It’s that time of the week again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back to light up your weekend! In this post, our League of Ireland tips and predictions, along with our weekly acca, ahead of another weekend in the LOI Premier Division.
We’ve another full round of fixtures for this weekend, with games scheduled across Friday and Sunday!
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #24 Acca Selections
Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk– BTTS @ 3/4
Derry City vs Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers Double Chance @ 9/5
Galway United vs Drogheda– Drogheda Double Chance @ 3/4
Waterford vs Bohemians – Bohemians @ 3/4
Shelbourne vs St Patrick’s Athletic - St Patrick's Athletic @ 11/10
an accumulator with these selections pays approximately 28/1 with BOYLE Sports .
Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk
Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk – Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
Shamrock Rovers – 8/13
Dundalk – 7/2
Draw – 14/5
Preview
Shamrock Rovers remain in the driving seat for another league title with ten games remaining; they’re seven ahead of closest challengers St Patrick’s Athletic. They enter this fixture on the back of a 3-1 win over Egnatia in Europa League qualifying on Tuesday night.
Dundalk may have had a positive 2026 season on the whole, but two points from their last five games have them bottom of the form table. They still occupy fourth position, but Shelbourne are now only three behind them with a game in hand, so are in danger of falling out of the final European Place.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dundalk
Dundalk are unbeaten against Shamrock Rovers this season, and I envisage another tough night for Stephen Bradley’s side.
Best Bet: BTTS @ 8/13
Derry City vs Sligo Rovers
Derry City vs Sligo Rovers Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City - 2/5
Sligo Rovers – 6/1
Draw – 7/2
Derry City confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that they had parted company with manager Tiernan Lynch. It’s fair to say that was coming given their poor performances on the field in 2026, and that’s before mentioning the manager's perceived reputation with the club's most high-profile player, James McClean. Whether it was the right decision for the wrong reasons remains to be seen, but Mark Connolly is set to take interim charge for this fixture.
Sligo Rovers sit bottom of the table with ten games remaining for newly-appointed Darren Purse and his squad to save the club’s season and their Premier Division prospects for 2027. Ironically, the club still have only two defeats from their last five and will fancy themselves for this one after both drew 0-0 at the Showgrounds last April.
Prediction: Derry City 1-1 Sligo Rovers
Only eight points separate both sides in the table, which is madness given the contrasting level of investment. It’ll be interesting to see how Derry City react, but I can see this being a tight game.
Best Bet: Sligo Rovers Double Chance @ 9/5
Galway United vs Drogheda
Galway United vs Drogheda Friday 7 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway United -10/11
Drogheda – 23/10
Draw – 12/5
Preview
Galway United have a tally of five points from their last three league games as they try and edge themselves completely out of the relegation conversation. John Caulfield’s men aren’t out of the woods just yet though, seven clear of bottom-placed Sligo Rovers and four ahead of Waterford in the relegation playoff place; the form of those in the bottom half means they will need to have their wits about them in the final ten games.
It’s not been the 2026 Drogheda supporters would’ve wished for following the heights of their previous 18 months or so. However, the primary task as ever for Kevin Doherty and his squad is securing safety and five points from their last three games has them in eighth, two ahead of Waterford and five clear of Sligo Rovers . They should have enough to stay safe but will need further points.
Prediction: Galway United 2-1 Drogheda
A game both sides will be targeting to help distance themselves from the immediate relegation picture, especially if either side win. I do fancy Drogheda to get something from the game though.
Best Bet: Drogheda Double Chance @ 3/4
Waterford vs Bohemians
Waterford vs Bohemians – Saturday 3 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Waterford – 5/2
Bohemians - 3/4
Draw – 11/4
Preview
Waterford have now picked up eleven points from their last five league games, putting them top of the form table alongside Shamrock Rovers. The job is far from finished though and the club still currently sit in the relegation playoff place and are only three ahead of bottom-placed Sligo Rovers .
Bohemians are unbeaten in their last four league games, and though they trail Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers by seven, they have every chance of finishing as “best of the rest” in 2026, and if they keep picking up points they still have an outside chance of an unlikely title challenge.
Prediction: Waterford 0-2 Bohemians
Two sides with plenty to shout about in recent weeks, but despite the home side's form, I think Bohemians should have too much quality on this occasion.
Best Bet: Bohemians @ 3/4
Shelbourne vs St Patrick’s Athletic
Shelbourne vs St Patrick’s Athletic Sunday 5 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Shelbourne – 11/5
St Patrick’s Athletic – 11/10
Draw – 11/5
Preview
John Russell's difficult start to his Shebourne tenure continued last Sunday when they were defeated 1-0 away by in-form Waterford . They’ll also be coming into this came on the back of a mammoth European qualifier against Ajax in Amsterdam on Thursday night.
St Patrick’s Athletic have made it three consecutive draws in the Premier Division, which has put a real dent in any title aspirations. Had they won all three of those games, they’d be only one point off the top of the table but have only themselves to blame for not capitalising on Shamrock Rovers playing in Europe. There’s little if any room for them to slip again if they’re to stand any chance of a late challenge, though they’ve done similar before under Stephen Kenny.
Prediction: Shelbourne 0-1 St Patrick’s Athletic
Games between both have been narrow in 2026, and I can foresee another narrow game with St Patrick’s Athletic edging it.
Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic @ 11/10
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.
