Both sides beat Kerry, Tyrone and Dublin, although while Mayo displayed resilience and untypical fortitude to escape with the points, Donegal tended to dominate the top sides and win pulling up. But that abandon hasn't been evident from the Ulster side recently, drawing with Limerick before falling over the line against Fermanagh.

Last week's second-half switch-off against Kildare gives more cause for concern. So it would appear John O'Mahony (right) should get his return off to the perfect start. The fact remains, though, that Mayo at evens in Croke Park against a more physically imposing side is not a good bet. Instead, with both sides having played some expansive football and posting impressive totals this season, take 5-2 on there being three or more goals scored this afternoon. It's been the case in three of the last four games involving Mayo and two of Donegal's last three.

BACK AUSTRALIA TO WIN THE CRICKET WORLD CUP EVENS Odds quoted are from Betfair Hopefully you took our advice and backed New Zealand each way for glory in the Caribbean.

It's probably advisable to cover your each-way bet at this stage though, with semi-final opponents Sri Lanka available at 4-5 on Betfair to reach the final. A couple of games into this World Cup, it might have been advisable to sit tight, but New Zealand have lost momentum after a great start. Sri Lankan paceman Farveez Maharoof had an incredible time against Ireland, while spin genius Muthiah Muralidaran looks in rare form. Throw in the possible return of Lasith Malinga and the Kiwi batsmen, whose con"dence will be low after being skittled out by Australia on Friday, could be in trouble. Having ruthlessly bulldozed their way to the semi-finals, the Aussies are an excellent bet at evens to finish the job and win their third World Cup in a row. They simply don't have any weak links bar, perhaps, a lack of spin. But with Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath in the form they're in, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Don't expect them to take their eye off the ball.

Where the money wasn't. . .

BACK LIVORNO TO DRAW WITH CAGLIARI 1-2 (Betfair) While backing the draw in a soccer match will typically get you at least 2-1, Serie A is different. In the latter stages of a season, odds for games between mid-table sides with little or nothing to play for can be priced up at close to evens, such is the proliferation of stalemates. Last Wednesday, the bookies smelt a rat, pricing up the Livorno v Cagliari match at 6-5, with Betfair matching over ?225,000 on the draw at less than evens. But Dario Knezevic's winning goal for Livorno after 67 minutes burned a few fingers.