Monaghan v Donegal Prediction, Betting Odds & Tips (2025)
| Timetable | 20th April, 14:00 GMT |
| Prediction | Donegal To Win! |
| Odds | 1.30 |
| Bookmaker | Lunubet Sports |
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A place in the last four of the Ulster Senior Football Championship awaits the winners as Monaghan and Donegal square off in Clones on Easter Sunday. Jim McGuinness and Donegal are defending the Anglo-Celt Cup and feature amongst the favourites for All-Ireland glory this year.
The Farney Army, on the other hand, are buoyed having won promotion back to the top tier in the Allianz League this spring. Our Monaghan vs Donegal betting tips will be your guide to this Ulster SFC firecracker, along with the best betting sites to help you decide where to bet on the top GAA action.
🏆 Monaghan v Donegal Prediction
Our GAA expert breaks down the Monaghan v Donegal clash and other matchups in the video below – covering form, tactics, and where the value lies.
Donegal are firmly installed now as one of the leading contenders for Sam Maguire glory this summer, after they sent Derry packing from the Ulster Football Championship. Jim McGuinness's side were polished and professional in their approach, and they held Derry at arm's length across the 70 minutes in Ballybofey for a comfortable 10-point win. The Tir Conaill outfit should be anticipating more success here, but Monaghan are likely to pose more questions in Clones than Derry did last time. Gabriel Bannigan will need to prepare Monaghan for an intense test in Ulster football, especially given their performance over the last decade. However, it may be a difficult task for Monaghan in their first season without Conor McManus.
Consequently, our prediction for the match is a victory for the reigning Ulster champions. Check out our sports brand reviews to find bookmakers with competitive odds and features. Easter Sunday will be a hectic day, so it's worth answering one key question now - what channel is Monaghan v Donegal on? Live coverage from Clones on Sunday is exclusive to GAA+ subscribers.
OUR PREDICTION: 🏆 DONEGAL TO WIN 🏆
💯 Monaghan v Donegal Betting Odds
Monaghan are on home turf in St Tiernach's Park, but in truth, Clones has become a home away from home for Donegal and their followers since McGuinness' first stint in charge in 2011. They've raised the Anglo-Celt six times and appeared in five more finals in those 13 years. Of course, two of those final defeats were against Monaghan in 2013 and 2015, but the Farney Army aren't as strong now as they were then, and Donegal's blossoming squad is the envy of the country.
McGuinness is now leading Donegal in the Ulster SFC for a sixth season, and he's only ever lost one match in the powder keg atmosphere of this championship, an incredible feat for the Glenties native. His side are strong favourites to progress as the Monaghan v Donegal odds below indicate, with plenty of free bets offers for this seismic Ulster showdown.
✔️ Monaghan v Donegal Betting Tips
Donegal were much too strong for Derry in Ballybofey a fortnight ago, despite a cagey start to the game in which the Oak Leafers were allowed to dictate the terms of engagement for around 15 minutes. Once Donegal had sussed things out, they powered clear to a healthy half-time lead. Derry kicked five quick points after the break to get within two, but the Ulster champions took control again and were 10 clear at the end. This brought the likes of Oisin Gallen off the bench in the second half.
Donegal are fancied to come home with clear daylight to spare in this Ulster quarter-final. Daire Ó Baoill was excellent for Donegal in their opening win over Derry. For the second year running, he found the net against the Oak Leaf side, but he also kicked two fine long-range scores in the first half. He should be able to find plenty of pockets of space in Clones to get on the scoreboard. Conor McCarthy was one of Monaghan's stars en route to winning Division 2 of the Allianz League this spring. He kicked a two-pointer in Croke Park in the final against Roscommon and should leave his mark on this Ulster championship contest.
- Tip 1: Donegal -4 points: Kicking a tally of 1-25 against Derry was impressive from Donegal, even more so given they had 11 different scorers on the day. They are serious All-Ireland contenders this summer and should overcome a four-point handicap in Clones at a price of 1.91 with BoyleSports.
- Tip 2: Daire Ó Baoill anytime goalscorer: Daire Ó Baoill was pulling the strings for Donegal in that win over Derry. With so much focus on marking Ryan McHugh, the Gweedore man was allowed to roam free and he once more showed his eye for goal.
- Tip 3: Conor McCarthy to score two or more points: Monaghan wing-back Conor McCarthy was keen to run at the Roscommon rearguard whenever the chance arose in the league final and he delivered a super two-point kick in Croke Park. The only way the Farney Army can match Donegal is with attacking intent and he could be key to that.
📈 Monaghan Squad Form
For the first time since 2007, Monaghan are without Conor McManus heading into the Ulster Championship as the Clontibret ace has hung up the boots and embarked on a career as a pundit. His loss will be keenly felt but boss Gabriel Bannigan has done well adapting. Jack McCarron and captain Micheal Bannigan have impressed this spring, and the kicking power of goalkeeper Rory Beggan is a big aid.
⚽ Donegal Squad Form
Donegal had the luxury of leaving all-star forward Oisin Gallen on the sideline against Derry, but he came on and stretched his legs in the second half. Skipper Paddy McBrearty scored seven points, four from play, and looked good while returning hero Michael Murphy looked lean and mean as the 2012 All-Ireland winner played his first Championship game in three years, having swapped the microphone for his boots after being talked out of retirement by his mentor, Jim McGuinness.
👕 Monaghan vs Donegal Predicted Lineups
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✒️ Monaghan v Donegal - H2H Stats
The McGuinness era in Donegal has only ever witnessed one Ulster Championship loss, and it came against Monaghan in the 2013 Ulster final as the Farney Army won the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time since 1988. They repeated the dose in 2015 in Clones but will be up against it now despite the previous Monaghan v Donegal H2H stats.
🎯 Updates from GAA Twitter (X)
Jim McGuinness has coaxed Michael Murphy out of retirement, and the All-Ireland-winning Donegal skipper looks like he was never away. Can the McGuinness/Murphy combo take Donegal to their seventh Anglo-Celt triumph since 2011, or will Monaghan be the fly in the ointment for the Tir Conaill side, as they were in 2013 and 2015?
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!