Dublin v Monaghan Prediction, Preview & Odds – All-Ireland Semi-Final

We have a Dublin v Monaghan prediction for you plus all the betting odds in our preview of the first All-Ireland semi-final this weekend.

How To Watch Dublin v Monaghan

When? 5.30pm, Saturday, July 15th

Where? Croke Park, Dublin

TV Channel: RTÉ 2 & BBC 2 NI

Dublin v Monaghan Preview

Dublin’s Form

Path To The All-Ireland Semi-Final

Leinster Championship

Laois 2-09 Dublin 4-30 | Quarter-Final

Kildare 0-12 Dublin 0-14 | Semi-Final

Louth 0-15 Dublin 5-21 | Final

All-Ireland Group 3

Dublin 1-11 Roscommon 0-14 | Round 1

Kildare 0-13 Dublin 0-22 | Round 2

Dublin 3-23 Sligo 0-08 | Round 3

All-Ireland Quarter-Final

Dublin 2-17 Mayo 0-11

League Form

After suffering a shock relegation from Division 1 in the 2022 National League Dublin played their football in Division 2 this season.

Many expected Dublin to cruise through Division 2 this spring but in truth they didn’t have it all their own way at times. The Dubs had a few shaky performances along the way but in the end they did enough to book a Division 2 final spot. Their record in the league from 7 games played was 6 wins and 1 loss with a points differential of +30. That lone loss came at the hands of Derry in Celtic Park.

Dublin would get a chance to avenge that defeat as it was Derry who were the opposition in the Division 2 final on April 2nd in Croke Park. Despite an underwhelming first half effort which saw the Boys in Blue trail by 2 points at the break they were able to blitz Derry in the second half to secure the Division 2 title.

It was as if the Dubs just flicked a switch in that second half as they tore a highly touted Derry defence asunder for four goals.

Overall, it was a successful league campaign for Dublin although if you were being critical you would say that they didn’t play up to the standards that we’ve come to expect of them at times. Division 1 football awaits next season.

Championship Form

Dublin won their 13th consecutive Leinster title this May in what has become akin to a procession in the east.

Their first outing saw them trash Laois on a scoreline of 4-30 to 2-09. There’s not really much to take from that result except that Dublin are a class apart from Laois.

Their biggest test came in the semi-final where they faced Kildare who they only managed to beat by a single point in this year’s National League. The Lilywhites pushed Dublin all the way and had every chance at winning that game. The Dubs only took the lead for the first time in the game after 60 minutes but they managed to do just enough to run out 2-point winners.

Louth were the opposition in the Leinster Final and they offered little resistance as Dublin cruised to a 5-21 to 0-15 win and another Leinster title.

The Dubs were drawn in Group 3 of the novel All-Ireland group stage along with Kildare, Roscommon and Sligo.

In their first outing they struggled mightily against Roscommon in Croke Park. The Rossies led by 4 points at half-time in a game that Dublin went into as heavy favourites. The Dubs did manage to rally back to draw the game in the end but not before Roscommon had the chance to steal it with a 50 metre free with the last kick of the game.

That performance against Roscommon put more question marks around this Dublin team and what we should expect from them this summer. To be fair to Dessie Farrell’s men they did bounce back from that draw by comfortably beating Kildare and then sweeping Sligo aside to top the group and advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final.

The All-Ireland Quarter-Final saw Dublin come up against old foes Mayo in a renewal of one of the defining rivalries of the 21st century. Both teams traded scores in the opening period with only a single point separating the two as they returned to the dressing rooms. However, that soon changed in the opening minutes of the second-half as the Dubs blitzed Mayo to all but end the game as a contest before the 50th minute. That second half reminded spectators of Dublin at their brilliant best.

Monaghan’s Form

Path To The All-Ireland Semi-Final

Ulster Championship

Tyrone 1-18 Monaghan 2-17 | Quarter-Final

Derry 1-21 Monaghan 2-10 | Semi-Final

All-Ireland Group 4

Derry 0-14 Monaghan 0-14 | Round 1

Monaghan 1-23 Clare 1-18 | Round 2

Monaghan 0-17 Donegal 0-19 | Round 3

All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final

Kildare 0-13 Monaghan 1-11

All-Ireland Quarter-Final

Armagh 0-14 Monaghan 0-14 (Monaghan won 9-8 on penalties)

League Form

The Pope is a Catholic and Monaghan will play their football in Division 1 of the National League next year. Some things in life never change.

Monaghan weren’t overly convincing during this year’s National League campaign but they did just enough, as they always seem to, and avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth.

A final day win against a Mayo side that had already booked their spot in the Division 1 Final was enough to ensure that they would finish 6th and one point above relegation.

Championship Form

The Farney county were given the tough task of travelling to Omagh to kick off their Ulster Championship campaign. Tyrone played the better football in the first half of that game and could really have been out of sight at the break if they had their shooting boots on. Monaghan never went away however, and were able to steal the game at the death with a goal from wing-back Ryan O’Toole.

This result booked them a semi-final spot against Derry. This was a game that Monaghan were always chasing from the start as the Oak Leaf County maintained a comfortable gap throughout the 70 minutes before running out as 8-point winners. This result was a real setback for Monaghan and put serious question marks around what we could expect from this side come the business end of the Championship.

In the All-Ireland series group stage they were drawn with fellow Ulster counties Derry and Donegal plus Clare. Their first outing was a rematch against Derry and this time out Vinnie Corey’s side gave a much better account of themselves as they earned a draw in a game they led most of the way.

Next up was Clare at home. In that game Monaghan rallied from one point behind in the last 25 minutes to win on a scoreline of 1-23 to 1-18.

Donegal were the opposition in the final round with Monaghan needing a draw to secure a home preliminary quarter-final. Given Donegal’s troubles Monaghan were expected to win this game but they were wasteful with their shooting which saw them fall to a 2-point defeat.

That loss meant that the Farney county finished third and had to travel away to take on Kildare for a spot in the quarter-finals. This game was a battle for Monaghan as Kildare were on top for long periods. The Lilywhites even went into injury time a point up but Jack McCarron soon replied from a free before wing-back Conor McCarthy broke Kildare hearts with a last gasp winner from play.

Last time out for Monaghan they played provincial rivals Armagh in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final. Armagh were fancied going into that game but this Monaghan team had other ideas. They kept the game close throughout with a gritty performance. In the end penalties were required to separate the two teams and it was the Farney County’s men who held their nerve to advance.

So, How’s The Form?

The form for Monaghan this season has been up and down. According to the latest betting odds they are rated as the biggest outsiders to win Sam Maguire. I think that’s a fair assessment of their chances too. With that said, they have managed a win against Tyrone in Omagh, earned a draw against Derry and beaten a fancied Armagh side last time out so you can’t count them out ahead of this game.

Dublin v Monaghan Betting Odds

Dublin – 1/8

Monaghan – 13/2

Draw – 14/1

Handicap: Dublin -7

Dublin go into this All-Ireland semi-final as massive favourites at odds of 1/8 in the match betting market. That means Monaghan are big underdogs ahead of this game with the ulster county priced up at odds of 13/2.

If you fancy this game to end in a draw after 70 minutes you can back that at odds of 14/1.

Key Players To Watch

Con O’Callaghan

What is there to say about Con O’Callaghan that hasn’t already been said. One of the very best forwards in the modern game who burst onto the scene as a fresh faced 21-year-old in 2017. The Cuala clubman was a crucial part of Dublin’s All-Ireland success that year with a goal against Mayo in the opening seconds of that year’s final proving decisive.

The now 27-year-old has remained a pivotal part of the Dublin squad ever since then and is back playing some of his best football this year. Last time out O’Callaghan had a quiet day at the office with only 0-2 against Mayo and he will be looking to do more damage on the scoreboard in this game.

Conor McManus

The Monaghan legend is entering the twilight of his career now at 36 years old but he remains a crucial player in this Monaghan squad.

McManus has been deployed from the bench in recent games. This is a new role for the veteran forward who is now a ‘closer’ rather than a starter. But as we all know the most crucial moments of a game are those towards the end and when Monaghan need a score in the big moments the ball always seems to find its way into the hands of McManus.

If Monaghan can keep this game close into the dying minutes this Saturday evening then don’t be surprised to see McManus to pop up with a few crucial scores when his county need him most.

Dublin v Monaghan Head-To-Head Results

Monaghan 3-13 Dublin 1-18 | 2022 National League

Dublin 1-15 Monaghan 1-15 | 2020 National League

Monaghan 2-13 Dublin 1-13 | 2019 National League

Dublin 1-19 Monaghan 0-12 | 2017 All-Ireland Quarter-Final

It might come to a surprise to many but Monaghan have actually had the better of this fixture in recent times as they are unbeaten in the last three games between these teams including two wins.

However, the last time these teams met in the Championship it was Dublin who came out on top by a comfortable ten point margin.

Dublin v Monaghan Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Dublin 3-15 Monaghan 0-13

I’m predicting a comfortable Dublin win here. Monaghan have done well to get to this stage of the Championship but I think this will be a step too far for them against a Dublin team that is really hitting their stride.

Best Bet: Dublin -7 & Dublin over 20.5 points @ 7/5

The other game on in Croke Park this Saturday is the Tailteann Cup Final and we previwed that game between Down and Meath in a recent post.

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