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.
Following the reduced schedule over recent weeks due to European qualifiers, there’s a full slate of Premier Division fixtures to look forward to over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #23 Acca Selections
Drogheda vs Shamrock Rovers – BTTS @ 3/4
Dundalk vs Sligo Rovers – BTTS @ 8/13
Waterford vs Shelbourne – Under 2.5 Goals @ 11/10
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Derry City - Draw @ 5/2
Bohemians vs Galway United – Bohemians @ 4/9
an accumulator with these selections pays approximately 29/1 with BOYLE Sports .
Drogheda vs Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda vs Shamrock Rovers – Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
Drogheda – 16/5
Shamrock Rovers – 8/11
Draw – 5/2
Preview
Drogheda have undergone a little renaissance in their form recently with two wins and a draw in their last three games in all competitions, including their late leveller to draw 2-2 with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last Saturday. They’ll need to keep that form up in the coming weeks to ensure safety in the Premier Division .
Shamrock Rovers have arguably sleepwalked to this juncture of the season and still lead the Premier Division by seven points with eleven games remaining. Though they managed a 2-1 win on Tuesday against FC Ararat-Armenia, complacency from the first leg confounded them to elimination from the Champions League.
Prediction: Drogheda 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda have stabalised recently, and though Rovers lead the league, they remain more beatable than they should be.
Best Bet: BTTS @ 3/4
Dundalk vs Sligo Rovers
Dundalk vs Sligo Rovers Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Dundalk - 2/5
Sligo Rovers – 5/1
Draw – 7/2
Preview
Dundalk have had a great return to the Premier Division under Ciaran Kilduff this season, and with eleven game weeks remaining, their safety is already pretty much sewn up. However, in recent weeks their form has reverted closer to the mean of where they probably should be; their four points from their last five have them second from bottom in the form table.
Sligo Rovers have had a turbulent few weeks , which puts their hopes for survival under serious jeopardy following two points from their last five league games, John Russell and Ryan Casey departing for Shelbourne and talisman Will Fitzgerald leaving for Shamrock Rovers . On the plus side of things, the arrival of Darren Purse from Cardiff looks to be a well-founded appointment.
Prediction: Dundalk 1-1 Sligo Rovers
Two sides with the worst recent form in the league; whatever happens, I can’t see much separating them come the final whistle.
Best Bet: BTTS @ 8/13
Waterford vs Shelbourne
Waterford vs Shelbourne – Saturday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Waterford – 2/1
Shelbourne -20/21
Draw – 13/5
Preview
Graham Coughlan has truly done the business since his appointment at the beginning of May, and now a side who looked resigned to relegation have now found serious form and look to have a fighty chance for safety. However, they still sit only one point above Sligo Rovers and trail Drogheda ahead of them by four points.
John Russell had a less than ideal start to his stint with Shelbourne when he was knocked out by Kerry FC (again) in the FAI Cup. They then found their feet wth a 5-2 win over Nomme JK Kalju in Europa Conference League qualifying and should book their passage to the next round on Thursday.
Prediction: Waterford 0-2 Shelbourne
Two sides who have made managerial changes in recent weeks, I can see Shelbourne having too much quality on this occasion .
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 11/10
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Derry City
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Derry City Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic – 7/10
Derry City -10/3
Draw – 5/2
Preview
St Patrick’s Athletic have likely now passed by any chance they had of a title challenge in 2026, with eight points from their last five games a solid but unspectacular return at a juncture where league leaders Shamrock Rovers have been in Europe but still pick up points. They now likely need a close to faultless end to the season to go close, and I’m unsure if they have the mental threshold to do so
Derry City are yet to perform to the level that the perceived quality and pedigree of their squad would suggest. And yet? Tiernan Lynch continues to be backed in the transfer market in what is either tremendous loyalty and faith or blind backing without any foundation. We will find our answer out soon, but a strong league and cup run is badly needed.
Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 Derry City
It's hard to be confident in either side getting a win.
Best Bet: Draw @ 5/2
Bohemians vs Galway United
Bohemians vs Galway United Friday 7 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians - 4/9
Galway United -9/2
Draw – 3/1
Preview
Bohemians have three consecutive wins in the Premier Division , though due to their European and cup commitments, their last league game was back at the beginning of July when they won 0-2 away to Drogheda . It’ll be interesting to see if they can continue that form or if their mind will have strayed toward Europe, but they are on course for a positive 2026 season.
Galway United continue to be written off and predicted for relegation (including by this writer) but have this uncanny knack of picking up points just when they look set to fall down the table. They’re unbeaten in their last three in all competitions, including a 0-0 draw with Waterford at Eamonn Deasy Park last time out, which keeps them six points ahead of their rivals.
Prediction: Bohemians 2-1 Galway United
The home side here look to be in a confident run of form, and I’d be backing them to get the job done.
Best Bet: Bohemians @ 4/9
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.
