFL.
Dublin Team News
Con O’Callaghan was the success story of Dublin’s year in Division 2 last season. The forward rose to the occasion and scored 17 points as he helped the team back to the top tier of the NFL. But is he doing it back in the top flight? You bet he is. He was imperative to Dublin’s third-round win against Roscommon as he scored seven points for the team. Seven was the exact number the Dubs won by. He also was one of the team’s best players in the reverse to Mayo in the second round fixtures. O’Callaghan will be one of the first names on Dessie Farrell’s team sheet, for sure.
Niall Scully scored a key goal for Dublin in that match against Roscommon. While Scully has been exceptional, he is one of the longest-serving members currently within the Dublin County team. He brings a lot of leadership qualities to the starting XV.
Another player sure to be involved is the Australian-born Cormac Costello. Despite originating from Perth, Australia, Costello has endeared himself to the Dublin county team after a decade of service as a left corner forward. He notably scored a goal in the opening fixture against Monaghan and then four points in the defeat to Mayo. After not getting on the score sheet in Week 3, he will be chomping at the bit to score in round four of the Allianz National Football League.
