Underdogs may find there’s little home advantage

HOME advantage has proven crucial in the restructured hurling championships so far this year. Of the six teams that have made their way through to the All-Ireland series from Leinster and Munster, five went unbeaten on home soil (Wexford the only exception). But it has been a very different story in the football qualifiers. In the first round, only one of eight home teams got the job done (Offaly) — and if the bookies are to be believed, that could well prove the case again this weekend. Of the eight qualifiers down for decision, seven of the teams with home advantage will go in as underdogs. And the eighth ‘home team’ Cavan — who are favourites to beat Down — have had to forego their home advantage due to ongoing work on their pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park. All seven home teams to be beaten (excluding Cavan) is 15/2 — which is interesting when compared to the prices to reach the Super 8s (see panel bottom left). Galway are already through, with the team they vanquished in the Connacht final, Roscommon, ninth in the betting to reach the group stages. Which curiously puts them behind the likes of Tyrone, Mayo and Monaghan (all 5/6) who would have to win three games to get there — while Roscommon need only win the once. If home soil is to prove advantageous for anyone in the qualifiers this weekend the upsets look most likely to come in Longford or Offaly. Longford showed the difference home field can make when stunning Meath in the Leinster Championship at Pearse Park, and they look tempting at 2/1 to repeat the dose today against a Kildare team still rattling from defeat to Carlow, although having steadied the ship with a big win up in Derry last time out. A rejuvenated Offaly, meanwhile, under new boss Paul Rouse, will certainly fancy their chances against a Clare team that shipped a whopping 22-point loss to Kerry in the Munster semi-final. But one team that will be relishing home advantage today more than any other will be Cork as they prepare to host their first Munster final at the refurbished Páirc Uí Chaoimh. They’re 3/1 to do a number on old rivals Kerry, and if there is one team that can make home advantage count when completely written off, it’s a Rebels outfit with their tails up.