Marc Ó Sé: Kerry and Galway can cover handicap
Published:
Ladbrokes ambassador Marc Ó Sé runs the rule over all four of Sunday’s matches in round two of the National Football League Division One.
Monaghan make the long trip to Killarney and both sides will be keen to get points on the board having lost their opening- round fixture. Monaghan lost to Armagh, while Kerry were beaten by Donegal in Ballybofey.
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These two teams are missing some key players with Paudie and David Clifford still enjoying a well-earned rest, and there is still no sign of either Sean O’Shea or Diarmuid O’Connor.
Monaghan have similar problems with Conor McManus and Darren Hughes still injured and I would be very surprised if Jack McCarron is fit for selection having limped off after just one minute of play last weekend. With home venue and maybe one or two more players available for selection, I am going to give Kerry the nod here at -3 in the handicap.
Galway will be disappointed not to have beaten Mayo last weekend, settling for just one point. Roscommon will be coming all guns blazing having beaten Tyrone and I expect an exciting game here at Pearse Stadium. When the sides met in the championship last year, only three points separated the sides.
Round 2 of the Allianz Football Leagues coming up this weekend and we host @RoscommonGAA on Sunday in Pearse Stadium!
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It seems Shane Walsh will still be unavailable and Rob Finnerty looks doubtful after picking up an ankle injury last weekend (the same ankle he injured in 2021, according to Padraic Joyce). Peter Cooke looked very lively and it’s great to see him back in a Galway jersey.
Three goals from the Rossies against Tyrone last weekend is impressive so if the Murtagh brothers and Ben O’Carroll can produce more of the same, we could have a battle in store. I still think Galway are improving with every outing and in front of their home crowd, I am going to go with Galway to cover the three-point handicap.
The pressure is on Tyrone having been beaten comprehensively by Roscommon last weekend. When you look at this Tyrone team on paper you can see that they have so much talent. However, they are simply not motoring right now and have been critcised heavily recently.
Donegal will be full of confidence having just got over the line last weekend with that inspirational late point from new team captain Paddy McBrearty.
I think this may just be the reality check that Tyrone need to give a performance at Healy Park on Sunday. They are well used to coming up against near neighbours Donegal so this might be the game that will reignite them and I expect them to shade this game at 8/13.
Mayo will be delighted to have taken a share of the spoils against Galway last weekend and will be full of confidence heading up the road to Armagh, who will want to push on and get two more points on the board.
They will see their home games as must-wins. Armagh did not have things all their own way against a very spirited Monaghan team but having come through that game, their tails will be up. I see them getting over the line against Mayo at 10/11.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
