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 are six clear at the top ahead of St Patrick’s Athletic , following their 1-1 draw with Derry City on Monday, but are now within touching distance with the second-placed side having two games in hand.
Bohemians and Dundalk are in the driving seat for the last European places with under-performing Shelbourne and Derry City some distance back. The relegation race is hotting up too, with now only ten points separating Galway United in seventh, Drogheda in eighth, Sligo Rovers in nineth and Waterford who are bottom.
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #19 Acca Selections
Bohemians vs St Patrick’s Athletic – BTTS @ 4/5
Shamrock Rovers vs Galway United – Galway United +2 @ 4/6
Derry City vs Drogheda - Derry City @ 8/15
Dundalk vs Waterford – Waterford Double Chance @ 6/4
Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne – Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 3/4
an accumulator with these selections pays approximately 19/1 with BOYLE Sports .
Bohemians vs St Patrick’s Athletic
Bohemians vs St Patrick’s Athletic Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
Bohemians – 6/4
St Patrick’s Athletic – 8/5
Draw – 9/4
Preview
Bohemians recovered from their defeat to Dundalk on Friday to earn what could prove to be a crucial 0-3 victory over Shelbourne come the end of the season. You get the sense there is a real cup quality to their team, but Alan Reynolds continues to be criticised among supporters.
St Patrick’s Athletic are genuine title contenders in 2026 as they seek out their first Premier Division title since the 2013 season. Back-to-back wins in the league means they could theoretically go top provided they win their games in-hand over Shamrock Rovers , but excellence demands consistency and they’ll still need to get the job done.
Prediction: Bohemians 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic
Second vs Third, this is a huge game in the context of both potentially challenging for a league title. I find this the hardest fixture of the weekend to call but I can see both getting on the scoresheet at a minimum.
Best Bet: BTTS @ 4/5
Shamrock Rovers vs Galway United
Shamrock Rovers vs Galway United Friday 7:30 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Shamrock Rovers - 4/11
Galway United -11/2
Draw – 10/3
Preview
Shamrock Rovers remain top of the table, but their 1-1 draw with Derry City on Monday Night was simultaneously a welcome fight-back point, but also a missed opportunity to maintain the strength of their lead over St Patrick’s Athletic . With two league games before their European adventure commences, nothing other than six from six should suffice for Bradley’s side.
Galway United are a points - picking machine under John Caulfield in the sense that they will continually pick them up where they would otherwise not be expected to, and their 2-1 win over Derry City was another fine example of that. With 20/36 played, they’re ten ahead of bottom-placed Waterford and five ahead of Sligo Rovers in the relegation playoff place, so that streak will need to stay if they’re to remain safe.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Galway United
Shamrock Rovers aren't the sure fire bet that some see them as when it comes to another league title and I expect Galway United to give them a good go on Friday.
Best Bet: Galway United +2 @ 4/6
Derry City vs Drogheda
Derry City vs Drogheda– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City – 8/15
Drogheda – 9/2
Draw – 11/4
Preview
Derry City picked up a point against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Monday Night and will be disappointed to not have gotten the three points following a late leveller from Aaron Greene . It’s hard to gauge where their progression (or lack of it) is, but it seems like they tend to perform better in games where less is expected of them.
Drogheda can now park any aspirations of an unlikely challenge for a European place, and with 21/36 of their fixtures fulfilled in the league, their priority will now be safety, with them just three ahead of Sligo Rovers and just eight ahead of Waterford . The upcoming transfer window will be a crucial one for manager Kevin Doherty .
Prediction: Derry City 1-0 Drogheda
These are the sort of games where Derry City have struggled to show up and though they've been under par in 2026 I think they should have too much for Drogheda .
Best Bet: Derry City @ 8/15
Dundalk vs Waterford
Dundalk vs Waterford Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Dundalk - 2/7
Waterford – 9/1
Draw – 4/1
Preview
Dundalk continue to be exceptional under the tutelage of Ciaran Kilduff, and as we gear closer and closer toward the business end of the league campaign, their record of thirteen points from their last five games is the best in the division, three more than Shamrock Rovers . They sit in fourth place, five ahead of Shelbourne with a game in hand.
Waterford may remain bottom of the table, but I don’t think their Premier Division aspirations for safety are as bleak as they could be. Since the appointment of Graham Coughlan, they’ve improved considerably, and their seven points from their last five games have them third in the form table with the same amount of points earned as St Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United .
Prediction: Dundalk 1-1 Waterford
Dundalk have defied expectations to this point, but I fancy Waterford to pick up at least a point come Friday.
Best Bet: Waterford Double Chance @ 6/4
Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne
Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne – Saturday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Sligo Rov ers – 16/5
Shelbourne -7/10
Draw – 5/2
Preview
Sligo Rovers' worrying form continues, and following three back-to-back defeats, their tally of three points from their last five league games is the joint worst in the division with Drogheda, though the Louth outfit's goal difference is only -3 to their -10. John Russell has regularly gotten a tune from this side since his appointment in May 2022, but this may be his biggest task yet.
Just when you thought that Shelbourne were starting to find said so-desired consistency under Joey O’Brien, a 2-2 draw away to Drogheda and a 0-3 defeat to Bohemians has brought the reality back into full view. Their off-season investment promised so much, and the desired results have failed to come; it’ll be interesting to see how they approach this upcoming transfer window.
Prediction: Sligo Rovers 0-1 Shelbourne
Two sides who've been extremely unreliable in 2026 the only thing I truly fancy in this one is for there not to be many goals.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 3/4
Prices are subject to fluctuation
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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.
