Galway vs Dublin Preview
Gaelic football returns this weekend, and it could be the most exciting round yet. With five games played, Dublin has made a late charge for the top and they are only two points off Derry. Galway has struggled this year but can still play a crucial part in the race to win the Allianz Football League. You don’t want to miss this match on Saturday, March 16, at 3:15 pm.
Dublin has turned their season around in the NFL, after beating league leaders Derry in early March. The result has blown the table wide open as two points separate the top four. Galway is the best of the rest, only one point down on the Dubs heading into round six. The Tribesmen completely outclassed Monaghan in the last game week. Could they upset the status quo with a surprise result against Dublin?
Galway vs Dublin Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Galway vs Dublin is an uncommon fixture, as the two sides have not met playing Gaelic football for quite some time. They have avoided each other in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship since the 2018 semi-finals. Dublin or Galway has failed to advance this far in the competition in the past six years. In the National Football League, this is the first season the two sides have been in the same division since 2021.
On both occasions, Dublin walked away victorious. The first meeting was in the All-Ireland SFC, and the game was tight in the first half. Dublin took a three-point lead in the opening exchanges, but Damien Comer fisted a long ball over the head of Stephen Cluxton to score. One of the best Gaelic football players of all time came out for a ball he couldn’t win, and Galway capitalised. Dublin defender Johnny Cooper gave away a penalty ten minutes into the game and Cluxton redeemed himself with a brilliant save. 15 minutes later, the Dubs scored a goal. Con O’Callaghan palmed it past the defender who couldn’t stop the shot from crossing the goal line.
Dublin are leading Galway by 2 points at half-time in Croke Park in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Dublin 1-09 Galway 1-07
Watch the first-half highlights here! pic.twitter.com/0HJ2070nyr
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2018
The first half finished 1-09 to 1-07 in favour of Dublin. The Dubs were by far the better side throughout the next 35 minutes, scoring several unanswered points. They created space and fired between the posts from almost every angle. There was a late consolation for Galway, who found themselves 1-24 to 1-12 down with the clock in the red. Shane Walsh bullies his way past the Dublin defence single-handedly. After getting into the square, he fires a low shot across the goal like a professional soccer player. However, it was not enough to rescue anything from the match.
The most recent meeting in May 2021 was a more even contest, with only four points separating the sides at full-time. Galway registered 15 points and one goal, but Dublin found the back of the net twice and scored 16 points. Both teams have changed drastically since that matchup, so it’s anyone’s guess who will take the points this weekend. The Dubs have surprised us all with their recent performances. Can Galway be the team to stop them?
The players to watch this game include Cormac Costello and Niall Scully. Scully is a unique type of Gaelic footballer. He is more than willing to do the dirty work, but sometimes that comes at a price. This season he has picked up two yellow cards in the first five games and his lack of discipline could be costly against Galway. Costello has proven to be lethal for the Dubs, helping create dangerous chances and burying them. If both players show their quality again in this fixture, it could be too much for Galway to come back from.
Dublin is the team to watch this weekend, having ended Derry’s unbeaten streak in the NFL. The Dubs travelled to Celtic Park and walked away with a five-point lead at the final whistle. Although Cormac Costello scored Dublin’s only goal, Brian Fenton played a key role in adding points to the team’s tally. Galway travelled to Monaghan in round five, securing a seven-point victory at St Tiernach’s Park. The away side beat the Monaghan goalkeeper thrice, with goals from John Maher, Cathal Sweeney, and Rory Cunnigham.
Having three different players score a goal in a match is a good sign for Galway. It shows they are taking their chances, and the team is playing well. However, creating chances against Monaghan does not compare to a high-flying Dublin. The Dubs lost their opening two games, but they are a team reborn the past couple of game weeks. Beating Kerry and Derry means Galway will need a defensive masterclass to get anything out of this match.
Galway vs Dublin Predictions
Prediction: Galway 1-13 to 2-18 Dublin
Although Galway has the advantage of playing at home, Dublin will win this match. The first half will be tight, as neither side will want to concede easy chances, but the visitors will come alive in the second half. They will score twice and restrict Galway’s point-scoring chances throughout the last 35 minutes. We expect Galway to breach the back line once or twice throughout the match, either on the stroke of halftime or right before the final whistle.
Predicting GAA events this season has been incredibly exciting. Nobody expected Derry to lead the way after four rounds, but we predict a late charge from one of the big clubs. Dublin did not have a chance of being that team until convincingly thumping Kerry in Round Four by a ten-point margin. Since then, we have backed the Dubs to win, and we predict they will continue the streak on Saturday.
Usually, in a GAA fixture, there are plenty of recent matches to use when creating a prediction. However, we fear the matches from 2021 and beyond won’t help too much when deciding who will win. The one aspect you can take from those games is that Dublin won them both. They might have struggled earlier in the season, but we don’t expect that wobble to play any further part. The Dubs will have their eyes on the top spot, and we can’t imagine Galway will be the team to stop them.
Seán Bugler buries it to the net against Galway back in 2020 🔥👕
Our Senior Footballers are back at Pearse Stadium this Saturday in the Allianz NFL 💪pic.twitter.com/uk8Lyohqer
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) March 13, 2024
Betting on Gaelic football was unpredictable at the start of the season, but we think these next few games will be a formality for the top teams. Dublin has found its groove and will take some incredible luck or ill-discipline to cost them a chance at the top two spots in the league table. Looking at Galway, they have Dublin and Kerry next, which means it’s unlikely they will be challenging for a top-four spot. It’s too early to call the relegation battle in Division One of the National Football League. But, if Galway cannot score points from the next two games, they can find themselves well and truly in it.
Galway vs Dublin Betting Tips
Looking at the odds for this match at the online sports betting site reveals a clear favourite. Even though they are the away side, Dublin is the preferred choice to win this game. Betting on Dublin to succeed against the Tribesmen has odds of 2/5. Placing a €10 wager in favour of the Dubs will return €14 at full-time. Making the same value wager on Galway at 5/2 will give you €35 if they can perform an upset. A draw is always hard to get right, and this week at 15/2, it is still a gamble.
Instead of betting on the favourites, you can investigate other markets for increased returns this weekend. Choosing the winning margin for the away team has a lot more profit for you to enjoy. However, selecting the right margin is not straightforward. The betting site predicts Dublin will win by one to three points at 11/4 odds. We predict there will be a wider margin after 70 minutes, potentially stretching up to eight points. The higher the winning margin, the more rewarding the returns.
Live betting on Galway vs Dublin won’t be easy. We predict both teams will score plenty of points, but this is a vital game. The teams could come out guns blazing or try to control the ball. If Galway starts the game with a couple of points, we expect Dublin to drop defensive tactics. This means placing a live bet on Dublin to overcome any deficit is a good move on the weekend. However, if the away side scores first, it’s not worth wagering on a Galway comeback.
If you feel confident about this fixture, why not sign up at Novibet and place your bet? We are giving all new players a welcome bonus to enjoy, and you can use the offer at any GAA event. With two rounds left in the NFL group stage, making your bet this week is a good move. We have plenty of data and form to look at this week, and we are backing Dublin to win against Galway.
