Well, summer 2026 is shaping up to be quite the season for major sporting events. Whilst a great deal of sporting eyes will be fixed firmly on Wimbledon and the 2026 Football World Cup, fans of the All-Ireland SFC (Senior Football Championship) will be watching intently over the next few weeks.
With the final set to be contested on the 26th of July, after a thrilling weekend of sporting action, only four teams remain in the tournament. Either Dublin, Louth, Mayo, or defending champions Kerry will be victorious by the end of the month. With both Monaghan and Tyrone being eliminated in the quarter finals, for the first time since 2016, we will see no Ulster representation in the semis. That much is certain. Another certainty, however, is the fact that the remaining matches could prove very fruitful for those thinking of having a flutter and placing a cheeky bet or two.
So, what do we think? Will Kerry retain their title, will Dublin get the win, or could we see an upset? Well, here’s what the bookmakers think.
Kerry and Dublin Bookmaker’s Favourites
Having won the tournament in 2025, it is currently Kerry whom the majority of bookies out there are tipping for glory come July 26th. As of this writing, Bet365 and BetVictor are both currently offering 1/2 odds for Kerry to emerge victorious.
Nipping at their heels, however, are Dublin, who are 4/1 across the board.
At 5/1 with both BetVictor and Bet365, Mayo are also in with a real shout. The outsiders at this time, however, are Louth, who are 10/1 with both BetVictor and Bet365. As we all know however, particularly in the All-Ireland SFC, anything can happen over the next few weeks.
Kerry Still Favourites Despite Vulnerabilities
As we just saw, the bookies still believe Kerry have what it takes to retain their title, despite a huge scare in their quarter final showdown with Tyrone over the weekend.
Ultimately, it was Jack O’Connor’s side who took the win with a 2-25 to 0-27 performance. In the second half, substitute Darren McCurry led a plucky comeback for Tyrone and was able to hit 0-10 to give Tyrone real hope. Ultimately, a goal from Armin Heinrich and a late Paudie Clifford point was enough to seal the deal and secure a semi-final showdown with Dublin.
Paudie Clifford could be the difference maker here, and providing he stays fit, he will surely prove quite the handful for Dublin in the semis.
Never Count Out Dublin
In other sporting action over the weekend at Croke Park, Dublin were able to rally and stage a remarkable second-half comeback when they defeated Galway 1-25 to 1-21 to book their place in the semi-finals.
Whilst Kerry have Paudie Clifford, Dublin have Con O’Callaghan in their arsenal, and he was on fire against Galway. For a long time, Dublin looked down and out, until O’Callaghan inspired a remarkable comeback scoring late on to put the game to bed.
Louth and Mayo Overshadowed?
While most of the action has focussed on what will surely be an epic semi-final showdown between Kerry and Dublin, we must remember that the second semi-final will be contested between Louth and Mayo.
Louth may be the outsiders having secured their first semi-final appearance since 1957, but they got here for a reason. Mayo also displayed a great deal of grit and determination to overcome Cork. That means that we are guaranteed to see either Mayo or Louth in the final, which in itself, is really quite remarkable.