Dublin vs Monaghan Preview
It’s the first week of the National Football League, and we begin with Dublin vs Monaghan. Dublin finds themselves back in Division One of the Allianz FL following relegation in 2022. Their first match is at home against Monaghan, who finished sixth in the top division in two consecutive seasons. The match will take place at the Legendary Croke Park on Saturday, January 27, at 7:30 pm. Neither side will want to start this year’s campaign on the back foot.
Last season, Dublin achieved promotion by finishing second in the division behind Derry. The famous GAA club only lost one game all season and will seek to establish itself amongst the best counties in Ireland. Monaghan has performed better than most fans would have expected. They avoided dropping into NFL Division Two by one point on two occasions, proving they are not a pushover side. However, with Dublin and Derry back in the group, is this the end for Monaghan?
Dublin vs Monaghan Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These two clubs last faced off in the 2023 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. When the match took place in July 2023, Dublin got the better of Monaghan. The Dubs went ahead several times throughout the match, but a spirited Monaghan side did not know when to give up. They found an equalising point on six occasions but could not cope with Dublin in the final stages.
In a remarkable football match, Dublin struck first within the opening five minutes. The Farney Army levelled it up inside seven minutes, but it did not take long for the Dubs to respond. After 30 minutes, Dublin had a narrow lead of 0-07 to 0-05, but Monaghan always looked dangerous. Although nobody can question how lethal Dublin’s finishing was on the day, credit to the Farney Army, who created some fantastic chances.
The second half started with more battles across the field. Ryan McAnespie levelled things up inside 40 minutes with a beautiful run and finish from an incredibly tight angle. After regaining the lead, Dublin extended it 0-10 to 0-08 with beautiful teamwork. The intricate passing move ended with Con O’Callaghan fisting it over the bar. After an hour played, there was nothing between the sides, 0-12 apiece. But this is where Dublin excelled. One of the best GAA footballers of all time, Brian Fenton, single-handedly gave his team the lead. Fenton was instrumental in the most attacks, resulting in a comfortable win of 1-17 to 0-13 at the final whistle.
Like Kerry and Derry, Dublin also played in an important match last weekend. They faced off against Longford in the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup. This was the first time Longford successfully defended the O’Byrne Cup in the club’s history. But, it’s a worrying sign for Dublin fans. The club is now in NFL Roinn One, but they were defeated by a side from Division Four. The final score was 1-12 to 0-9, but Dublin used as few as five senior players in the contest. We expect a much stronger lineup when Dublin welcomes Monaghan this weekend.
Monaghan did not play last weekend, following their defeat in the semi-final of the Dr McKenna Cup. After finishing at the top of Group C, ahead of Antrim and Fermanagh, Monaghan took on Donegal. They held the match at St Mary’s Park, Castleblayney on January 14. However, Donegal was the runaway winner by a humongous margin. It finished 0-11 to 4-14, and Donegal cruised to victory with a 15-point lead.
As you would expect, Dublin is the most obvious choice for this weekend. Yes, both teams are in Division One of the NFL, but there is a serious gap in quality when comparing the team sheets. While anything can happen when betting on GAA events, this match looks certain to end in the home side’s favour.
Dublin vs Monaghan Predictions
It’s the first game of the Allianz Football League, and neither team will want to start the campaign with a loss. However, both enter this competition on the back of humbling defeats. Dublin is the favourite to win this match for the online bookmakers. The Dubs have odds of 2/9, which will return €12.22 from a ten euro bet. Monaghan are the significant underdogs, and they have odds worth 4/1. That means a €10 bet will return €50 if they can pull off an upset.
While we love seeing an underdog triumph in GAA matches, there is only one way this match is going to go. We predict Dublin will win comfortably at the final whistle. The Dubs should be four points clear at the end of the second half, scoring more points and goals than Monaghan. Dublin has sensational talent, and we expect those players to prove the difference on match day.
As with most Gaelic Football matches, there is a lot to consider going into the game. While both teams suffered defeat in their cup runs, Dublin fielded inexperienced players. This will affect expectations for the match on Saturday as we are not sure which 15 players will start. However, the fact they could field a youthful team and still make it to the final of the O’Byrne Cup is a worrying sign for Monaghan. The only reassurance they can take is the starting 15 have not played together much over the past few weeks.
We predict, even with a rested team, the advantage will be for Dublin on the weekend. They are the most likely to score first and will build up a healthy lead before Monaghan gets on the scoreboard. It will be a genuine test of Monaghan this year, especially since they have narrowly avoided relegation in consecutive seasons. Could this be the end of Monaghan’s run in Division One?
If you are thinking about live betting on this fixture, consider wagering on the goalscorers. When Dublin faced Derry in the Division Two final last year, it was 0-06 to 0-04 at halftime. Derry had the two-point lead, but Dublin ran away with the game at Croke Park. The final score was 0-11 to 4-06, with goals from four players. If you were to place a live bet this weekend, examine the market for goals scored by Dublin in the second half.
Dublin vs Monaghan Betting Tips
Betting on the NFL is always exciting and this week is no exception. Dublin is back in Division One, and they will have their eyes set on the top two places. Betting on Dublin to start this season with a victory is the most likely option, but that also means it is the least rewarding. Anything can happen in the first week of any GAA event, especially when first-team players get rested. However, Dublin should win this match. Even with the rotation in the squad, betting against them feels like a waste of money.
If you are looking to bet on the favourites, there are plenty of markets to help you maximise your returns. One of the easiest ways to increase profitability is by looking at handicap wagers. This week, Dublin has a handicap of -4 and odds of 10/11. This means you need the Dubs to win by four or more points at the end of the match. If they win by the correct margin, you could see returns of €47.73 from a €25 bet. Equally, if you think Monaghan will lose the match by less than four points, you can bet on their handicap. The Monaghan +4 bet has odds of 11/10, which will double your money and then some.
Another way to increase the odds in favour of Dublin is to look at the winning margin market. Here, you can choose the approximate number of points you think the home side will win by. Dublin to end the match ahead by one to three points, has odds of 16/5. That means a €10 bet on this wager will give you €42 if your prediction is correct.
Since this is the first game of the new NFL season, it could be a fantastic opportunity to join a sports betting platform. Joining a new bookie will give you a welcome bonus to help you get started. The bonuses out there vary, but they give you the chance to bet on an event for free. This match might not be the best week for predicting the outright winner, as Dublin has small returns. However, you could try a riskier wager to increase your returns.
