Mayo v Kerry National League Prediction and Betting Odds

We have a Mayo v Kerry prediction along with the betting odds for you ahead of a cracking National League game this Saturday evening.

Match Info

When? 7.30pm, Saturday, March 18th

Where? McHale Park, Castlebar, Mayo

TV Channel? TG4

Mayo v Kerry Preview

Mayo’s Form

We are now heading into the third week of the National League which means that inter-county gaelic football is well and truly in full swing for 2023. So there is form to be analysed from games that really matter.

Mayo’s opening rounds have been some of the most interesting of any county’s. They kicked off division one of the National League with a draw at McHale Park against provincial rivals Galway. In truth, Mayo were lucky to get a draw out of that game.

Galway played most of the football but a last gasp kick from Ryan O’Donoghue saved the team a point on the opening day against last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

The second round was Kevin McStay’s troops head north to the Athletic Grounds where Armagh lay in wait. This was a much better performance from the westerners than we saw in the opening round. They looked fluid in attack which allowed them to turn a two point halftime deficit into a five point lead with less than seven minutes of normal time remaining.

However, from a position where Mayo should have closed the game out they did anything but. Collapse is the word that comes to mind when analysing the team’s performance in the closing minutes against Armagh. Disappointment another.

Armagh were allowed to pick off points with ease before Rian O’Neill would eventually level affairs with the last meaningful kick of the game to see Mayo squander a point and left having to settle for another draw.

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Kerry’s Form

Kerry came into 2023 off of the back of one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen from a county in 2022. They won everything that was available to them last year including this tournament when they dominated Mayo in the decider.

For all the glory of 2022, Jack O’Connor’s men were soon brought back to reality on their opening day of the 2023 National League up in Ballybofey. Donegal ambushed them that day without the services of David and Paudie Clifford.

The result raised a few eyebrows in gaelic football circles around the country. Maybe Kerry are not the force that they were last year? Those doubts didn’t last for long however as they welcomed Monaghan to Killarney and in the process reminded everyone just how good they can be.

Paudie Clifford, fresh off of an All-Ireland junior title with his club Fossa, returned and with him so did Kerry’s elite attacking play. Clifford scored a memorable solo goal during the game as Kerry stormed to an 11-point victory over the farneymen.

Normal service has been resumed ahead of this game against Mayo which will be a rematch of both an All-Ireland quarter-final last year and last season’s division one league final. Kerry were victorious in both and by a wide margin each time.

Key Players To Watch

Paudie Clifford

David Clifford is the best player in the country by a mile and perhaps he might end up as the best we’ve ever seen kick a football around a gaelic pitch. But while David gets all the shine (and deservedly so) we sometimes forget just how good his brother Paudie is.

Paudie has become a pivotal player for Kerry and he reminded the gaelic football world just how good he is with his performance last time out against Monaghan. He had 1-01 to his name that day and the Mayo defence will need to key in on the Fossa man or he could rack up a similar tally this Saturday.

Ryan O’Donoghue

O’Donoghue is quickly becoming Mayo’s best player. The Mayo corner-forward just has everything you could ever wish for from a forward in gaelic football.

He can kick it off of his right or off of his left with deadly accuracy. The Belmullet man is more than happy to take his man on and his quick acceleration means that he can buy a half-yard in a crowded defence like no other. His role as free taker for this team will likely see him racking up the points in this game.

Mayo v Kerry Head-to-Head Results

Kerry 1-18 Mayo 0-13 | 2022 All-Ireland Quarter-Final

Kerry 3-19 Mayo 0-13 | 2022 Division One National League Final

Kerry 1-12 Mayo 0-14 | 2022 National League

Mayo v Kerry Betting Odds

Our odds makers find it hard to separate these two teams in the betting ahead of this game. Kerry are the slight favourites at odds of 4/5 to win on Saturday evening.

Mayo on the other hand find themselves as home underdogs at odds of 11/8 in the betting.

The handicap for the game is Kerry -1 at Evens odds.

Mayo v Kerry Prediction & Best Bet

I can’t pick against Kerry here after what we saw from them in the last game against Monaghan. After an opening round stumble against Donegal they seem to be back in their irresistible 2022 form.

Mayo on the other hand looked good for stretches against Armagh but still haven’t been able to put two good halves of football together from their opening two games of this National League.

There is also the fact that Kerry have got the better of Mayo the last three times these teams have went head-to-head, and by some distance in their two most recent meetings.

Prediction: Kerry 1-13 Mayo 0-12

Best Bet: Kerry -1 at Evens

*Prices subject to fluctuation
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