Down v Donegal Prediction, Preview & Odds – Ulster Championship
We have a Down v Donegal prediction along with the betting odds for you ahead of their clash in the Ulster Quarter-Final Sunday afternoon.
The winner of this game will go on to face Cavan or Armagh in the Ulster Semi-Final on April 29th.
Match Info
When? 2.00 pm, Sunday, April 23rd
Where? Páirc Esler, Newry, Co. Down
TV Channel? BBC 2 NI
Down v Donegal Preview
Down’s Form
Down will be playing their league football in Division 3 next year following narrowly missing out on promotion to Division 2 on the final day through points difference.
Fermanagh won the division with 12 points from their seven matches, Cavan came second with 10-points and a points difference of +36 Down came third with 10-points and a points difference of +15 after winning five and losing two matches.
Down had the second-best attack in the division with 129 points which is an average of 18.42 points per match only one less than Cavan with 130. However, defensively they were open at the back with their 114 points conceded an average of 16.28 per match being the fifth worst in the division.
Donegal’s Form
Donegal will play their football in Division 2 next season after being relegated from Division 1 with a record of one win, one draw and five defeats during their league campaign.
The win coming in a 0-13 to 0-12 home victory v Kerry in Round 1 and the draw coming at home hosting Galway in Round 4 in a 1-09 to 0-12 score. Donegal’s 76-point total an average of 10.85 per match was the worst in the division with next worst being Armagh with 95-points.
Donegal also had a poor defence their 117 points conceded an average of 16.71 points per match was the second worst in the league after Monaghan on 119 points.
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Key Players To Watch
Pat Havern
The Down forward is their main attacking outlet, scoring 1-25 in his seven league matches which was the third-highest total in Division 3.
If Down are to pull off the upset on Sunday, then Pat Havern will need to get at least his average of four points per match against a leaky Donegal defence.
Donegal who?
Donegal are in trouble with the likes Michael Murphy retired, new captain Paddy McBrearty missing the entire league campaign through injury and now star man Ryan McHugh is stepping away from the panel for the summer.
This Donegal side look depleted and it remains to be seen who will step it up and lead their Ulster Championship challenge this season not to mind looking ahead to the All-Ireland Series.
Down v Donegal Head-to-Head Results
Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25 | 2021 Ulster Championship Preliminary round
Donegal 2-22 Down 1-12| 2018 Ulster Championship Semi-Final
Donegal 0-12 Down 0-09| 2013 Ulster Championship Semi-Final
These two counties have met three times over the course of the last ten years in the Ulster Championship. Donegal are the team with the clear advantage over this past decade with three wins from the last three games between these sides in the Ulster Championship, the last two of which came by big margins.
Down v Donegal Betting Odds
The odds makers make Down underdogs as we get closer to Sunday’s game! They can be currently gotten at 11/8.
Donegal are favourites who can be gotten at 8/11 while the draw is 15/2.
The handicap for the game is Down +1 at EVS.
Down v Donegal Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Down 0-14 Donegal 0-18
Donegal may have been relegated from Division 1 but they were playing a lot more high-quality sides than Down in Division 3 so expect that to make the difference.
Best Bet: Donegal Winning Margin 4-6 Points 4/1
As the provincial championships continue the All-Ireland race is starting to become clearer. You can check out our All-Ireland Football Odds post where we take a look at who are the teams most likely to win the Sam Maguire in 2023.
Click Below For All Our Down v Donegal Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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