It's that time of the week again! " The Greatest League in the World " is back to light up your weekend, except this time we're swapping the usual Premier Division slate for pure cup theatre.
The Club Orange FAI Cup Second Round throws up ten ties on Friday alone , from part-timers dreaming of a giant-killing to a repeat of last November's final. Here's our five selections ahead of Friday Night’s ties.
Friday Fixtures
FAI Cup Friday Night Fixtures
Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City
Athlone Town vs Midleton
Drogheda United vs Lucan United
Dundalk vs St. Mochta’s
Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers
Galway United vs Crumlin United
Kerry vs Shelbourne
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Wexford FC
Treaty United vs UCD
Waterford vs Cobh Ramblers
Best Bets
FAI Cup Friday Night Second Round Selections
Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City – Cork City +2 @ 4/7
Waterford FC vs Cobh Ramblers – HT Waterford/FT Waterford @ 6/5
Treaty United vs UCD – UCD @ 11/10
Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers – Bray Wanderers @ 4/5
Athlone Town vs Midleton – BTTS @ 4/6
A treble with these three selections pays approximately 21/1 with BOYLE Sports .
Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City
Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City – Friday 7:45 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
Shamrock Rovers – 2/5
Cork City – 4/1
Draw – 16/5
Preview
Shamrock Rovers enter this FAI Cup Final repeat tie on the back of a stunning showing on Tuesday Night when they overcame a 2-0 deficit against Floriana with a 5-1 win in Tallaght, securing their passage into the UEFA Champions League qualifying second round. Given the intense depth of their squad, it’ll be interesting to see how and if they rotate against the First Division high-flyers.
Cork City enter this game as league leaders in the First Division, a mammoth seventeen points ahead of Bray Wanderers and almost certainly returning to the Premier Division for the 2027 season. Though last time they played the Tallaght outfit, they were both theoretically in the same division, their confidence should ironically be far higher this time around.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Cork City
Even if the home side rotates, they should be too good for the visitors, but I can foresee a closer fixture than the FAI Cup Final.
Best Bet: Cork City +2 @ 4/7
Waterford vs Cobh Ramblers
Waterford vs Cobh Ramblers– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Waterford – 1/2
Cobh Ramblers – 15/4
Draw – 3/1
Preview
Waterford have become a resurgent force under Graham Coughlan following his appointment at the beginning of May. So much so, they’ve gone from being seemingly destined for relegation in the First Division to now arguably being favourites to stay up following ten points from their last five games.
Cobh Ramblers are having an inconsistent season, with their tally of thirty-one points from twenty-three games has them fifth and twenty-three points off the top of the table, which is a far cry from finishing second and only ten points off in 2025. They do have quality in amongst their ranks, but I think they’re lacking in the mentality department,
Prediction: Waterford 2-0 Cobh Ramblers
Two Munster sides who will know each other well, but Waterford should have far too much quality on this occasion.
Best Bet: HT Waterford/FT Waterford @ 6/5
Treaty United vs UCD
Treaty United vs UCD– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Treaty United – 15/8
UCD – 11/10
Draw – 11/5
Preview
Treaty United are having a poor season under Tommy Barrett, only one point above bottom-placed Finn Harps, with twenty-three points from their twenty-three games this season. Though there seems to be change afoot behind the scenes in the coming years and months, which should be positive as of now, they’re not in a good place.
UCD have not been in a good place in recent weeks, losing 6-0 to Bray Wanderers last Friday night, which made it back-to-back defeats in the league. However, on the whole, it’s been a positive season for the Students, who are only one point off second spot and five ahead of Longford Town immediately below them.
Prediction: Treaty United 0-2 UCD
UCD have far more about them and should get the business done.
Best Bet: UCD @ 11/10
Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers
Finn Harps vs Bray Wanderers– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Finn Harps – 11/5
Bray Wanderers – 4/5
Draw – 13/5
Preview
Finn Harps sit at the bottom of the First Division, having lost three of their last five league games; it’s not been a good campaign for the Ballybofey -based outfit. There are signs to be positive with talks of investment coming off the field, but the fruits of that for now are unclear as to if, when and on what scale they’ll occur.
Bray enter this FAI Cup second-round tie on the back of a rampant 6-0 victory over UCD last Friday Night. Though a distance away from the top spot, they look well on course for another playoff place in the coming months.
Prediction: Finn Harps 1-3 Bray Wanderers
The worst defence in the First Division (thirty-eight conceded) meets the joint best attack (forty-six scored). I can only see one outcome, and that’s a win for the away side.
Best Bet: Bray Wanderers @ 4/5
Athlone Town vs Midleton
Athlone Town vs Midleton– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Athlone Town – 1/3
Midleton – 11/2
Draw – 15/4
Preview
Athlone Town are another First Division outfit who have struggled for consistency in 2026 and though they're only four points off a potential playoff place they're also only five off the bottom of the table too. Interestingly they have the joint second best defence in their division with twenty-seven conceded though they also have the second worst attack with just twenty-one goals.
Cork -based amateur side Midleton come into thie FAI Cup tie with everything to gain and nothing to lose and will fancy themselves of giving their opponents a good game considering their squad has plenty of players who have been in and around League of Ireland squads and academies in recent seasons.
Prediction: Athlone Town 3-1 Midleton
I'm expecting a blockbuster tie with plenty of goal-mouth action, but Athlone's surperior fitness levels should show in the end.
Best Bet: BTTS @ 4/6
Prices are subject to fluctuation
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly
Bill is as passionate about Irish football as they come, with an agonising longing to see his country grace a World Cup stage. A League of Ireland devotee and lifelong Man United fan, he knows better than most what sporting heartbreak feels like, and brings that perspective to the BOYLE Sports Blog. With roots in greyhound racing and a curiosity spanning politics, snooker, WWE and beyond, there is rarely a sporting conversation he cannot add to.
