Donegal vs Tyrone Predictions
Two of Ulster’s biggest rivals will battle in the All-Ireland Football Championship. Donegal and Tyrone will play at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey at 7.15 pm on Saturday, May 25th. It’s been less than a month since these two teams last faced each other, but the Tir Chonaill men emerged victorious in a thrilling 18-16 win.
Donegal has been in fine form lately, including beating Armagh in the Ulster Championship Final. The final was 0-20 apiece, but penalties favoured Donegal. Tyrone is desperate to achieve revenge against their northern neighbours in this Group 3 clash.
Donegal are favourites in this GAA game, but Tyrone can win. They both know that a victory would give them a significant chance of progressing to the next stage of the All-Ireland Football Championship.
Donegal vs Tyrone Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Donegal and Tyrone have a rich history of playing each other in the Ulster and All-Ireland Championships. However, Tir Chonaill has emerged victorious in their last two meetings. Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher will hope to rebound from these disheartening defeats.
Their semi-final clash saw Donegal eke out a hard-fought victory after extra-time. Tyrone took the lead through Darren McCurry and Darragh Canavan. They maintained it until half-time, with both sides exchanging scores. This was a competitive game, with Tyrone leading until the final stages.
Jason McGee was one of several Donegal players who refused to back down. He was superb in midfield as he drove forward with two points and inspired his teammates. Tyrone lost momentum and Donegal’s forwards gained confidence. Their fullback Brendan McCole scored the equaliser that sent the game to extra time.
Then Paddy McBrearty came off the bench and became a hero. Jim McGuinness had already substituted the county star but pulled off a masterstroke. McBrearty scored two points to seal a hard-fought win for Tir Chonaill and secure provincial glory. The game finished 0-18 to 0-16.
It was a painful encounter for Tyrone who feel they should have won this game. Donegal’s performance wasn’t as clinical as their four-goal victory against Derry in the previous round. However, Jim McGuinness’ tactical nous and their perseverance kept them alive.
Donegal also defeated Tyrone earlier this season in the Dr McKenna Cup in January. This was another two-point victory in McGuinness’ second game in charge since his return. Tir Chonaill led by five points at half-time with Paddy McBrearty kicking a brace. Jamie Brennan wasted a golden opportunity to score a goal.
The Red Hand County almost pulled off a sensational comeback. They scored a couple of points before Ciaran Daly’s goal put them ahead for the first time. However, Oisin Gallen had one of his best games of the year. His four points were massive, and Donegal escaped with another win.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Tyrone. They defeated Donegal in the All-Ireland Championship last year by eight points as the Canavan brothers ran riot. They scored 1-6 between them in a dazzling display. The Red Hand County sealed their place in the quarterfinals with a crucial victory. They know they can beat Donegal when it counts most.
Tyrone enjoyed a longer rest than Donegal, who played Armagh in the Ulster Final. This game was a back-and-forth affair with the teams drawing level eight times in the first half. Oisin Gallen scored six points for his team. Meanwhile, Paddy McBrearty popped up again with the point that sent his team to extra-time.
Donegal’s never-say-die attitude will convince them they can go all the way this year. However, it may concern McGuinness that they went 20 minutes without scoring in the second half against Armagh. They can’t afford this against a clinical Tyrone side.
Cora Staunton and Peter Canavan look ahead to next weekend’s fixtures in the All-Ireland football series where the standout game is the all-Ulster clash of Donegal and Tyrone #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/CeqA90XMlY
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
Ultimately, Tir Chonaill required a penalty shootout to beat The Orchard County. Tyrone will take heart from this. Donegal is a justifiable favourite because they’ve come through one of the toughest runs in the country. Will their luck run out against their provincial rivals?
Donegal vs Tyrone Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Donegal 1-12 – 0-12 Tyrone
We predict Donegal will win this All-Ireland Football Championship game. The Tir Chonaill men are Ulster Champions and passed every test they’ve faced this season. Tyrone will push them close, but Donegal should do enough to win.
In Jim McGuinness, Donegal arguably has the sport’s outstanding manager. He brilliantly exposed Derry’s high line in the Ulster quarter-final. Meanwhile, he reintroduced Paddy McBrearty against Tyrone in the last meeting. The experienced manager won the Ulster Championship again on his first attempt.
Shaun Patton will be one of Donegal’s key players. The goalkeeper is central to McGuinness’ gameplan and didn’t play in their last meeting with Tyrone. Gavin Mulreany performed well in Patton’s absence. But the St. Eunan’s star’s kickouts are an elite weapon for his county. He’s also a great stopper as we saw with his game-winning penalty save against Armagh.
Oisin Gallen exploded into life against Armagh in the semifinal. Donegal will need the young forward to be at his best again. His six points were key to their victory. Gallen is also one of the most clinical free-takers in the game. He is fearless and cold-blooded under pressure.
Donegal always has a chance of winning when Paddy McBrearty is available. The veteran midfielder was pivotal in their previous victory over Tyrone. He also chipped in points against Armagh in the Ulster Final. This is a strong Donegal team with stars all over the field.
Tyrone believes they can beat their rivals. Some analysts think Donegal has been lucky with penalty shootouts and extra-time victories. Tyrone’s u-20 team also motivated the senior panel by beating Kerry in the All-Ireland final last weekend.
Darragh Canavan is the Red Hand County’s main goal-scoring threat. The Tyrone ace scored brilliant goals against Monaghan and Cavan earlier this year. He’s one of the best Gaelic football players in the country right now, and anything can happen when he’s on the field.
Tir Chonaill often drops a lot of points in games. They lost the lead against Armagh after 20 minutes and didn’t recover it until extra time. Tyrone dominated most of their last game, too. They can’t afford to keep losing momentum because it will cost them.
Donegal should win this if you are betting on the All-Ireland Football Championship. However, it wouldn’t be a major shock if Tyrone snatched a close win. In-game betting is a great option for this game. This allows you to react to these teams’ performances in real-time.
Tyrone vs Donegal Betting Tips
The Tir Chonaill men enter this game as 3/5 favourites on our sports betting site. This means that a €10 stake could make €6. This isn’t prohibitive, but some punters will find the Tyrone odds better value. The odds are 9/5 with the same stake, potentially resulting in an €18 profit.
That’s very substantial when we consider the recent history between these teams. Their last two meetings were two-point games. Tyrone was very unlucky not to win their Ulster Championship clash. We agree Donegal are favourites but Tyrone is the good underdog and the odds could be closer.
Betting on GAA is exciting because it’s an end-to-end sport with many scores. The bookmakers believe Darragh Canavan and Oisin Gallen will be the game’s most influential players. Canavan is a 5/1 favourite to win the Man of the Match award while Gallen is 7/1 to achieve the same accolade.
They’re both available at 7/4 to score a goal anytime in this colossal game. Tyrone’s Cathal McShane and Darren McCurry are also good bets at 11/4. A €10 stake could make a €27.50 profit. Meanwhile, it’s 4/1 for this clash to finish without goals.
The winning margin is another great market. Donegal is available at 23/10 to win by one to three points. A successful €10 stake would see returns of €23. This also correlates with our predicted final scoreline and this match-up’s recent history.
Tyrone fans may think that everybody is underestimating their team. The same bet on them could see a big profit of €37.50. This would make an excellent prop bet if you’re backing the underdog.
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It’s 10/1 that Donegal will lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 2024. Meanwhile, Tyrone is 25/1 to claim their fifth All-Ireland title. This has been an excellent year for Ulster’s football teams and they’ll hope to be in the final at Croke Park in July.
