Meath vs Fermanagh Preview
Week one of the National Football League is upon us and we have Meath vs Fermanagh to enjoy. This is the first match of Roinn Two, and there are several fixtures to look forward to in the coming months. The match will take place at Páirc Tailteann, a fantastic GAA venue in Navan. Throw-in is at 2:30 pm this Saturday, January 27, and neither team will want to taste defeat.
Meath finished last year in sixth place, one point ahead of relegated side Clare. They recorded four defeats last season and only secured two victories and one draw. Fermanagh had a much better time in Division Three, topping the group with six victories and only one loss. The jump between divisions is often a lot for clubs to deal with. Will Meath be able to put Division Two newcomers in their place?
Meath vs Fermanagh Head-To-Head and Key Stats
The last time Meath played Fermanagh was in the 2019 NFL season when both teams were in Division Two. It was a vitally important game at the time for the clubs, as both had a chance of promotion to the top-flight. Meath were victorious on the day, seeing them enter Division One of the NFL for the first time since 2006. The match finished 2-12 to 0-11 in the last match of the 2019 campaign. Unfortunately, Meath could not hack it against the likes of Kerry, Dublin, Galway, and Tyrone, and they finished winless and bottom of the table in 2020.
Looking at Meath’s recent matches, they got to the semi-finals of the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup. Meath dominated Louth in the quarterfinals on January 6th, 2024. The score finished 2-13 to 1-07, making Meath the clear winner by nine points. Next, Meath played Longford six days later, on January 12th. Longford proved too much to handle in the first half, ending the period 0-08 to 2-06. Meath closed in on points, but the two first-half goals were insurmountable, and it finished 1-14 to 2-14.
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Fermanagh was active in the first weeks of the new year in the Dr McKenna Cup. They were in Section C of the tournament, alongside Monaghan and Antrim. Fermanagh beat Antrim by one point on January 7 but lost to Fermanagh three days later. That cost them automatic promotion into the knock-out stage of the tournament, and they were the lowest-ranked runners-up. Their cup run ended on January 10th, so this match has been a long time coming for Fermanagh.
Betting on Gaelic Football this weekend is more difficult than a lot of fans realise. There are several games where a strong team is playing a newly promoted side. However, do not forget that upsets happen every season in the NFL. In this match, Meath are the clear favourites and they were more successful in the cup run. But anything can happen on game day.
Meath vs Fermanagh Predictions
Looking at the odds available at various online sports betting platforms, there is a consensus that Meath is the most likely to win. With the advantage of playing at home and the experience of playing in Division Two for longer, it’s no wonder why they have a clear margin over Fermanagh. If you were to bet on this NFL match, Meath has odds of 2/9. If you bet €10 on the home side this weekend, you only stand to make €12.22 if they get the job done. Fermanagh is certainly the underdog with odds of 4/1. Your ten euros would turn into €50 if the away club came away victorious.
We predict this week it will be a lot closer than what the bookies are saying. However, Meath still has the advantage of going into the first game of the season. Our prediction sees Meath winning by three or fewer points at full-time. While we would love to see an underdog win in this match, it just doesn’t seem on the cards this week. With Fermanagh ending their cup run before the knockout stage, Meath has the advantage of form and minutes in the players’ legs.
Looking at previous seasons, Meath has been right at home in Roinn Two of the Allianz Football League. However, they have only managed two wins in the past three campaigns. Looking at the 2023 season in greater detail shows Meath started the season strongly. They won their first two matches against Cork and Clare, but only managed a draw against the bottom of the pile of Limerick. If they follow a similar pattern this year, they will easily dispatch Fermanagh in week one of the NFL.
Fermanagh found form last season in the NFL after week two. The first match against Longford was easy enough, and the Midlanders went down a division that season. But Fermanagh lost to mid-table Offaly in round two. That was the only defeat they suffered all season, but it shows that The Ernesiders start the season a little slowly. Stepping up a division is never easy. That’s why smart money is on Meath this weekend.
Meath vs Fermanagh Betting Tips
Betting on the NFL this weekend is always difficult. Yes, there are a lot of clashes with a clear favourite, but can they all go off without a hitch? In a typical season, upsets lead to humongous payouts if you bet correctly. However, we don’t think Meath will roll over in this fixture. If you were to bet on the underdog in this match, keep your wager small, as it does not seem likely to pay off.
If you look at an online betting platform, the odds are in favour of Meath in just about every market. The match winner, leader at half time, almost everything points to Meath. That gives you different options for your usual betting activity. One option is to consider live betting on this fixture. If Meath is as good as the bookies say, then betting on them during the match to score one or more goals is a smart move. You could also make proposition bets for certain players to contribute to the scoreboard throughout the game.
Another market many overlook for a match like this is the first team to score a goal. If you were to bet on Meath, they have significantly greater odds than an outright wager to win the match. Plus, if they score early, you can enjoy the cash long before the match ends. The favourites have odds of 5/6, which return €36 from a €20 wager. If you believe Fermanagh will score the first goal of the match, they have odds of 13/8. That will more than double your twenty euro bet, giving you €52.50 after the first goal. Also, if you think it will be a GAA event without goals, the odds are 9/2. That would yield as much as €110 from a €20 bet.
If you are like us, then you are looking for value everywhere. That brings welcome bonuses into play. As this is the first week of a new season, you can sign up for a different bookmaker and claim a promotion. This is a tough game to get right with your bonus, but if you get it wrong, you don’t lose any of your deposited cash. Using a welcome offer in a week like this is a great way to negate risk.
