Galway vs Mayo Preview
The National Football League is back, and we have several exciting fixtures to enjoy this weekend. With the first two group games on Saturday, Galway vs Mayo is the third fixture in Roinn One. The Pearse Stadium will host this match on January 28, at 1:45 PM. Mayo and Galway had nearly identical seasons last year in the Allianz FL. Will 2024 see the two clubs battling it out for the top spot once again?
Last season, both Galway and Mayo advanced to the NFL Final. Mayo topped the group on point difference with +24, but they were level on points with Galway on ten. The teams recorded four wins, two draws and only one defeat all season. Fittingly, the GAA clubs met in round one last season in the Allianz Football League. They shared the spoils that day, but will history repeat itself on Sunday?
Galway vs Mayo Head-To-Head and Key Stats
The two sides have clashed several times over the past 12 months, including some high-profile matches. The first match was in round one of last year’s NFL fixtures, which finished 1-11 to 2-08. At the end of the season, they met in the NFL Final at Croke Park in front of 45,000 expectant fans. Mayo was the worthy winner in a match that finished 0-14 to 0-11. Ryan O’Donoghue was vital for Mayo in both games, and he finished the season as the top overall scorer in Division One.
The next time these two teams met was in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Both sides had thrived in the group stages, and they faced off in the Preliminary Quarterfinals in the knockout stage of the tournament. Mayo started the brighter side, catching Galway asleep at the back in the first five minutes. Even with a quick response, Mayo had a 0-01 to 0-03 lead after seven minutes. Damien Comer worked a beautiful point almost single-handedly, twisting and turning the Mayo defence. This led to an inspired performance in the rest of the first half, with Galway leading by four points at the break.
Mayo once again started the half on the front foot. A brilliant point by Ryan O’Donoghue was followed by a fantastic goal scored by David McBrien. Mayo had the lead with 46 minutes played, and a fantastic stop by the goalkeeper kept out a certain goal for Galway. Until the 54th minute, Mayo was all over Galway. Galway recovered but went into additional time, trailing by two points. Some brilliant blocks and last-ditch defending by Mayo kept the home side out. They could only salvage a consolation point in the goalmouth melee. It finished 0-12 to 1-10, giving Mayo another victory at the Pearse Stadium.
Both teams have been active in the cup since the new year. They played in the Connacht GAA FBD League from January 5 to the 19th. Mayo played in the quarterfinal against London, the first time London had appeared in the cup since 2012. One point separated the teams, with Mayo facing a shock defeat at the hands of the English side. The score finished 1-08 to 0-12, giving London their first-ever victory over Mayo.
Galway received a bye into the tournament, meaning they skipped the quarterfinal stage. They faced off against Leitrim in an exciting high-scoring match. In the end, Galway won by four points, and the final score was 1-17 to 2-18. That sent Galway into the final against a strong Roscommon side. Unfortunately for Galway, Roscommon dominated the final both in attack and defence. The match finished 0-13 to 2-25, giving Roscommon their sixth win in the FBD competition.
Heading into this fixture, there is not much to separate the two sides. Mayo has the better results in this tie historically. However, they suffered a surprise defeat against London earlier this year. That is why it’s important to do your research before betting on Gaelic Football matches. While it might look straightforward from a distance, choosing a winner will be incredibly difficult this weekend.
Galway vs Mayo Predictions
Making accurate GAA predictions is never easy, but this match could be the most difficult out of the opening games this season. Looking at the odds available at sports betting sites shows how tight the game will be. Galway has the advantage this Sunday, but it’s tight between the two. The odds of the home side walking away victorious are 4/5. A €10 bet on Galway to win outright would return €18 at the final whistle. Mayo are the marginal underdogs with odds of 11/8. Betting on the away club will turn your ten euros into €23.75 if they can defeat Galway once again.
We predict Mayo will start the season on the front foot and win this match. While they had an unsuccessful cup campaign, including their first-ever defeat at the hands of London, we think they will bounce back. Galway has underperformed in the two most recent fixtures between the clubs, including losing in the NFL Final and the All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarterfinals. While there is no doubt this will be a close match, we think Mayo will win the game this Sunday.
Looking at the odds at the bookies, little separates the favourite and underdog. These teams last met in round one of the NFL a year ago. That match ended in a draw, which could be on the cards again this weekend. The odds of a draw are 13/2, yielding €75 from a €10 bet. While ties are not common in GAA events, the two sides might end up drawing again. History has a way of repeating itself in Gaelic football, and given how tight the odds are, a draw might be an excellent result for both teams.
Whenever you bet on Gaelic sports, you need to consider the form of each club and the historical results. The form reveals Galway is playing the better football, having progressed to the final of the FBD Insurance League. However, Mayo has the luxury of defeating Galway in the NFL and the All-Ireland competition. That is why there is little between the two clubs entering this competition. It really could go either way.
Galway vs Mayo Betting Tips
Betting on the NFL is always difficult, but this match is on a knife’s edge. That is why it’s important to vary your betting strategy to avoid worthless bets. This week, instead of predicting the outright winner, you must consider other markets to maximise your returns. That can include handicap wagers, proposition bets, or any wagers that don’t rely on the full-time score.
The handicap bet this week sees Mayo get a +1 advantage and Galway get -1. To win the bet, Galway must win the match by a minimum of two points. The odds for this wager are 11/10, which will return €52.50 from a €25 bet. Betting on Mayo has its advantages. If they are within one point, they cannot lose the game. The odds for this bet are 10/11, making it a viable option this weekend.
Other markets that pay well in this fixture include betting on which team will score first. In the All-Ireland match, Mayo scored the only goal in the fixture. The odds of them scoring first again are 5/4, which will more than double your investment. The match before that was the final of the NFL, and that was a goalless game. Betting on there being no goals in this game has odds of 7/2, which will turn your €10 into €45. This is an excellent option for the Galway vs Mayo match as you could win your bet long before the conclusion of the game.
As this is the first round of fixtures in the Allianz Football League, new players can enjoy an exciting welcome bonus when they sign up for an online bookmaker. Using your welcome offer on this fixture is not the best idea, as this is a tight match. You might be better off using it on another fixture with a clear favourite. It could be a safer bet to wager on the favourite in a different match compared to the odds offered in this game.
