Connacht Senior Football Championship 2019 Odds, Preview, and Prediction

The Connacht Senior Football Championship is a yearly gaelic football competition for the senior football teams from the counties of the Connacht Gaelic Athletic Association. All the five county teams from Connacht participate in this tournament and they are joined also by the counties of London and New York. London joined the competition in 1975 while New York started to compete in 1999.

The Connacht Football Championship is played using the knockout system where teams are eliminated once they lose a match. Teams play a series of matches during the summer and the last two teams standing after the knockout stage will play in the final which is scheduled for late June or July of each year. The winner proceeds directly to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship while the ousted teams proceeds to the All-Ireland Qualifiers where they will have a chance to enter the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship via the backdoor.

Galway and Mayo are the top team in the history of the Connacht Football Championship with the former winning a total of 47 titles and the latter just one short at 46. Since 2008, only three teams have been able to win the Connacht Football Championships. Roscommon won twice in 2010 and 2017 while Galway has won it thrice in 2018, 2016 and 2018. On the other hand, Mayo has won six times in 2009 and from 2012-2015.

Schedule of Games

Last March, the Connacht Council confirmed the schedule of games for the 2019 Connacht Football Championship. Mayo will travel to the Bronx to take on New York in the opener on May 5,2019. On the same day, Galway will head to Ruislip to take on London. The third quarterfinals match between Roscommon and Leitrim will be on May 12th.

Here is the complete schedule for the 2019 Connacht Football Championship:

Connacht SFC 2019

5 May – Quarter-Finals

• New York v Mayo, Gaelic Park, 2.15pm (local time)
• London v Galway, Ruislip, 3.30pm

12 May – Quarter-Final

• Roscommon v Leitrim, Dr Hyde Park, 3.30pm

19 May – Semi-Final

• Sligo v London/Galway, Markievicz Park, 3.30pm

25 May – Semi-Final

• New York/Mayo v Roscommon/Leitrim, TBC, 7pm

16 June – Final

Who Are The Favorites?

As stated earlier, Galway won the J.J. Nestor Cup last year via a 0-16 to 2-06 score against Roscommon. Galway ousted Mayo in the quarterfinals before disposing of Sligo in the semis before heading to the final match. This year, Galway is the current gaelic football betting favorite to win the 2019 Connacht Football Championship.

Here are the current odds to win the 2019 Connacht Football Championship. Odds taken from bet365 as of 5/6/19:

Galway is looking to repeat as winners of the Nestor Cup for the first time since 2002-03. They ended an eight year drought by winning the provincial title in 2016. After losing to Roscommon in 2017, they returned the favor on the latter last year by winning their second Nestor Cup in three years.

Last year, Galway made it all the way to the semifinals of the All-Ireland Football Championship for the first time since 2001. And although they got beaten by the would-be champions Dublin heavily in the final four, it was an accomplishment in the right direction and one they are looking to replicate or even better this year.

Winning the Connacht Football championship this year won’t be solely for the prestige of back-to-back titles, it will be for a direct passage to the All-Ireland and an opportunity to build on last year’s success.  Team captain Damien Comer hopes his team will beat London and Sligo without him because he is expected to be back only in the Connacht Football Championship final after undergoing ankle surgery.

Mayo is still without the O’Connor brothers and Seamus O’Shea, but they are expected to win comfortably over New York and move on the semi-finals against Roscommon or Leitrim.

Roscommon upset Galway 0-13 to 1-5 in the FBD Connacht League Final at Tuam stadium last January. However, Galway won over the Rossies 1-17 against 1-10 last March 26th during their encounter in Round 6 of the 2019 National Football League.

Who Wins?

James Horan’s presence and the arrival of new talents ensures that Mayo has a competitive team for the tournament. There is valuable experience in this team and the depth of the squad has definitely improved. The defeat to Kildare in Newbridge was a big setback but they should use it as a springboard for future success.

Roscommon seems to be more stable on defense now and they competed well in the League even if their relegation turned to disappointment. No question there is talent here but the unavailability of key players will hurt them. But don’t count out Anthony Cunningham who is planning to make an impact this year.

Two Connacht titles in the last three years plus an appearance at the semis in the All-Ireland last year is a clear indication of progress in Galway. The competition out west is strong but Galway is determined to take the next step under Kevin Walsh. Several footballers emerged during the League and that’s a good sign. Galway’s rise has been steady and sure.  I expect them to continue to succeed this year. Prediction: Galway

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