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14th Sep 2017

Con O’Callaghan is the bookies’ favourite for man of the match on Sunday

Conan Doherty

There’s money to be made here – if you’re willing to put your money in the hands of RTÉ pundits.

Man of the match in any GAA clash is pretty damn difficult but now multiply that by at least 10 when you add in 20 more quality players into the mix. And when you factor in the RTÉ analysts’ notions.

Dublin and Mayo are the perfect match. They’re the two best teams, they’ve all the household names, they know each other far too well.

The line-ups and match-ups are going to be absolutely fascinating and then the game’s going to start and that will be breathless.

One of the odds markets being offered ahead of the All-Ireland final is really worth a glance even if it’s difficult to say right now who’s going to play where.

Over on Paddy Power, they’re taking bets on RTÉ Man of the Match and young Con O’Callaghan, who only made his championship breakthrough this season, is right out ahead of everyone else.

In fact, five Dublin players are there before a man in green and red even appears – perhaps it makes sense because they have Mayo at bloody 3/1 to win.

Diarmuid Connolly, despite being odds-on NOT to start, is fourth on the list for man of the match whilst Aidan O’Shea is the highest-ranked Mayo player.

Interestingly, you’d imagine that either Lee Keegan or Colm Boyle will be detailed to pick up Con O’Callaghan but they’re way out in the odds standing at 16 and 22/1 respectively. That’s lick-your-lips type of value.

On The GAA Hour, the panel discussed some of the options.

“Brian Fenton came through and got man of the match in his first year – at 16/1, I think that’s an exceptionally good bet,” Steven McDonnell said.

“Lee Keegan at 16/1 is certainly worth value for money as well. 

“It’s a lottery. When you look at the quality of players on show on Sunday, there are that many of them who can turn up and perform.”

Don’t forget that Colm Boyle will be playing the entire match completely and utterly paranoid that he’s going to be called ashore by Stephen Rochford at any second so he’ll be doing everything in his power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Tom Parsons at 40/1 also seems very generous to the punter.

Listen to the odds chat on The GAA Hour from 57:00 below.

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