Allianz Football League Predictions and Betting Tips

The 2026 Allianz Football League season will kick off on 24th January, before concluding nearly two months later on 22nd March. In this online betting guide, we’ll preview 16 of the most eye-catching Division 1 matches scheduled during the first four weeks of league action. We’ll also pick our winners, offer key betting insights, and recommend Irish bookmakers offering competitive odds.

Weekend Allianz Football League Tips – Saturday 24th January – Sunday 22nd February

Let’s start with an at-a-glance summary of our predicted outcomes for the 16 games we’ve selected. This also includes the best odds selections from RoyalistPlay, where available.

⚠️ Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.

National Football League Previews & Predictions

Now, we’ll drill a little deeper into each prediction, including the reasoning behind our picks and analysis of key data. This includes historic and recent head-to-head records, alongside scoring statistics.

Dublin vs Donegal Predictions – TG4, 5.00pm Saturday 24th January, Croke Park

These two teams finished fifth and fourth, respectively, in Allianz Division 1 last season, with each winning four of their seven matches and collecting eight points. Interestingly, they shared the same record as eventual Division 1 winners Kerry, only missing out on qualification due to points difference.

Donegal also went on to reach the All-Ireland final later in the season, before being dominated by Kerry at Croke Park. They defeated the Dubs by four points in last season’s Allianz League meeting, albeit with the benefit of home advantage at MacCumhaill Park.

Dublin won all three of their National League home matches in 2025, defeating Mayo, Derry and Galway by a combined margin of 19 points. Forward Sean Bugler registered 2-13 across those three fixtures, finishing the campaign with 2-23 to rank as the league’s fifth-highest scorer.

This should be a tight and evenly contested game, with Dublin our narrow favourites. Home advantage may prove decisive, as could the Dubs’ superior game management. You can back Ger Brennan’s men to win at odds of 1.90 with RoyalistPlay.

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Galway v Mayo Predictions – TG4, 1.45pm Sunday 25th January, Pearse Stadium

This fierce rivalry resumes on the opening weekend of the 2026 National League season, as Galway welcome last season’s beaten Division 1 finalists Mayo to Pearse Stadium. The Yew County topped the table during the regular season in 2025, while Galway finished third, just one point behind.

When the sides met in Castlebar last season, Galway triumphed with an emphatic 10-point win. Shane Walsh delivered a man-of-the-match performance, scoring 0-9, including two four-point frees. It was Galway’s biggest victory over Mayo in more than 50 years.

Despite Walsh contributing 40 points (1-37) in the 2025 campaign, Galway won just one of their final five league games. In contrast, Mayo went unbeaten in their final five matches, winning four and drawing once, as Ryan O’Donoghue scored 0-42 to finish as the division’s top scorer.

This contest looks finely balanced, with both sides priced at around 2.00. However, only Kerry managed to beat Galway at Pearse Stadium last season, and the Tribesmen’s defensive structure and ball retention should prove crucial. Back Galway to win at odds of 2.00 with RoyalistPlay.

Kerry v Roscommon Predictions – TG4, 2.00pm Sunday 25th January, Fitzgerald Stadium

Kerry completed a famous double last season, winning both the Division 1 league title and the All-Ireland Championship. Their success was built on experience, organisation and composure in key moments rather than consistent dominance.

They lost three of their seven Division 1 matches, qualifying for the final only on points difference. This included home defeats to Donegal and Dublin, while Mayo edged them by two points in Castlebar last March.

Kerry may be without several key players for their 2026 opener, including Graham O’Sullivan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Paudie Clifford. However, Roscommon were operating in Division 2 last season and have struggled to establish themselves at this level in recent years.

Regardless of personnel, Kerry should have too much quality for their newly promoted opponents. We’d avoid handicap betting and instead back a straight home win at odds of 1.10 with RoyalistPlay.

Monaghan v Armagh Predictions – TG4, 2.00pm Sunday 25th January, St Tiernach’s Park, Clones

Division 1B winners Monaghan begin their top-flight campaign by welcoming Armagh to St Tiernach’s Park. The Oriel County racked up 191 points in seven games last season, scoring 13 goals, with Rory Beggan (0-38) and Michael Bannigan (2-28) contributing 72 points between them.

However, they also conceded 161 points, an average of 23.0 per game, which could be exposed against stronger opposition. Armagh are well equipped to capitalise, with Conor Turbitt (1-20) and Rory Grugan (0-22) both offering a consistent attacking threat.

Armagh endured a mixed 2025 campaign, losing all three away fixtures and finishing sixth, narrowly avoiding relegation. Despite this, they ended the season just one point behind second-placed Kerry.

Ultimately, Armagh’s attacking depth should give them the edge. This could be a high-scoring encounter, so back Armagh to win with a narrow 2-point handicap at odds of 2.00 with RoyalistPlay.

Armagh v Galway Predictions – TG4, 5.00pm Saturday 31st January, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

In round two, Armagh return to the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds to face Galway. While they lost all three away matches in Division 1 last season, they were unbeaten at home, winning three of four games by a combined margin of 31 points.

That run included victories over Dublin and Derry, with Turbitt contributing 1-10 across those fixtures.

Armagh lost to Galway at Pearse Stadium last season by six points in a low-scoring contest. The Orchard County’s challenge unravelled after Niall Grimley was dismissed on the hour.

Having beaten Galway to win the Sam Maguire Cup six months earlier, Armagh remain formidable at home. With odds yet to be confirmed, consider backing the hosts to edge another close contest.

Donegal v Kerry Predictions – TG4, 1.30pm Sunday 1st February, Father Tierney Park, Ballyshannon

Donegal’s tough start to the new season continues on Sunday, 1st February, when they entertain all-conquering Kerry at Father Tierney Park. This is a rematch of the 2025 All-Ireland final, which saw the Kingdom dominate from the outset at Croke Park and ultimately prevail by 10 points.

The enduringly brilliant David Clifford went 0-9 in the All-Ireland final, while he also starred in Kerry’s Division 1 title win. In fact, he contributed 39 points (3-30) to the cause, while linking superbly with Paul Geaney, who struck four goals and 29 points during the 2025 league campaign.

The good news for Donegal is that they inflicted one of Kerry’s three defeats in the National League, prevailing by two points on the road on 8th February 2025.

However, Donegal struggled for goals last season, scoring just two in their total points tally of 141. Conversely, Kerry found the net on 16 occasions as they plundered 170 points, with only Monaghan scoring more in the Allianz League. They should have too much firepower and know-how for their opponents, and we expect them to win comfortably on the road.

Mayo v Dublin Predictions – TG4, 1.30pm Sunday 1st February, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

The Dubs endured a mixed campaign in 2025, placing fifth in Division 1 and seeing Meath end their provincial dominance in Leinster after 14 successive triumphs. Despite Dublin’s three league defeats, however, they amassed the same number of points as eventual champions Kerry and only missed the divisional final on points difference.

Of course, Mayo topped the table last season, finishing two points clear of Dublin before losing the division final to Kerry. Their league campaign featured a two-point win over the Kingdom at Castlebar, while they prevailed in three of their four home games (albeit by a tight combined margin of just six points).

In 2025, they played Dublin at Croke Park, where the Yew County have endured a torrid time during the last decade. Here, they were beaten by two points, despite Dublin missing a number of regular starters through injury. Sean Bugler starred once again for the Dubs, scoring 0-7 and contributing 35% of his team’s points.

This will be another tight match, especially given Mayo’s recent record at home and Dublin’s desire to bounce back from a disappointing 2025. We’re tipping Dublin to claim a narrow victory on the road, although there may be value in backing Mayo with a positive spread at RoyalistPlay.

Roscommon v Monaghan Predictions – TG4, 2.00pm Sunday 1st February, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park

This is a rematch of last season’s Division 2 final, which saw Monaghan claim the title after a hard-fought campaign. The Oriel County prevailed at Croke Park thanks in part to their superior firepower, with a Jack McCarron goal contributing to an ultimately comfortable 10-point win.

This avenged Monaghan’s loss to Roscommon in their earlier National League round-robin, as Diarmuid Murtagh struck 0-12 and downed his opponents with some incredibly accurate shooting. He scored 1-43 during the campaign and played a pivotal role in the Rossies’ eventual promotion.

Even in that game, however, Monaghan hit two goals against their opponents’ zero, with both David Garland and Mícheál Bannigan finding the net. The latter scored two goals during the campaign and went 2-28 overall, while the Oriel County scored six more goals than Roscommon in total.

There’s no doubt that Monaghan have a more potent and varied attack, while there’s little to split the two teams defensively. So, although Roscommon will be competitive and contribute to a tight game, we’re tipping Monaghan to secure a narrow win.

Kerry v Galway Predictions – TG4, 5.00pm Saturday 14th February, Austin Stack Park

This is a classic GAA rivalry, and one that Kerry have edged both historically and in recent times. The Kingdom have won 13 of the 23 All-Ireland meetings, for example, including six of the previous seven. In the National League, Kerry have lost just twice to the Tribesmen in six meetings since 2016.

The two did battle at Pearse Stadium in 2025, with Kerry securing a thrilling win after an encounter that saw 57 points scored. The Kingdom scored three goals to Galway’s two, while amassing 32 points despite failing to land a single two-pointer during the match. This victory secured Kerry’s place in the Allianz League final.

The Kingdom were the only side to defeat Galway at Pearse Stadium last season, and the fact that they did so despite some wayward shooting is impressive. Paul Geaney (0-7) and David Clifford (0-3) contributed 10 points during the win and will be pivotal once again in Tralee.

Of course, Kerry can be occasionally vulnerable during the early stages of their Allianz League campaign, while they lost twice at home in 2025. They may still be without a handful of regular starters when Galway rolls into town, too. However, we’re tipping them to edge a competitive game and continue their strong record against the Tribesmen.

Dublin v Monaghan Predictions – TG4, 7.00pm Saturday 14th February, Croke Park

A trip to Croke Park will hold no fear for the Oriel County, who have won on their last two National League visits to Dublin. Since the Dubs’ last victory over Monaghan in 2017, the latter are unbeaten in five head-to-head encounters and have won four of them.

Until their relegation in 2024, they were also established top-flight competitors and have returned to Division 1 full of confidence and with impressive firepower. Remember, no Allianz League side scored more than Monaghan’s 193 points, while only Kerry and Mayo conceded more points in the top division than Dublin in 2025.

Still, Monaghan also shipped 161 points in Division 2, which was more than any other team apart from Westmeath (who conceded 181 points and finished bottom). They’ll be vulnerable to counter-attacks at Croke Park, especially given the Dubs’ penchant for sharp, quick transitions.

Although the odds may favour Dublin, we’re tipping Monaghan to prevail in what could be a relatively high-scoring match. There should be enough value in backing Monaghan without applying handicaps.

Donegal v Mayo Predictions – TG4, 1.45pm Sunday 15th February, O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny

If you were to use last season’s league table as a reference, you might think this fixture will end in a comfortable win for Mayo. However, while the Yew County topped the table before losing to Kerry in the divisional final, they finished just one point above Donegal and won the same number of matches (four).

Last season’s encounter was also keenly contested, with Mayo edging Donegal by just two points at Castlebar. Donegal were on the cusp of victory in the 67th minute: although they trailed by two, Daire Ó Baoill was standing over a penalty. Colm Reape produced a heroic save; however, Mayo rode their luck, and Ryan O’Donoghue settled the tie.

Donegal will host Mayo this year at O'Donnell Park. Mayo won three of their four home matches in the 2025 campaign; conversely, they triumphed just once on the road, losing to Dublin at Croke Park and drawing with Armagh.

We expect another tight and evenly matched encounter, and one in which home advantage may ultimately be decisive. So, consider backing Donegal to win outright with RoyalistPlay.

Roscommon v Armagh Predictions – TG4, 2.00pm Sunday 15th February, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park

This clash on 15th February is an intriguing one, as Roscommon entertain Armagh at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. The Rossies gained promotion partly on the back of a strong home record last season, defeating both Down and promotion rivals Monaghan by a combined margin of 11 points.

As for Orchard County, they endured a torrid time on the road in 2025, losing all three away games against Galway, Donegal and Kerry by a cumulative margin of 22 points. In fact, they only avoided relegation by virtue of their home form, which included three impressive wins and a competitive draw with Mayo.

Make no mistake: the Rossies will be confident of earning a result here, especially if talisman Diarmuid Murtagh maintains the form he showed while scoring 46 points last season. As a collective, Roscommon had the best defence in Division 2 in 2025, conceding just five goals and 142 points (an average of 20.28 per game).

Although Armagh scored eight goals in their seven league games, four of these came in a 15-point thrashing of Derry on 23rd March. They may find it difficult to break down Roscommon’s defensive shape here, and we’re backing the home side to record a potentially crucial victory.

Dublin v Kerry Predictions – TG4, 7.00pm Saturday 21st February, Croke Park

This is one of the GAA’s longest-standing and most ferocious rivalries, with the first encounter taking place in the All-Ireland final on 26th March 1893. Kerry hold the edge in the historic head-to-head, winning 145 encounters to Dublin’s 109.

The head-to-head is closer in the National League, with Kerry winning 23 times and Dublin prevailing on 16 occasions. The Dubs have also won the last two league encounters, including an enthralling one-point victory at Austin Stack Park last February.

Although Kerry scored the game’s only goal, Sean Bugler and fellow forward Lorcan O’Dell (both 0-4) were clinical and ultimately got the Dubs over the line. O’Dell struck two crucial two-pointers, too, as Dublin roared back in the second half to overturn an 11-point deficit.

Overall, the Kingdom have won only one of their last five league matches against Dublin, with two of these games also ending in draws. Remember, they tend to show at least some vulnerability during their National League campaigns, so we’re picking the Dubs to edge a narrow win here.

Galway v Roscommon Predictions – TG4, 7.00pm Saturday 21st February, Pearse Stadium

We’ve already touched on Galway’s formidable home record, with the Tribesmen only losing to Kerry here during the 2025 campaign. They’ll welcome Roscommon to Pearse Stadium on 21st February, with the Rossies looking to establish themselves in the top flight after moving between Division 1 and 2 in recent years.

They were impressive on the road in Division 2 last season, losing just once away from home while securing crucial wins at Cork and Louth. The Rossies’ biggest vulnerability in the top flight may be their attack, as they remain heavily reliant on Diarmuid Murtagh and can occasionally be goal-shy.

This isn’t an issue for Galway, with Matthew Tierney, Dylan McHugh and talisman Shane Walsh all reliable in front of goal. The Tribesmen always pose a potent attacking threat at home, and Roscommon will need all of their defensive organisation to triumph here.

We think they may fall a little short, so back Galway to win (potentially with a nominal handicap) with RoyalistPlay when the odds are published.

Monaghan v Mayo Predictions – TG4, 1.45pm Sunday 22nd February, St Tiernach's Park, Clones

In total, Monaghan’s seven Division 2 matches in 2025 yielded 354 points, a league-high average of 50.57 points per game. Those matches also produced 18 goals in total (2.57 per game), and there’s no doubt the Oriel County have the potential to be the top flight’s great entertainers in 2026.

They also have the potential to concede more, with Division 1 sides noticeably sharper and more efficient on the counter-attack. This includes Mayo, who will look to feed the prolific Ryan O’Donoghue and fellow forward Matthew Ruane at every opportunity.

Mayo had the unusual distinction of topping last year’s Division 1 table despite a negative points difference. Their seven games produced just 267 points in total (38.14 per game), but they did boast the joint-second best defence in the league, behind relegated Tyrone.

With Mayo potentially finding this campaign more difficult than the last, their trip to Clones could prove crucial if they are to replicate last season’s success. If they defend well within their shape and can get O’Donoghue into the game, we think they could edge an entertaining and incredibly close match.

Armagh v Donegal Predictions – TG4, 1.45pm Sunday 22nd February, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds

This is one of those rivalries that transcends the National League, with Armagh and Donegal doing battle every year in the Ulster Championship. The sides have shared some memorable matches in recent years, including the previous two Ulster finals.

These games were modern-day epics, with Donegal edging both after gruelling periods of extra time. In 2024, they prevailed 6-5 in a tense penalty shoot-out, before Niall O’Donnell (0-2) drove over a late winner in a 57-point thriller the following year.

Donegal triumphed again in last season’s Allianz League clash, prevailing by 12 points after a dominant first-half showing. That game saw the return of inspirational former captain Michael Murphy for Jim McGuinness’s men, while Patrick McBrearty held his nerve to score a crucial 0-6.

Of course, Armagh’s defeat here came on the road, and they went unbeaten in all four of their home games in 2025. However, Donegal have the weight of history on their side, while they boast a more varied attack comprising Daire Ó Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, Conor O’Donnell and Oisín Gallen. We’re backing Donegal to secure a competitive and close win.