It’s that time of the week again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back to light up your weekends! In this post, our League of Ireland tips and predictions, along with our weekly acca, ahead of another weekend in the LOI Premier Division.
Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians and Dundalk remain the pace-setters at the top of the table. Shelbourne are now in touching distance though with a game in hand over two of those.
Elsewhere, it’s extremely tight at the bottom with only three points separating Derry City , Galway United , Drogheda and Sligo Rovers in nineth. There’s life in Waterford at the bottom too with five points from their last five league games.
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #16 Acca Selections
Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick’s Athletic– Draw @ 2/1
Dundalk vs Derry City – Derry City @ 9/5
Sligo Rovers vs Bohemians – Sligo Rovers Double Chance @ 5/4
Shelbourne vs Galway United - Under 2,5 Total Goals @ 4/5
Drogheda vs Waterford – Waterford +2 @ 2/7
an accumulator with these selections pays approximately 42/1 with BOYLE Sports .
Shamrock Rovers vs Sligo Rovers
Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick’s Athletic Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
Shamrock Rovers - 11/8
St Patrick’s Athletic – 9/5
Draw – 2/1
Preview
Shamrock Rovers picked up a huge victory in the Dublin Derby Monday Night when John McGovern’s equaliser in the 72nd minute and a 95th-minute winner from Enda Stevens ended their two-game losing streak and, by proxy, strengthened their position at the top of the table. Given the game in hand they’ve over their closest challengers (and opponents for this game), a win in this would certainly be statement-defining.
St Patrick’s Athletic may have only picked up five points from their last five league games, including a 0-0 draw away to Derry City last Friday. Stephen Kenny’s side remain just five back of their opponents at the top, crucially too with a game in hand, so provided they can avoid defeat in this one they will be well within reach of the top.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic
Shamrock Rovers may be top, but I don’t think they’re as strong as people think they’re and I fancy a draw in this one.
Best Bet: Draw @ 2/1
Dundalk vs Derry City
Drogheda vs Dundalk – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Dundalk - 11/8
Derry City – 9/5
Draw – 21/10
Preview
Dundalk have arguably been the story of the 2026 season under Ciaran Kilduff, and for that they deserve immense credit. A victory at Oriel Park over Shamrock Rovers and a draw away to their Louth rivals Drogheda is a more than acceptable return in their last two games. However, such is the tight nature between multiple sides toward the bottom they’re still only seven ahead of Sligo Rovers, who are second from bottom.
Derry City have been “surprise packages” but for all the wrong reasons in 2026 and despite some people lauding them as title favourites, are currently sixth, three ahead of Sligo Rovers second from bottom and already fifteen points off the top of Shamrock Rovers at the top.
Prediction: Dundalk 0-1 Derry City
Both sides have played out a draw twice already in 2026. But I can see value in Derry City on this occasion, albeit narrowly.
Best Bet: Derry City @ 9/5
Sligo Rovers vs Bohemians
Sligo Rovers vs Bohemians– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Sligo Rovers – 15/4
Bohemians -6/10
Draw – 14/5
Preview
Sligo Rovers showed they have resilience in abundance to bounce back from their comprehensive defeat to Galway United to come from behind to defeat Shamrock Rovers following a dramatic 97th-minute winner from Carl McHugh last time out. It shows there is still plenty of life in the Bit O’Red, and following the announcement of Kevin Zefi , that piece of business could prove a masterstroke by John Russell .
Bohemians three game winning streak ended in the worst possible way on Monday Night when they squandered their lead over Shamrock Rovers . That mental collapse has reminded the Bohs’ supporters what they largely already knew: they’re far from the finished product currently under Alan Reynolds.
Prediction: Sligo Rovers 1-1 Bohemians
Twelve points may separate both sides, but I don’t think there’s necessarily that much between both and home advantage gives the Bit O’Red every chance here of a point.
Best Bet: Sligo Rovers Double Chance @ 5/4
Shelbourne vs Galway United
Shelbourne vs Galway United Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Shelbourne – 4/6
Galway United – 10/3
Draw – 11/4
Preview
Have Shelbourne finally found their groove? Though the quality in their 0-0 draw away to Derry City was less than the standard expected from both, it still extended their unbeaten run to six matches. If they can extend said form for a couple more weeks, they could finally start looking toward the top of the table rather than those below them.
Galway United were unable to make it successive victories in the league when they were defeated 2-4 by Bohemians on Friday. Though to this point they’ve defied expectations of them, it’s hard to know where their ambitions lie and I still don’t think automatic relegation can be completely ruled out.
Prediction: Shelbourne 1-0 Galway United
Two sides which have arguably more in common than their retrospective budgets may suggest, I can still see the home side edging it given their perceived superior quality.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 4/5
Drogheda vs Waterford
Drogheda vs Waterford– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Drogheda – 5/6
Waterford – 13/5
Draw – 13/5
Preview
Things just haven’t clicked to the level that it did in 2025 for Kevin Doherty and Drogheda, and with just twenty points to their name they’re eighth, only one above the relegation playoff position. Though they looked far stronger last season, they still finished just in sixth place in the end, so it’s difficult to know whether they can still click in 2026, but now safety will be the first goal.
Waterford may have fallen to a 2-1 defeat to Shelbourne last weekend, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been real signs of life and fight since the appointment of Graham Coughlan . They’ll still need to pick up plenty of points in the coming weeks if they’re to drag themselves off the bottom, but their next two against Drogheda and Sligo Rovers could end up defining their fight for survival.
Prediction: Drogheda 1-1 Waterford
Drogheda can put a huge dent in any Waterford comeback fight with a win, but I fancy the away side to get something from this game.
Best Bet: Waterford +2 @ 2/7
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.
