Dublin vs Mayo Preview
We’re finally at the business end of the All-Ireland GAA Championship. That means football fans have some important fixtures to look forward to. Dublin will face Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon on Sunday, June 16th, at 3.45 pm. The winner of this fixture will fancy their chances of lifting the Sam Maguire Cup.
Dublin is a massive favourite, but Mayo has the players to hurt them. This will be a very entertaining game and a great showcase for Gaelic football. Everybody expects Dublin to win, but could a shock be on the cards? It’s not beyond Mayo, so it’s going to be fascinating.
Dublin vs Mayo Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Dublin is the reigning All-Ireland Champion. The 31-time winners also defeated Mayo in the 2020 final. Mayo returned to the final the following year but lost to Tyrone. They’ve won three titles in their history, but none since 1951. Most people don’t expect them to break their duck this season. But sometimes a lack of expectation can be helpful because there is less pressure. Mayo already defeated Dublin earlier this year in the football league.
Few teams beat the Dubs these days, so this was a massive victory for the Westerners. Mayo showed an amazing spirit against Dublin because they trailed by four points after 12 minutes. Jack McCaffrey and Con O’Callaghan put their defence under intense strain. However, the inspirational Paddy Durcan dragged his team kicking and screaming back into contention. Ryan O’Donoghue scored two points as the teams went into the break 0-8 apiece. There was everything to play for in the second half.
Dublin took another two-point lead with goalkeeper David O’Hanlon getting on the scoresheet. However, Mayo found their rhythm taking the lead for the first time in this clash when Stephen Coen scored a goal. The teams traded points, and the Westerners trailed again. Finally, O’Donoghue scored the winning point in the last minute of stoppage time for a famous victory.
Dessie Farrell’s men defeated Cavan in the last round. The Dubs improved from their last showing against Roscommon with five goals at Breffni Park. They scored five goals against the Midlanders, with Cormac Costello scoring a brace. Mayo enters this game on the back of a victory over Roscommon in the same venue. This was an uncomfortable win for the Westerners because the Rossies pushed them all the way. A final couple of minutes saw a red card and a penalty as this game ended dramatically. Ultimately, Mayo won 2-14 to 1-15, but they didn’t enjoy this one.
However, they’ll face a different beast at Dr Hyde Park. Dublin is starting all their best players, including the iconic Stephen Cluxton. The Dubs are a force to be reckoned with and that’s why they’re the overwhelming favourites to win the All-Ireland title.
One of the biggest problems for Mayo is that they’re without the talismanic Paddy Durcan. Durcan played such a key role in their last victory over the Dubs and they’ll feel his absence. It was already going to be a challenge, but now it’s going to be much tougher. Durcan is out for the rest of the season after he sustained a cruciate injury against Cavan.
Diarmuid O’Connor must step up in Durcan’s absence. O’Connor had a frustrating year as he’s dealt with a hamstring problem. But he’s finally getting some momentum and the Westerners will need his quality if they hope to beat the Dubs. Ryan O’Donoghue is always ready to provide a big moment for Mayo. He scored the winning penalty against Roscommon in the previous round as he remained calm under pressure. He’s one of the best Mayo players of his generation.
https://twitter.com/MayoGAA/status/1800106799020085753
However, Dublin has an uncanny ability to spread points around its team. Roscommon fought bravely against the Dubs before the All-Ireland champions pulled away. There were 11 different scorers in that game. It’s fair to say that Dublin hasn’t faced many real challenges this year. They won their 14th Leinster title on the bounce. Meanwhile, Mayo suffered an upset loss in the Connacht Final to Galway. Maybe this will refocus the Westerners as they look to stun Dublin in this round.
Dublin vs Mayo Predictions
Prediction: Dublin 2-12 – Mayo 1-10
Dublin will win this game because they are a stronger team than Mayo. The Westerners have a great starting line-up, but their overall panel is weaker than the Dubs. Dessie Farrell has the biggest talent pool in the country. Betting on Dublin to win feels like the most sensible option this weekend. The absence of Paddy Durcan could be too much for Mayo to overcome. He is an inspirational leader who elevates his teammates. Other players must step up if they’re to replace his loss.
Evan Comerford is putting pressure on Stephen Cluxton and may soon be his county’s undisputed starter. However, the legendary Cluxton will play against Mayo. The team boasts outstanding depth. Con O’Callaghan and Cormac Costello are two of the best attackers in the country. They’re most likely to be responsible for any goals in this game. Dublin can score at any time because they boast frightening firepower.
Our GAA prediction is based on Mayo’s overdependence on Ryan O’Donoghue. He’s an outstanding individual, and he’s enjoyed some fantastic moments in recent games. O’Donoghue was electric against Roscommon and will be Mayo’s principal threat against Dublin. Colm Reape is another big game player and one of Mayo’s leaders. The goalkeeper is an experienced free-kick taker and makes excellent saves. Fans will remember his superb display against Galway in the Football League last year. Mayo needs him to be his best to keep out Dublin’s dangerous forwards.
Mayo can point to the reality that they’ve already beaten Dublin this year. However, the Championship is a different story to the league. Now Dublin is taking every game seriously and they’re not experimenting with their panel in the same way. Live betting is a great option for this game if Mayo takes a shock lead. The Westerners could cause an upset in Roscommon. Even if they’re ahead at halftime, there’s still a good chance that Dublin will win the second half of this Gaelic football game.
Dublin vs Mayo Betting Tips
Dublin is a firm favourite at our sports betting site. They are 2/9 to win this game outright, meaning there is little faith Mayo can pull off a miracle. Most punters would avoid betting on Dublin in this game without a handicap as there is very little profit. A €10 stake would only yield €12.22.
Mayo is a 4/1 underdog, so the same stake would see a €40 profit if successful. This isn’t a terrible bet because they have a recent victory over the Dubs. They also have some of the best players in the country. Betting on the GAA Championship is exciting as upsets can happen. However, Dublin losing this weekend does lean more towards a fairytale than reality.
It’s wise to look at other markets in Gaelic football matches with a clear favourite. Betting on Gaelic football is great because there are plenty of wagers to choose from. You could bet on something as simple as the Man of the Match. Consider Mayo’s Ryan O’Donoghue because he always gives everything on the field.
The goalscorer markets are always worth a look. Con O’Callaghan is the favourite to score on our betting site. It’s 13/10 for him to score at any time against Mayo and 9/2 to get the first goal. The latter would see a €45 profit from a €10 bet. Unsurprisingly, O’Donoghue is Mayo’s most likely goalscorer. A €10 stake on him to score anytime could see returns of €130.
Maybe you don’t think there will be any goals. These are often close games and the teams may focus on scoring from the field. It’s 11/2 for this semi-final to finish without Colm Reape or Stephen Cluxton conceding. However, this is a risky bet given the level of forwards on the field. It’s also possible to bet on either team taking a seven-point lead. Backing Dublin to do so is worth 2/11 or betting on Mayo is far more profitable 15/4. This would be a shock, but every team has a bad day and could yield a €37.50 profit.
Remember to take advantage of our welcome bonus. New users can benefit from this after they register. Why not bet on the winner of the All-Ireland GAA Football Championship? Dublin is the favourite to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in July at 7/5. Meanwhile, it’s 14/1 for Mayo to break their curse and achieve glory. A €10 bet on the Westerners could win a massive €140. There’s never been a better time to bet on Gaelic Football.
