Sports bettors in Ireland have plenty to look forward to in 2024, with the upcoming calendar packed with a host of top-class events at club and international level.
With the country’s soccer team failing to qualify for the European Championship, the pathway is clear for other sports to garner some positive headlines for the Emerald Isle.
Rugby inevitably features at the forefront of our thinking, so read on as we look at some of the teams who could be worth wagering on over the next 12 months.
Six Nations Championship
After sweeping to the Grand Slam in the 2023 Six Nations Championship, Ireland were installed as one of the betting favourites to win the World Cup in France.
They won all four games during the opening phase to set up a quarter-final meeting with New Zealand, but were unable to get the job done in Saint-Denis.
Ireland will be keen to bounce back in the Six Nations, although they must overcome a tough fixture list that features trips to France and England.
Andy Farrell’s side can be backed at 6/4 to retain their title, and they will fancy their chances of achieving the feat despite their difficult schedule.
France also exited the World Cup in the last eight, while England took advantage of a favourable draw to reach the semi-finals.
Ireland are perfectly capable of recording victories over their main rivals and should mount a strong bid to claim another Six Nations title.
European Champions Cup
The European Champions Cup has not been kind to Irish teams in recent years, and they will be eager to set the record straight this time around.
Leinster were the last Irish team to win the tournament in 2018 and they have since finished as runners-up in three of the last five editions.
Despite this, leading online bookmakers have installed Leinster as the 2/1 favourites to lift the prestigious trophy for the fifth time this century.
Reigning champions La Rochelle are aiming to become just the second side to win three straight Champions Cups and will likely be the biggest threat to Leinster’s hopes.
However, Leinster recently demonstrated their title credentials by defeating La Rochelle 16-9 in France in their opening pool stage fixture.
While there was little to choose between the two sides on this occasion, the result will give Leinster a much-needed confidence boost for the rest of the competition.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Rugby is naturally our primary focus on this site, but it would be churlish not to acknowledge that many Irish fans enjoy wagering on Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) events.
The annual All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is one of the biggest betting events of the year on the Emerald Isle, with ante-post odds available months ahead of the final showdown.
Kerry are undoubtedly the most successful team in the history of the competition, claiming the prestigious title on 38 previous occasions.
They came up short in last year’s final, with Dublin defeating them after an epic battle to secure their 31st All-Ireland football title.
There is little to choose between the two teams in the latest GAA betting, with Kerry the 15/8 favourites while Dublin are priced at 3/1.
Slight preference is for the reigning champions, although it would be no surprise to see the record-time winners knock them off their perch.
