All-Ireland SFC Weekend Preview: The Road to Sam Maguire Continues
Four more matches take place on Saturday in the All-Ireland Football Championship. It’s win and you’re in as Donegal and Cork clash for a place in the quarter-finals, while in the Round 2B matches, we will see three teams packing their bags and heading for the Sam Maguire exit door.
Saturday Accum – Donegal, Monaghan, Kerry & Meath @ 8.25/1
– This Weekend’s GAA Fixtures & TV/Streaming Guide.
Round 2A: Donegal vs Cork, 3.00pm
- Venue: MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
- Referee: David Gough
Donegal were very impressive in an ill-tempered affair down in Killarney against Kerry and will look to stop up on that against a Cork side who overcame an eight-point deficit at half-time to see off Meath. Cork will need to up their game considerably in Ballybofey if they are to contend with Donegal but with Steven Sherlock in top form they will look to close the running avenues for the Ulster side.
Donegal have pace and power all over the field and Oisin Gallen (0-05) and Michael Langan (0-05) impressed against Kerry.
Verdict: Donegal 2-20 Cork 1-17
Best Bet: Winning Margin Donegal 4-6 points (4/1)
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Round 2B: Monaghan v Roscommon, 4.30pm
- Venue: St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones
- Referee: Paul Faloon
- TV/Streaming: GAA+
Monaghan who are leaving themselves with too much to do in second halves of games which look to start a little quicker against Roscommon here. Mayo led by twelve points against Monaghan early in the second half, but Monaghan rallied and ultimately lost by one. Monaghan will be looking to get the likes of Stephen O’Hanlon back from injury and impose their running game.
Roscommon were edged out by Tyrone and will look to get back to form here with the likes of Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg and Robert Heneghan producing good performances so far this year.
Verdict: Monaghan 2-19 Roscommon 1-21
Best Bet; Monaghan +2 (1/1)
– We Preview Sunday’s matches here.
Round 2B: Kildare v Kerry, 5.30pm
- Venue: Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge
- Referee: Niall Cullen
Do or die game for Kerry in this one but they are a very short price to oblige and should do so with the minimum of fuss. Kildare stuck with Galway early on in their last game but were cut open on several occasions and Rob Finnerty (1-09) was afforded far too much space at times. If they were to give the likes of David Clifford similar space, then they could be in for a long evening.
A quieter game for David Clifford (0-04) and Paul Geaney (0-03) against Donegal but they were closed quickly. This could be a different story here.
Verdict: Kildare 0-18 Kerry 3-20
Best Bet: Winning Margin Kerry 10-12 (4/1)
Round 2B: Derry v Meath, 7.00pm
- Venue: Find Insurance Celtic Park, Derry
- Referee: Sean Hurson
- TV/Streaming: GAA+
Derry who suffered a five-point defeat against Armagh last time will be looking to get back on track this time around. Derry have had an up and down year and the defeat against Monaghan probably still hurts.
They will look to use home advantage to their advantage and have the forward line that can cause plenty of trouble to the Meath defence. Niall Loughlan (0-01), Shane McGuigan (0-01) and Lachlan Murray (1-02) all got on the scoresheet the last day.
Meath on the other hand will be disappointed to have lost to Cork on a day when Jordan Morris was quiet by his standards with just two points. Eoghan Frayne and James Conlon top scored last time and could cause Derry some trouble also.
Verdict: Derry 1-19 Meath 2-20
Best Bet: Meath (7/4)
Saturday’s GAA ACCA
- Donegal
- Monaghan
- Kerry
- Meath
- Odds 8.25/1
