In this post, you can find our FAI Cup Quarter-Final Preview as we gear toward the business end of Ireland’s premiere cup competition.
FAI Cup Acca Selections
Athlone Town vs Drogheda United - Drogheda Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 10/3
Wexford vs Treaty United – Wexford -1 @ 2/1
UCD v Bohemians – UCD @ 4/1
Derry City v Shelbourne – Derry City Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 3/1
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 260//1 with BoyleSports.
Athlone Town v Drogheda United– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Athlone Town @ 13/5
Drogheda United @ 23/10
Draw @ 3/4
Preview
Athlone are a topsy-turvy side, but one which should be underestimated at anyone’s peril with them well in playoff contention in the First Division this tie against Drogheda could be a preview of a relegation playoff in the coming weeks. However, with 4 defeats and 1 draw in their last 5 league games, they will need a step up in performance here to stand a chance. Dean Ebbe (30) will be their main threat following 13 goals and 1 assist in 35 appearances this season.
Drogheda’s season has been a mixed bag this season, their cup run has been positive, but they also occupy 9th in the league, not outside the automatic relegation picture being only 1 point ahead of Dundalk and at a minimum will probably be in a relegation playoff in the coming weeks. However, despite their recent defeat in the league they were unbeaten in their last four league games before that and look to be in a considerable vein of form at this crucial point of the season.
Prediction: Athlone Town 0-2 Drogheda United
Athlone have done well to get to this point in the FAI Cup and their chances can’t be discounted for Friday Night. However, with Drogheda’s recent run of form, they should have enough to win this game,
Best Bet: Drogheda Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 10/3
Wexford v Treaty United – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Wexford @ 7/10
Treaty United @ 14/5
Draw @ 23/10
Preview
Wexford are in a strong vein of form, unbeaten in their last 7 matches in all competitions with 6 victories and 1 draw, they head into this FAI Cup tie as arguably the in-form team across the League of Ireland and with a great opportunity to reach the Semi-Final stage given they’re 5 places and 13 points ahead of Treaty in the league and are the top-scorers in the country with 52 league goals.
Treaty United may be a relatively new entity in Irish Football but have a great opportunity against Wexford to reach their second-ever FAI Cup Semi-Final despite being only formed as a football club in 2020. While they’re 8 th in the First Division their heart can’t be discounted as shown by their 101 st -minute equaliser against Kerry last weekend.
Prediction: Wexford 2-0 Treaty United
Wexford are doing well right now and have a lot of good players who could be in the Premier Division regardless of whether they get/win a playoff in the coming weeks, so I fancy them for the win here.
Best Bet: Wexford -1 @ 2/1
UCD v Bohemians– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
UCD @ 4/1
Bohemians @ 11/4
Draw @ 1/2
Preview
UCD are an interesting side, despite their 0-1 defeat against First Division champions Cork City last weekend, they’ve been “best of the rest” in the second tier this season with their 50-point total putting them 4 ahead of Wexford and they could be planning for both the playoffs and the FAI Cup Semi-Finals in the coming weeks depending on if they can get through this mammoth task.
“Cup Specialists” Bohemians (albeit without an actual cup victory) are looking to make their second successive FAI Cup Final to close out a season where they have been poor at best in the league. Their cup run has been mixed, defeating Shamrock Rovers but also stumbling over the line against Kerry. They have some quality footballers but are less than consistent and they’re well capable of making this tie tough for themselves.
Prediction: UCD 1-0 Bohemians
UCD head into this game with everything to gain and nothing to lose as nobody expects them to beat Bohemians based on every considerable metric one could judge. However, I have an inclining a shock that could be on the cards Friday Night.
Best Bet: UCD @ 4/1
Derry City v Shelbourne– Sunday 5.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City @ 20/21
Shelbourne @ 2/1
Draw @ 23/10
Preview
Despite a disappointing elimination in Europe to Gibraltar side Bruno’s Magpies during the summer. As we look to close out the coming weeks of the season Derry City are fighting on every other front and could end up winning a historic league and cup double if the stars align for Ruadhri Higgins's side. Their last game though was a 1-0 defeat against Galway which was a huge loss in the context of their league form so will want to get won over Shelbourne in the cup here.
Shelbourne are another side who could land themselves a league and cup double in the closing weeks of the season. This would be a remarkable achievement from Duff and his squad of players as few people predicted such a strong season for the club. Throughout this cup run, they’ve ridden their luck at times but have that stoic art about them of finding a way to get through games at crucial points.
Prediction: Derry City 2-0 Shelbourne
Some side's double aspirations will end on Sunday, and I fancy Derry City to get their victory here given they have a home advantage.
Best Bet: Derry City Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 3/1
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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