Kerry vs Donegal Preview
Kerry and Donegal clash in Division One National Football League action at Austin Stack Park on February 8th. Both teams look to continue 100% records to the 2025 season. Throw-in for the only NFL Roinn One fixture this weekend is at 14:30.
Kerry won a thriller at Celtic Park in their season opener while Donegal got their first season back in Division One off to a flyer with a victory over Dublin. Can The Kingdom’s formidable attack see off Donegal, or will a firm defence prevent Kerry from a perfect start?
Kerry vs Donegal Predictions
Correct score prediction: Kerry 2-19 – 1-15 Donegal
Donegal’s disciplined approach to the game has served them well in recent years. They stormed through Division Two of the National Football League last season, earning promotion to Division One. Their ability to absorb pressure and hit teams on the break has helped them on their way up, and they began their Division One campaign with an excellent win over Dublin. However, they face a stern test in Kerry in their sophomore game in the league.
Kerry saw off Derry in a 57-point thriller in their season opener looking to set the tone for the rest of the season. They narrowly missed out on the NFL Final last season, finishing level on points with Dublin but losing the head-to-head. They will want to go one better. in 2025. The Green and Gold look in good standing to do just that after defeating the reigning champions and they now enter their second game of the season with the home advantage. Our GAA prediction is for Kerry to make it two from two on Saturday.
Kerry still has the core of their 2022 All-Ireland winning team intact. David Clifford, Stephen O’Brien, and Sean O’Shea are key players who all starred in that championship-winning season and still turn out for the Green and Gold. They will be pivotal in Kerry’s pursuit of success this season and in this game. There is a squad full of champions in this panel, and they will be too much for Donegal. Their depth beyond that is excellent with talent across the field and on the bench. That will prove crucial later in the game.
The Munster side’s style of play revolves around a high-pressing attack and quick ball movement. Their transitions are swift and they will use that speed and prowess to expose the Donegal defence. Kerry’s defence may leave a lot to be desired, but that is because they see offence as the way to counteract shortcomings.
The midfield battle will be critical in this game. Diarmuid O’Connor of Kerry and Donegal’s Hugh McFadden is where our attention turns to. They are big physical presences and the aerial battle will be competitive. However, Joe O’Connor gives Kerry something extra. He stepped up in 2024 after an injury-ravaged couple of years. Both men will find a new level to win the battle for midfield and set the tone for the game.
Donegal must try to contain Kerry in this game and quell their momentum. They are well-equipped for that as they are known for their resolute defence. The Tír Chonaill men allowed just 82 points in Division Two last season and just 16 against Dublin last weekend, who were the top scorers across all four divisions in 2024. However, finding a balance between defensive solidity and an effective attacking game could be a struggle.
The Ulstermen’s reliance on a select few forwards is a risky attacking approach in Division One. They are relatively conservative point scorers. That will work when you have a sound defence to rely on in Division Two, but this is a big step up in competition. The victory over Dublin was impressive, but Kerry looks a cut above already this season.
Kerry vs Donegal Betting Tips
Match Result
Kerry enters this game as the favourite. They are excellent at Austin Stack Park and have lost just two games at home since 2020. Jack O’Connor’s team looked unplayable at times in their season opener and now faces a slightly easier challenge in Donegal. We like a bet on Kerry to defeat Donegal on Saturday, worth 8/11.
We are not predicting a walkover for the home side. Donegal notched an impressive victory over Dublin in their first game of the season, a side who made the NFL final last year. They are excellent in defence and can frustrate Kerry. They are worth 11/8 with our online bookmaker if you think they can cause the upset.
Points Total
The points total for this game looks tricky for anyone betting on GAA football. This game pits a formidable attack against a resolute defence. We think Kerry can win that battle, but needing Donegal to hold up their end of the bargain may be too much to ask for. We are swaying toward a bet on the under for this game.
Winning Margin
Kerry’s attacking acumen cannot be understated. They look to have taken their offence to another level this season, as shown in their win over Derry last weekend. Donegal may struggle to put points up here despite their win against Dublin. National Football League betting will favour Kerry to win by a fair margin here. We like a bet on the Green and Gold to win by 3-4 points.
Kerry vs Donegal Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in National Football League action in January 2023. A tight game saw Donegal edge a one-point victory at MacCumhaill Park. Donegal trailed at the break but showed resilience before captain Patrick McBrearty scored the decisive point in added time, earning them a 0-13 – 1-09 win.
Donegal had an excellent 2024 season, gaining promotion to Division One after finishing top of Division Two and winning the final. That bounced them right back to where they were after falling to relegation the season prior. They began their 2025 campaign with a tough clash against Dublin. Donegal marked the start of the season with a solid 0-20 to 0-16 victory at Pairc MacCumhaill, despite being without Michael Murphy.
After the postponement of their match against Kerry, Donegal was eager to get started, while Dublin came into the game having beaten Mayo. With the wind behind them, Donegal made a fast start, with Daire O Baoill scoring two excellent points from outside the 40-metre mark, helping his team to a 0-11 to 0-6 lead at the break. Despite kicking nine wides, Donegal’s dominance was clear.
Dublin responded strongly early in the second half with Niall Scully, Colm Basquel, and Greg McEneaney reducing the gap, and a Ciaran Kilkenny two-pointer brought it to just one. However, Donegal reasserted their dominance. Oisin Gallen’s influence grew, and the introduction of Patrick McBrearty from the bench helped Donegal finish strong. They secured a deserved four-point win.
Kerry experienced heartache at the end of the 2024 season, missing out on the NFL Final because of their head-to-head record with Dublin. They faced a tough run-in for their season opener, squaring off with reigning champions Derry. Kerry snatched a dramatic 5-15 to 1-24 win at Celtic Park in a thrilling Division One encounter, with two goals in the last minute securing the victory.
Kerry’s ability to create goal-scoring chances proved decisive as they bounced back from trailing 0-13 – 2-5 at the break. Two goals from Conor Geaney, including a brilliant one-two with his brother Dylan, kept Kerry in the game. Derry’s Ben McCarron and Niall Toner responded with key scores. Donncha Gilmore slotted over a point after a missed opportunity, keeping them ahead at halftime.
The second half was a frantic affair. Derry surged ahead with a goal from Shane McGuigan, and Conor Glass added to push them five points clear. However, Kerry fought back with Dylan Geaney’s two-pointer and Donal O’Sullivan’s points, levelling the game as the hosts failed to find the net despite some good opportunities.
Derry looked poised for victory when McGuigan added a goal and a free, leaving them three points up with two minutes to go. However, Kerry showed their lethal finishing. A long ball from Seanie O’Shea found Paul Geaney, who finished calmly to tie the game. Then, in a moment of chaos, Derry goalkeeper Neil McNicholl misfired on a kickout, allowing Kerry to work the ball to Paul Geaney, who scored his second goal to seal the win for the Kingdom.
