Short-priced favourites stand out in latest GAA odds

Seven championship matches across the provinces this weekend present an excellent opportunity for punters to roll up a few short-priced favourites and further swell their betting coffers.

The world and his dog backed Donegal to overcome the handicap against Antrim last week so we know that you lot are not light of pocket this week.

Here’s some stats that might help you on your way. Fermanagh, yes Divison 4 dwelling Fermanagh, playing in the most competitive of all provinces have not conceded a championship goal in their last six outings.

Bearing in mind that these lads were outsiders for the vast majority of these games it is a rather impressive achievement. You have to go back to the replayed Ulster final of 2008 to find a green flag being raised behind a Fermanagh goalkeeper.

With little to be upbeat about in their league performances and more talk of splits than a celebrity gossip magazine, the Ernesiders here have something of value. Continuing this vein of defence frugality will see them ask some probing questions of Derry.

Here’s another. Wicklow have conceded only three goals in their last 11 championship outings over three years. It suggests that Kildare will need to excel in their point-scoring if they are to cover the spread.

Have a think back to last summer, and despite being the width of a Kalum King fingernail away from reaching the All-Ireland final, you’ll probably recall that Kildare were guilty of some of the most outrageous wides seen in recent Championship history.

This next statistic is a rather damning one. Bar token victories over New York and London, Leitrim have not won a championship match in five years. There’ slittle to suggest that there’s anything coming down the track to arrest this downward trend.

Sligo will be the cornerstone of many multiple bets this weekend at 1/5. Us bookies can but hope that somehow they will underperform, while Leitrim deliver the kind of performance that kicks form and accumulators clean out of Markievicz Park.

If there is to be an upset this weekend, Portlaoise looks the most likely setting. Division 4 champions Longford take on Division 2 runners up Laois. Longford have built some good momentum and have Paul Barden in exceptional form – he has scored a goal in each of his last three appearances for Glenn Ryan’s side.

Laois blow hot and cold. Too often when showing great promise they fail to deliver. At 4/11 I’d rather have them in my book than Longford at 3/1.

Punt On!