Meath v Galway Prediction: Preview, Odds & Betting Tips (2025)
| Timetable | 29th June, 13:45 GMT |
| Prediction | Galway To Win! |
| Odds | |
| Bookmaker | Lunubet Sports |
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The All-Ireland SFC 2025 has reached the quarter-final stage, and this weekend delivers four mouthwatering showdowns at Croke Park in what has quickly become the most wide-open race for Sam Maguire in years. The first of Sunday’s double-header will see Meath facing Galway in Championship action for the first time since 2011.
Padraic Joyce and Galway are eager to go one better than last year's narrow All-Ireland final defeat. Meath, meanwhile, have already shocked the nation by beating both Dublin and Kerry, though they stumbled in the Leinster final against Louth despite high expectations. Who will emerge victorious? Read on for our Meath v Galway prediction, and don’t forget to explore the best places to bet on this mega weekend of GAA action in our sportsbook reviews section.
🏆 Meath vs Galway Prediction
Many observers have labelled this as a 'good draw' for Galway. Padraic Joyce’s men have flirted with disaster on more than one occasion this season, losing to Dublin, narrowly escaping in Derry, and needing a dramatic comeback to overcome Armagh. These experiences, however, have toughened them up for what lies ahead.
Galway have consistently shown an ability to edge tense battles over the past year. Last summer, they dispatched both Dublin and Donegal before falling by a single point in the All-Ireland final.
More recently, they dug deep to get the better of Derry and Armagh, and against Down last Sunday, they found an extra gear in the second half when it was most needed. Excluding the All-Ireland final, their record in close encounters speaks volumes.
They also have the big-game experience to outfox Meath. The Royals caught Dublin off-guard on a blustery day in Leinster and took advantage of Kerry’s injury concerns to complete a stunning double. However, they faltered against Louth in the provincial final at Croke Park.
Robbie Brennan’s side has had a fantastic campaign, but Galway’s experience may ultimately prove decisive. Our Meath v Galway betting tips begin with backing the Connacht champions to prevail. Before placing your bets, consider some of these free bet offers for this massive quarter-final weekend at Croke Park.
OUR PREDICTION: 🏆 GALWAY TO WIN 🏆
💯 Meath v Galway Betting Odds
Most Irish bookmakers have made Galway firm favourites. They were All-Ireland finalists 11 months ago, narrowly losing out, while Meath were competing in the Tailteann Cup. The Tribesmen know this path well and have shown they can handle pressure when the going gets tough.
The Meath v Galway betting odds reflect the gap in experience, with the Royals needing a season-defining performance to reach an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time in 24 years.
✔️ Meath v Galway Betting Tips
Galway made harder work of their win over Down last weekend than they should have. They led by 10 at half-time and were dominating. A prolonged four-minute spell of possession ended with a point from Matthew Tierney, extending their lead to seven midway through the second half. But pressure on their kickouts allowed Down to close the gap to two before Peter Cooke and Daniel O’Flaherty came off the bench to help steady the ship. A goal from Odhran Murdock on 65 minutes and a late two-pointer by Ryan McEvoy kept it tight, but Galway were clearly the better side overall.
Shane Walsh silenced some critics with a clutch free in the final 10 minutes, while Matthew Thompson added five points and Rob Finnerty chipped in with six. Cillian McDaid, an All-Star last season, contributed two points in Newry and continues to thrive on the Croke Park stage.
Last weekend’s game in Newry produced 62 total points—a figure unlikely to be repeated here. Meath’s win over Kerry featured 41 points, with the Kingdom limited to just 16. Their Leinster final clash with Louth saw 44 points, despite conceding three goals. With Galway likely to control possession once ahead, under 45.5 total points at odds of 2.13 looks appealing.
- Tip 1: Galway -3.5 points: Galway could have won by more against Down, and their superior game management should help them cover the spread against this Meath team.
- Tip 2: Cillian McDaid to be Man of the Match: His powerful runs are perfect for the open spaces of Croke Park. While he’s been quiet of late, Galway’s title ambitions hinge on him stepping up.
- Tip 3: Total points under 45.5: Newry saw a scoring frenzy, but Meath held Kerry to 16 and Dublin to 1-16. Galway aren’t a risk-taking side and will keep things tight if ahead. Expect a cagey affair.
Watch our weekend GAA Preview: Key Insights and Forecasts
⚽Meath Squad Form
While much has been made of the tight turnaround for these quarter-finals, Meath come in fresh after a fortnight’s rest following their seismic win in Tullamore, where they crushed Munster champions Kerry by nine points to top Group 2 and book a direct route into the last eight.
That win came just a year after Kerry had trounced them by 15 points in Navan, highlighting the incredible transformation under Robbie Brennan. Even without James Conlon, Meath’s attack clicked through Eoghan Frayne, Ruairí Kinsella, and Conor Duke. Bryan Menton sealed the win with a second-half goal, and wing-back Ciaran Caulfield was outstanding.
Meath have pulled off a rare feat by beating both Dublin and Kerry in the same Championship. Given Galway’s inconsistent moments this season, the Royals will be quietly confident. This Meath v Galway quarter-final could go either way.
⚽ Galway Squad Form
Galway’s travel schedule has been intense, by the time they line out at Croke Park, they'll have clocked up 1850 kilometres across five weekends. Still, Padraic Joyce isn’t complaining. After their gritty win over Down, he said: “It’s a privilege to be playing for Galway... we could be doing worse things on the weekends, to be honest.”
That mindset is shared by his players. Shane Walsh noted after the game that their tough run of fixtures has “stood to us” as they push for back-to-back All-Ireland finals.
However, Walsh is an injury doubt after damaging his shoulder in Newry. He kicked 1-07 before being withdrawn in the 62nd minute, with Joyce admitting he's “in a bit of bother.”
Cillian McDaid also picked up a knock but is expected to be fit, while Damien Comer’s status is unclear. He missed the Down game and hasn’t started a Championship match with Walsh since last year’s All-Ireland final.
👕 Meath v Galway Predicted Lineups
Below is the projected starting lineup for both teams ahead of this eagerly anticipated clash at Croke Park.
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✒️ Meath vs Galway - H2H Stats
This will be the first Championship meeting between the teams in 14 years and the eighth overall. Galway lead the Meath v Galway All-Ireland Football H2H 4-3. However, Meath won the last two clashes in the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2007 and 2011.
Significantly, the Tribesmen prevailed in the 2001 All-Ireland SFC Final at Croke Park—the last time either county lifted the Sam Maguire Cup.
Enda McElhinney
Enda McElhinney is an Irish-based sportswriter, specialising in written content on the GAA, horse racing and football. He has more than a decade of experience across many publications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and betting nous to his craft. You'll find his content featured on many websites, including The Telegraph and Planet Sport. When he isn't at this desk or the racecourse, he loves to unwind on the golf course – though sometimes that can be more stressful than working!