Kerry vs Armagh Preview
Kerry and Armagh clash on March 15th at 5:30 pm for the first time since their thriller in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final last season. Only one point separates the sides in the Allianz Division One, and everything looks set for another competitive showdown between them.
Armagh have run into a bit of a snag, going three games without a win after a strong start to their campaign. Inconsistency has plagued Kerry but their attacking style of play has caught the eye of many fans this season. Can the Kingdom get revenge after their extra time loss last season, or will Armagh break Kerry’s heart once again?
Kerry vs Armagh Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Kerry 2-17, Armagh 1-17
Armagh have been in solid form this season, sitting fourth in Division One, three points away from a place in the final. They have shown significant improvement under the guidance of manager Kieran McGeeney. After a convincing performance last season, The Orchard County have carried that form into this year, with some impressive victories. However, their away form has been lacking and they are without a win on the road so far this season.
Kerry, the reigning Munster champions, have been inconsistent in sixth place in the Division 1 table. However, they have put in some strong performances this season. Under the leadership of manager Jack O’Connor, they have shown a strong balance of youth and experience, with players like David Clifford, Seán O’Shea, and Paul Geaney playing pivotal roles. Clifford, in particular, has been in exceptional form, continuing to be one of the best GAA footballers in the league. Kerry has the home advantage in this game and our GAA prediction is for Jack O’Connor’s team to win on Saturday.
Kerry’s style of play is built around fast, attacking football. They use the pace and skill of their forwards to break down the opposition’s defence. Their ability to transition from defence to attack quickly has been a key feature of their play, and they will look to impose this strategy against Armagh.
The Kingdom’s approach this season has been to throw caution to the wind and outscore their opponents. Their full-throttle style of play has been incredibly entertaining to watch and even more tiring to play against. No team in the division has scored more than their 110 points, but only one has allowed more than the 109 they have conceded. Armagh have played in the opposite manner. Their attack scored a relatively mild 91 points, but a shrewd defence has allowed just 89. Only table-toppers Galway have conceded fewer.
Kerry will look to control possession and dictate the tempo with their fluid passing and quick transitions. David Clifford’s ability to link up play and score from all areas of the field will be crucial, as will Seán O’Shea’s creativity from midfield. The Kingdom’s forward line is one of the most potent in the league, and they will break down Armagh’s defence early on.
The battle between these contrasting styles will be interesting to see unfold, but Kerry should come out on top with the crowd on their side. Armagh have managed 22 points away from home this season while Kerry have notched 39 as hosts.
The length of the GAA pitch is something to consider this weekend. Armagh has struggled away from home as there is too much space for the opposition to operate in. The key this weekend is whether there will also be gaps in the lines when Kerry attacks. A GAA black card could swing the momentum in this fixture, as there will be even more holes for either side to exploit.
This game is shaping up to be a close contest, with Kerry’s attacking power likely to test Armagh’s defence. However, the Orchard County’s disciplined and direct approach could cause Kerry some problems, especially if they can keep the game tight and force mistakes. While Armagh will provide a tough challenge, Kerry’s attacking quality and home advantage make them slight favourites for this encounter. Expect a high-paced, entertaining match, but Kerry should have enough to edge past Armagh in a narrow win.
Kerry vs Armagh Betting Tips
Kerry enters this game as the favourite with our sports betting site. Their opponents have not won on the road this season and Kerry’s potent attack is strong enough to put the sword to any team in the division. Armagh are currently three games without a victory and the home team can take advantage of that form. A €10 bet on the Kingdom returns €6.20.
Armagh have played well this season and there will be no pushovers here. Despite running into a patch of poor form they are higher up in the division than Kerry. They are worth 7/4 to cause an upset on Saturday evening and a €10 bet on Armagh returns €17.50.
Winning Margin
All of Kerry’s results this season have finished with a winning margin between 1-3 on either side. Their full-throttle approach sees a lot of points and tightly contested battles and we expect more of the same here. A bet on Kerry to win by 1-3 points is worth 5/2 for anyone betting on the National Football League.
Top Scorer
Sean O’Shea has established himself as one of the best scorers in the division so far this season with 17 points in five games. Connor Turbitt is the top scorer for Armagh with 11 points. However, O’Shea is unavailable for this showdown and Paul Geaney will lead the charge instead. He has been in strong scoring form and will lead the best attack in the league for the Kingdom. Bet on the full-forward to be the top scorer in this game.
Kerry vs Armagh Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final. An incredible day of football saw Armagh edge out their opponents in extra time to make the final. Armagh claimed a dramatic 1-18 to 1-16 victory in a thrilling encounter at Croke Park.
The match started at a frenetic pace, with both teams exchanging early points. Kerry dominated the opening 20 minutes, leading 0-6 to 0-2, but Armagh mounted a strong response, with Niall Grimley and Rian O’Neill reducing the deficit.
Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor scored a booming point, and Armagh missed a golden goal chance, with Shane Ryan making a crucial save. Kerry led 0-10 to 0-6 at halftime. In the second half, Kerry extended their lead with a goal from Paul Murphy. Armagh struck back with a sensational goal from Barry McCambridge after a Shane Ryan fumble. The game continued to swing back and forth, with Armagh levelling the score at 1-13 each after Stefan Campbell’s two points.
Rian O’Neill then kicked a monster point to give Armagh the lead. Kerry fought hard, and Dylan Geaney had a chance to win it in injury time but missed, sending the game into extra time. Armagh’s energy proved decisive there, with Jarly Og Burns and Conor Turbitt scoring crucial points. Despite a late rally from Kerry, Armagh held on for a famous win, with Turbitt sealing the victory in the final moments.
Kery last played on March 1st when they travelled to Castlebar to face Mayo. A back-and-forth game saw the sides exchange momentum throughout, but the Kingdom ultimately fell to defeat at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. The game started with Kerry taking an early lead through David Clifford and Paul Geaney. Mayo quickly responded, with Frank Irwin and Ryan O’Donoghue putting them ahead. Mayo’s forward line then exploded, scoring six unanswered points. Brian O’Beaglaoich scored for Kerry later, but the visitors entered halftime trailing 0-14 – 1-4.
Kerry came out strongly in the second half. Dylan Geaney and David Clifford led their charge, reducing the gap to two points. Mayo responded through O’Donoghue, who hit crucial scores, including a sideline point. Kerry’s relentless pressure continued, but Mayo held firm. O’Donoghue won and converted a free to edge his team ahead. In the closing stages, David Clifford’s free was dramatically blocked by Mayo’s Colm Reape. A final point from Matthew Ruane sealed a hard-earned two-point win for Mayo.
Armagh welcomed Dublin to BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on March 1st and cruised to an impressive victory. The Orchard Men dominated from the start, racing to a commanding 1-9 to 0-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. Barry McCambridge’s goal, along with points from Andrew Murnin, Greg McCabe, and Conor Turbitt, gave the hosts a substantial advantage, with Oisin O’Neill adding a two-pointer.
Con O’Callaghan finally got Dublin on the scoreboard after 20 minutes, but Armagh kept up the pressure. Despite some signs of life from Dublin, the first half ended with Armagh leading 1-12 to 0-3. After the break, Dublin fought back, with O’Callaghan scoring two two-pointers and Lorcan O’Dell netting a goal. Further points from Luke Breathnach and substitutes Kevin Lahiff and Cormac Costello reduced the deficit. However, Armagh held firm, with McCabe, Darragh McMullen, and Tomas McCormack scoring points to secure an 8-point win and maintain dominance.
Kerry Predicted Lineup
- Predicted Lineup: S Ryan, D Bourke, J Foley, D Casey, G O’Sullivan, M Breen, B Ó’Beaglaoich, D O’Connor, J O’Connor, D Lyne, P Clifford, A Heinrich, D Clifford, P Geaney and D Geaney.
Armagh Predicted Lineup
- Predicted Lineup: E Rafferty, T McCormack, B McCambridge, P Burns, C Mackin, G McCabe, R McQuillan, J Duffy, O O’Neill, P McGrane, R Grugan, D McMullen, C Turbitt, A Murnin and O Conaty.
