Kerry vs Mayo Preview
The Kerry vs Mayo match-up is one of the most prolific fixtures in Gaelic football, with the teams having battled it out since 1905. Kerry is the more successful team historically, but Mayo has started the new season strongly. With some of Kerry’s best players returning for the fixture, many expect the Green and Gold to end the Westerners’ winning run.
Mayo sit top of the Division One table in the Allianz National Football League. They deserve their lead, having dispatched Galway and Dublin so far in the competition. Kerry began the campaign with a home defeat to Derry, but they responded with a victory over Monaghan. After a week-long break, it is time to see how two of the best GAA teams fare against each other.
Kerry vs Mayo Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Kerry has dominated the meeting against Mayo. Kerry famously won the 2022 NFL Division One final against Mayo with an empathetic 3-19 – 0-13 score. Yet more recently, Mayo has become the dominant team in GAA under Kevin McStay’s managerial reign. They won the most recent final while Kerry slumped to fifth place in the standings, winning just three games that season.
Kerry started the Allianz Football League Roinn One season with a loss to Derry. The team faced Monaghan and with the help of David Clifford, empathetically dispatched the Farney Army. Clifford marked his return to inter-county football with a goal, making the result look relatively easy.
Mayo has romped to the top of the standings with two victories from their opening two games. Ryan O’Donoghue has been one of the standout performers for the team. Mayo has found another gear in recent years, including two victories over Kerry last season. That led to Mayo topping the table in 2023, winning their 13th Division One title.
Kerry is classically more successful than their opponents, having constantly challenged at the top end of the Division One standings. They are consistently one of the pre-tournament favourites every season. Kerry has won 23 National Football League titles in the past, making it comfortably the most successful team in Ireland. By comparison, Mayo is third in the all-time standings with 13 titles.
Andy Moran is the man with the honour of playing in the most matches between Kerry and Mayo. He somewhat embodies the fixture with his unmatched tenacity and effort to win games for Mayo against their old adversary. Moran retired from Mayo back in 2019, sadly before being able to lift the Division One title.
Kerry vs Mayo Predictions
Despite topping the standings, Mayo might not withstand Kerry’s overall quality. The bookmaker already accepts that Kerry had an off day in the opening fixture against Derry, and regular service shall resume. After all, the re-emergence of David Clifford will buoy the team, as he played a significant role in the win against Monaghan. Anyone looking for a result bet should think twice and opt against history. We predict a Kerry win is the most likely, especially at Austin Stack Park.
While Mayo has two wins in the National Football League this season, the last one came at the death against Dublin. There were considerable spells of the game at McHale Park, where Mayo looked like the second-best team. Dublin will feel very upset to have left the game with nothing. Especially after Fergal Boland took advantage of a sleeping defence in the dying embers to win it for Mayo. This type of performance won’t cut it against Kerry, a team that has it out to exact revenge on Mayo for last season’s reverses.
Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor is the all-time top scorer in this fixture. Betting on him to get a few goals and points isn’t a bad idea. Another man likely to get on the score sheet for Mayo is Ryan O’Donoghue, who finished as the Division One top scorer in 2023.
Kerry vs Mayo Betting Tips
The most popular markets for this Gaelic football fixture are game betting on the result, either 2-way or 3-way. The 2-way only accepts predictions for a win or loss. Kerry is currently trending with odds of around 1/4, as they are firm favourites at home. Those wanting to believe that Mayo can make it three wins in a row can take advantage of 11/4 odds.
These odds change slightly when opting for the 3-way option. A draw is worth 17/2, given that Kerry is a better team on paper. The form suggests Mayo is just as good, and a stalemate might not be a bad side bet. Kerry to win isn’t profitable at 1/3 while betting on Mayo to win comes in at 29/10.
Of course, if the game looks like Mayo could win on the night, you could always place an in-play bet. Nothing is ever straightforward when betting on Gaelic football. Be prepared to change or go with the flow as the game progresses. You can also check out our welcome bonus and see how you can benefit when looking into GAA betting.
Live betting is an exciting option for Gaelic sports, as games can pivot. If you’re watching the game live, it could be a good idea to bet against the current result to profit from the match turning on its head. Mayo may clinch an early lead, but Kerry could quickly come back. Betting on Kerry at that point would be rather profitable.
After watching this match, you might think that one of these teams could go all the way and win the All-Ireland final. It could be worth taking a punt on the winner before the league phase concludes here on Novibet.
🏐 Kerry host Mayo in Round 3 of the 2024 Allianz Football League Division 1.
TICKETS https://t.co/UtQ7vWUoto and in participating Centra & SuperValu stores.
PARKING INFO https://t.co/HWlRn5Pzvq#WeAreKerry #CiarraíAbú pic.twitter.com/fhIvzHaBv4
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) February 12, 2024
Kerry Team News & Lineups
Kerry would be unwise to change too much from the team that decimated Monaghan in the last round. David Clifford, Seán O’Shea and Donal O’Sullivan are all names that should be in the starting lineup. Seán O’Shea has arguably become the team’s most important player this season. He has made 13 points in the opening games and has been one of the few players to perform well in the loss at the hands of Derry.
Conor Geaney is another player who should appear in this crucial fixture, given his ability to score points and goals for Kerry. He and his brother, Dylan, are part of this new-look Kerry team longing for success in the Allianz National Football League.
Graham O’Sullivan is another Kerry player who has shown a steely resilience to keep motivated in games. In the opening round match against Derry, he temporarily levelled the score in a game from which Kerry came away empty-handed. While the team still lost, they would have been in even greater peril if not for the Dromid Pearses man stepping up. He also provided a decent spine to the team during the second game of the season, when Kerry won.
Mayo Team News & Lineups
Mayo is in a similar situation. The coaching staff won’t want to disrupt a winning formula after playing well in the first two games. Mayo won’t be without Ryan O’Donoghue, the man who scored seven points in the last match. He proved yet again why they named him on the 2021 All-Star Gaelic football team.
Colm Reape is another name that the management should include in any team sheet, given how important he’s been for the team in the goal. He is an essential character in the Mayo team. His performance against Dublin earlier in the season was a nod to his work in the Division 1 final in 2023, effectively allowing Mayo to win the title.
🟢🔴 Team Kit 🟢🔴
Mayo will line out in the red and green (away) jersey for tomorrow’s game against kerry in Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 7.30pm.
Get your match tickets here ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/GJwg5xMweG pic.twitter.com/QIMNXULC18
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) February 16, 2024
The all-time top scorer in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, Cillian O’Connor, shouldn’t be amiss for Mayo, especially given his propensity to score in this fixture. He notably scored a penalty in the triumph against Galway in Round One at Pearse Stadium. They rested him for most of the game against Dublin but had a decent impact when subbed on. He should be fit and ready to go for this third-round match.
Manager Kevin McStay would also benefit his team by deploying his regular captain, Paddy Durcan, often known as Captain Durcs. Consistency will keep the team on track and avoid complacency. His leadership was imperative in the last-gasp win against Dublin in the second round of fixtures. Those qualities are required if the team is to succeed in this tricky fixture against Kerry.
