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.
We’re now over a quarter of the way through the season, with St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians the unlikely pace setters, Shamrock Rovers in touching distance behind, and newly promoted Dundalk rounding out the top four.
Galway United have been the season's surprise packages, Shelbou rne and Derry City have underwhelmed, and Drogheda have also been marred by issues on and off the field.
The bottom two are already some way apart, with Sligo Rovers and Waterford under serious pressure already this season in the battle for safety.
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #9 Acca Selections
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers– Over 1.5 Total Goals @ 4/11
Dundalk vs Derry City – Dundalk or Draw @ 4/9
Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers +2 @ 7/10
Waterford vs Drogheda – Drogheda @ 11/10
Galway United vs Shelbourne - Galway United or Draw @ 11/20
An accumulator with these selections pays approximately 10/1 with BOYLE Sports.
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers – Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media Two
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic – 13/10
Shamrock Rovers – 2/1
Draw – 7/2
Preview
It was a tale of two halves for St Patrick’s Athletic over the Easter weekend, with a 4-1 battering of Sligo Rovers last Friday before being beaten by Dundalk 2-0 on Monday Night. Nevertheless, had you offered Stephen Kenny the chance for them to be top of the table ten games in, albeit only by goal difference, he’d have bitten your hand off for it.
To the eye of this author, Shamrock Rovers are still performing well below the standards capable in their squad, but after a 1-1 draw away to Waterford and a 3-2 thrilling win over Shelbourne, they find themselves only one point off top spot with arguably the biggest room for improvement in the Premier Division.
Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
This’ll be a testing game for Pat’s long-term prospects, and I think both sides may cancel each other out for the first time since their 2-2 draw in April of last year.
Best Bet: Over 1.5 Goals @ 4/11
Dundalk vs Derry City
Dundalk vs Derry City – Friday 8 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Dundalk - 6/4
Derry City – 8/5
Draw – 23/10
Preview
Dundalk were big winners over the Bank Holiday weekend following a 2-3 win over Shelbourne and a 2-0 victory over St Patrick’s Athletic . Those wins have Ciaran Kilduff's newly -promoted side sitting in fourth place on seventeen points, ten games into the season, and though avoiding relegation will still be the first goal, they may harbour even larger hopes if they can continue this positive run.
Things haven’t really improved for Tiernan Lynch following back-to-back draws over the weekend against Drogheda and St Patrick’s Athletic the club now finds themselves in seventh spot, already ten back of the top of the table and only six clear of Waterford at the bottom. Even if the hierarchy has a reputation for giving management time, they need wins and more than one sooner rather than later.
Prediction: Dundalk 1-1 Derry City
Dundalk are doing well and will fancy their chances of getting something against a struggling Derry City side.
Best Bet: Dundalk or Draw @ 4/9
Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers
Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians – 1/3
Sligo Rovers – 7/1
Draw – 15/4
Preview
Bohemians may be sitting pretty in second place and only a couple of goals behind leading the league, but things haven’t quite been the same in recent weeks following four consecutive draws in the Premier Division against Waterford , Drogheda , Dundalk and Shelbourne , three of the four of which they’d have been expected to be beaten. There is growing concern among the supporters that they must improve.
Sligo Rovers, led by John Russell, may have garnered a reputation as one of the most pleasing sides on the eye when playing well in the League of Ireland. But the concept of “pretty” football only washes so far in the absence of results, and five points from their opening ten league games is far from good enough if they wish to stay up in 2026.
Prediction: Bohemians 2-1 Sligo Rovers
Bohemians may be unbeaten, but their performances give massive cause for concern, and I don’t think Sligo Rovers are as weak as the form table suggests.
Best Bet: Sligo Rovers +2 @ 7/10
Waterford vs Drogheda
Waterford vs Drogheda – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Waterford – 2/1
Drogheda – 11/10
Draw – 2/1
Preview
Are there signs of fight coming from Jon Daly and Waterford ? Back-to-back 1-1 draws, first coming at home to Shamrock Rovers and then away to Bohemians , suggest there may be merit in the theory. It’s no surprise that this upsurge has coincided with the introduction of Kevin Long into the heart of the defence. But more will be needed all-round if they’re remove themselves from the relegation picture.
After two seasons of positive progression on the field, which included an FAI Cup victory in 2024 and after narrowly missing out on a European Place after a sixth-place finish in the league in 2025, this season was always going to be fascinating to see. Thus far, it’s been far from ideal, though, and a 2-3 defeat to Galway extends their winless streak to eight games.
Prediction: Waterford 0-2 Drogheda
Waterford have steadied, and Drogheda have fallen back in the last few weeks, but I still think the away side has more about them.
Galway United vs Shelbourne
Galway United vs Shelbourne – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway United – 19/10
Shelbourne -13/10
Draw – 12/5
Preview
Galway United have shocked many with their performances so far in 2026, and that’s a testament to the coaching of John Caulfield. Though some have criticised him as a chequebook manager, this season he seems to be working wonders on a shoestring, in what’s on the surface seems the most poetic of oxymoron's. They can’t count themselves safe yet, though and with roughly 75% of the season left, they’ll need to repeat these performances for an extended period just yet.
Shelbourne are yet to find their gear, and following back-to-back defeats 2-3 against Dundalk and 3-2 to Shamrock Rovers , the signs of skepticism seem to be growing about the long-term prospect of this Joey O’Brien side. Though it’s hard to see it not clicking for them eventually, they will need to pick up a series of victories, or they could see them really cut adrift from those toward the top.
Prediction: Galway United 1-1 Shelbourne
It ’s like opposite parallels Galway, who are maximising every ounce of their ability, while Shelbourne suffer with mediocrity. We may just see another “shock” on Friday.
Best Bet: Galway United or Draw @ 11/20
Prices are subject to fluctuation
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