League of Ireland Betting Tips, Predictions & Preview – Matchday 23

It’s that time of the week again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back in action Thursday Night and with sides strengthening after the transfer window opened, we could be in line to see some new stars shine in the coming weeks!

Shelbourne lead the way two clear of Derry City with a game in hand at the top of the table while Dundalk are 3 ahead of their bitter Louth rivals Drogheda who are bottom of the table.

We’re continuing our domestic coverage with another preview of the weekly action along with a weekly acca for readers to consider!

League of Ireland Matchday 23 Acca Selections

Drogheda vs Shelbourne - Shelbourne Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 11/4

Galway United vs Bohemians - Galway @21/20

Sligo Rovers vs Derry City - Derry City Win + Under 2.5 Goals ‘ 9/4

Waterford vs St Patrick’s Athletic - BTS + St Patrick’s Athletic Win @ 4/1

Shamrock Rovers vs Dundalk - Shamrock Rovers -1 @ 11/10

An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 261//1 with BoyleSports

Drogheda v Shelbourne – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Drogheda @ 7/2

Shelbourne @ 4/5

Draw @ 12/5

Preview

Drogheda are in trouble, bottom of the table with 16 points from 22 games and only 1 earned in their last 5 league games. The task for them in the coming weeks will be to stay in touch with Dundalk directly above them and attempt to avoid the automatic relegation slot. However, the signings of Douglas James Taylor from Walsall, Shane Farrell from Shelbourne and the return of Elicha Ahui from Lincoln suggest that they haven’t given up the ghost just yet.

Shelbourne have gone from being the side that were “dark horses” for the Premier Division to title favourites following their results in recent weeks and since the beginning of the season and Duff and his side deserve immense credit for that. They’ve strengthened their squad too with the signings of Ali Coote and Sam Bone with Harry Wood also returning to the club.

Prediction: Drogheda 0-2 Shelbourne

Drogheda generally perform well against Shelbourne with two draws in their last two games in the league. However, the gap between both has never been larger in recent times and Shelbourne should be winning comfortably here.

Best Bet: Shelbourne Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 11/4

Galway United v Bohemians – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Galway United @ 20/21

Bohemians @ 11/4

Draw @ 23/10

Preview

People (including myself) questioned how Galway would fare in the Premier Division following their dominance in the lower tier last season. However, to the club's credit with 21 games played they’re 5th and only 1 point behind Shamrock Rovers, an achievement they would have bitten your hands off for at the beginning of the year. Since the window has opened they’ve brought in Junior and Burns from Glentoran with the return of Jimmy Keohane to the league too.

Bohemians are not having a good season, 5 points from their last 5 league games has them third from bottom albeit with a cushion of 6 points and 2 games in hand over Dundalk immediately below them. However, they need to step up their results or they could get dragged into trouble and so new arrivals Leigh Kavanagh from Brighton and the return of Ross Tierney from Motherwell are huge additions to their squad.

Prediction: Galway United 1-0 Bohemians

Both sides have shared one win apiece between one another so far this season, but I think Galway are better placed for a win on this occasion and I think they will do so albeit narrowly.

Best Bet: Galway @ 21/20

Sligo Rovers v Derry City – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Sligo Rovers @ 9/2

Derry City @ 8/13

Draw @ 23/10

Preview

Sligo Rovers have performed relatively well this season despite having a thin squad and suffering from an injury crisis for a lot of it their younger players have stepped up to the plate well. Their 9 points from their last 5 league games has them 7th and a few victories away from removing themselves from the relegation race completely. McGinty’s loan extension along with the signings of Denham and Mallon will be important too.

Derry City seem to have more of a steeliness about them this year and with 13 points from their last 5 league games they are in a genuine title race with Shelbourne and arguably with their best chance in a long time due to the form of the defending champions. They’ve signed Davenport from Morecambe but may dip into the market a little bit more if they are truly serious about winning the league.

Prediction: Sligo Rovers 0-2 Derry City

Sligo Rovers are unbeaten in their last three games against Derry (2 draws and 1 win) so will be high in confidence that they can get a result. Derry City look more consistent now though and I think they win this if they are serious title contenders.

Best Bet: Derry City Win + Under 2.5 Goals ‘9/4

Waterford v St Patrick’s Athletic – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Waterford @ 7/4

St Patrick’s Athletic @ 8/5

Draw @ 21/10

Preview

Waterford led by Keith Long are the season’s surprise packages, putting talk of relegation well and truly behind them. Following 9 points from their last 5 league games they’re currently third in the table 3 clear of Shamrock Rovers and the opportunity to go only 4 behind Derry City due to their two games in hand. It’ll be interesting to see whether they look to bolster their squad and in what positions in the coming weeks.

St Patrick’s Athletic have shown signs of a resurgence under Stephen Kenny with 8 points from their last 5 league games putting them 6th they can now think more about climbing the table further before their European fixtures commence. The acquisition of Kazeem from Colchester who was on loan at Galway and the return of Anang in net, seriously bolsters their squad strength.

Prediction: Waterford 1-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

Waterford are no mugs and are unbeaten with four points from their last two games against St Patrick’s Athletic so could continue their unbeaten run. However, I think Kenny is starting to get a tune from Pats and they could edge the game of the weekend.

Best Bet: BTS + St Patrick’s Athletic Win @ 4/1

Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk – Friday 8.00 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Shamrock Rovers @ 4/11

Dundalk @ 13/2

Draw @ 7/2

Preview

Are Shamrock Rovers finally out of the title race? Things have never gotten going for them this year and following their 2-0 defeat against Sligo Rovers in the “Rovers Derby” they’re now 15 points behind league leaders Shelbourne albeit with two games in hand. This is their final game before the commencement of their European Window, so it’ll be interesting to see how Bradley approaches the game in terms of squad selection.

Dundalk may have lifted themselves off the bottom following 7 points in their last 5 league games putting them 3 clear of their Louth rivals Drogheda. However, that is very much a sign of where the club lies right now after contending in European Group Stages only a few seasons ago. A win could put them back within a shout of climbing the table further though.

Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Dundalk

Shamrock Rovers are not the force they have been in previous seasons and are yet to defeat Dundalk this year after a 1-0 loss at Oriel in May and a 1-1 draw at Tallaght in February, but they will want momentum ahead of their European games. Dundalk do stand a chance of success but player for player they are still very much the weaker side.

Best Bet: Shamrock Rovers -1 @ 11/10

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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