Armagh listed as third favourites to win the Sam Maguire as the Championship reaches crunch time

The 2023 champions Dublin and 2022 champions Kerry have been backed as the two most likely teams to win the Sam Maguire since the outset of the tournament, and this remains the case with the Dubs listed at 13/8 and the Kingdom listed at 2/1 heading into the knockout rounds.

Following those two is Armagh, who are currently listed as the third favourites to win the Sam Maguire with odds listed at 15/2.

Paddy Power don’t keep historical odds, with a source citing ‘limited storage capacity’ as the reason. However, an educated guess says that this is the first time Armagh have been listed as a top three favourite to win Sam Maguire since at least 2008 – the last year they won the Ulster Championship.

Armagh haven’t reached the last four of the competition since 2005 and in each of the last two seasons they have fallen at the quarter-final stage on penalties. The Orchard County booked their place in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive year this past Sunday, as they drew against Galway and topped their group.

Joining Dublin, Kerry and Armagh in the quarter-finals is Donegal, who pipped Kieran McGeeney’s side on penalties in the Ulster final, and they are listed as fourth favourites to win the competition with a price of 8/1.

Other sides with a chance of All-Ireland success according to the bookies are Connacht finalists Galway (12/1) and Mayo (14/1), whilst Ulster sides Derry and Tyrone (22/1) are both seen as outsiders.

Of course odds are subject to change and the All-Ireland picture will become much clearer after this weekend’s preliminary quarter-finals take place.

Armagh won’t be able to meet Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Galway or Derry in the last eight, and will instead meet one of Cork, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon or Tyrone.

Can Armagh go all the way and win a first All-Ireland title since 2002? Have your say in the comments.

All odds provided by Paddy Power.