Our selections for the weekend’s GAA action include victory for Dublin against All-Ireland champions Armagh in Croke Park.
It promises to be a pivotal weekend in the All-Ireland Football Championship as all 16 teams in the group phase play their second games in the round robin format across Saturday and Sunday.
Top spot in the four-team groups ensures passage to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the teams in second and third will be playing preliminary quarter-finals to join the four group winners and, for four counties, the summer will be ending early in a couple of weeks.
The big clash on Sunday sees Dublin tackling reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh in Croke Park, while the likes of Mayo, Galway and Donegal are under pressure after losing their opening games as they face Tyrone, Derry and Cavan respectively.
We’ve got two tips for the weekend’s All-Ireland football action with the double paying out at 5/2.
Selections
Dublin to beat Armagh @ 11/10
Down to beat Louth @ 4/6
Dubs can deliver again
Dublin were tagged as underdogs a fortnight ago when they travelled to Salthill to face Galway, but Dessie Farrell’s side were deserving winners on the day, despite requiring a buzzer-beating point from Tom Lahiff to take the spoils.
Ciaran Kilkenny excelled in that contest and his ability to penetrate Armagh’s defensive ranks will be key in Croke Park.
The Dubs have not named Con O’Callaghan in their side, though a late alternation would come as no shock and the Cuala ace could still feature.
Even if he should miss out, the trio of Lorcan O’Dell, Killian McGuinness and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne all looked good in Pearse Stadium and Cormac Costello also shone for the Dubs.
Armagh dominated against Derry last weekend for long spells, but they allowed the Oak Leaf side get back into the game and, bar some exceptional shot-stopping from Ethan Rafferty, it could have got very nervy against a Derry side without a competitive win in 2025.
Armagh twice fell seven points behind against Donegal in the Ulster final and Kieran McGeeney’s side could be punished by Dublin’s high intensity power-plays amid the expanses of Croke Park.
This is a first Championship clash between the Dubs and Armagh since 2010 and talk of Dublin’s demise has been greatly exaggerated, as they emphasised in Galway.
Even without King Con, odds-against back on their own patch after an unprecedented three games on the road is hard to resist.
Down to see off Wee County challenge
Conor Laverty and Down were Tailteann Cup winners a year ago and have now taken their places amongst the contenders for Sam Maguire this season as a consequence.
Louth landed a first Leinster title in 68 years after seeing off Meath, but the Wee County came crashing down to earth against Monaghan last weekend.
The Farney Army were much superior and Louth’s blushes were only partly spared by the four goals they scored to keep the margin under control.
Down, meanwhile, were emphatic winners in Ennis against Clare in their opening Group 3 game, putting the contest to bed before half-time as they ran out 17-point victors over the Banner County.
Down had 10 different scorers in that win in Cusack Park, whereas Louth only managed to put four names on the scoresheet as they were sunk by Monaghan in Newbridge last week.
Saval sharpshooter Pat Havern has been pulling the strings for Down and contributing heavily on the scoreboard, including a sublime two-pointer from play and another from a free against Clare.
He can lead his side to another victory on home soil in Newry as they seek revenge for a one-point loss to Louth in their Allianz League Division 2 clash in Drogheda back in February.
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