In this post, you can find our League of Ireland Odds + Weekly Acca as we look forward to an action-packed season of Irish Football.
The League of Ireland Premier Division continued with dramatic fashion last weekend with the return of Stephen Kenny to the league with the announcement of him as St Patrick’s Athletic manager, bottom of the table Dundalk overcame the dominant reigning champions Shamrock Rovers’ before the latter defeated Derry on Monday Night with Duff masterminding a win over Stephen Kenny with a 1-2 win over Pats.
We’re continuing our domestic coverage with another preview of the weekly action along with a weekly acca for readers to consider!
Week 17 Acca Selections
Waterford vs Drogheda - BTTS + Waterford Win @ 16/5
Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne - Draw @ 13/5
Bohemians’ vs St Patrick’s Athletic - Under 2.5 Goals + St Patrick’s Athletic Win @ 9/2
Galway vs Dundalk - Draw @ 11/5
Derry City vs Sligo Rovers - Draw @ 16/5
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 116//1 with BoyleSports
Waterford v Drogheda – Thursday 7.45 pm, Virgin Media 2
Odds
Waterford @ 20/21
Drogheda @ 13/5
Draw @ 23/10
Preview
Waterford were outdone by league leaders Shelbourne last Friday Night which ended their three-match winning streak. However, the management team led by Keith Long along with the players deserve credit for their performances this season. Ahead of the game which will be broadcast live on Thursday Night in an experimental bid, a victory would put them very much out of the relegation picture.
Drogheda went from being in a state of ecstasy last Friday Night when they led Galway United in the 73rd minute to being in a sea of depression following the two late goals they conceded from Nugent in the 91st and Walsh in the 94th minute. That ended their two-game undefeated streak and meant the gap between themselves and Dundalk below them is now down to just three points.
Prediction: Waterford 2-1 Drogheda
Waterford have proven their doubters wrong as we gear toward the halfway point of the season putting relegation talk very much behind them if they can continue to upset the odds with their results.
Drogheda had a seismic collapse against Galway United last time out which could have flipped the narrative of their season had they won. I think Waterford are in a better position to beat Drogheda side though.
Best Bet: BTTS + Waterford Win @ 16/5
Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne– Friday 8 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Shamrock Rovers @ 6/10
Shelbourne @ 9/2
Draw @ 13/5
Preview
Shamrock Rovers bounced back from their Dundalk defeat last Friday to overcome Derry City 1-0 on Monday Night which could prove to be a crucial victory in kickstarting their league title defence. However, the long injury list which put their league defence into stop-start fashion is showing signs of clearing up and if they can start to get their full squad back together they remain the strongest side in the Premier Division.
Shelbourne have silenced those who criticised their recent downturn in form as a sign of things to come with two huge wins on the bounce on Monday Night 1-2 against St Patrick’s Athletic and 1-0 against Waterford on Friday Night. Those victories mean Shelbourne remain at the top of the table and are 4 points ahead of second-placed Derry City.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Shelbourne
For years Shamrock Rovers have been the standard bearers in Irish Football dominating domestically with few causing them any issues. However, the grit and steeliness of Duff’s Shelbourne presents them with arguably their hardest challenge yet.
A Shelbourne win would mean people could no longer bad-mouth their chances of a league title, but Rovers remain strong, and I can see this being a hard-fought draw.
Best Bet: Draw @ 13/5
Bohemians v St Patrick’s Athletic – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians @ 6/4
St Patrick’s Athletic @ 9/5
Draw @ 21/10
Preview
Bohemians stopped the rut of their poor run of form with a 0-3 victory against Sligo Rovers last weekend which at the moment keeps them outside of the immediate relegation picture with the side 5th and 8 points ahead of Drogheda in the relegation playoff places. Interestingly with Bohemians, they’ve a goal difference of 0 having both scored and conceded 17 goals.
Stephen Kenny is back in the League of Ireland having taken the helm at St Patrick’s Athletic but his return to the league hasn’t transpired how he’d have liked. On his opening night back Pat’s lost out narrowly to Derry City 0-1 which was followed by a 1-2 defeat against Shelbourne on Monday having initially come back from a Mulraney wonder free-kick. Patience is a virtue with Pat’s side, it’ll take time, but Kenny is definitely the man to transform their fortunes.
Prediction: Bohemians 0-1 St Patrick’s Athletic
Bohemians may have beaten Sligo Rovers’ in their last game, but reports from the ground suggest that is more of an indictment of Sligo’s performance than it is with Bohemians in a positive sense. That’s why I fancy Stephen Kenny to get his first win back in the League of Ireland on Friday Night.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals + St Patrick’s Athletic Win @ 9/2
Galway v Dundalk – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway @ 10/11
Dundalk @ 3/1
Draw @ 11/5
Preview
Galway are having a brilliant season and with 2 victories and 3 draws in their last 5 league games, they sit comfortably in 4th position albeit they’re 4 points behind Shamrock Rovers in 3rd and just 3 ahead of Sligo Rovers in 8th. Similar to Waterford another victory at the weekend would take them categorically out of the relegation picture for the time being anyway!
Dundalk earned themselves a monumentally huge victory in their last game when a dramatic Mountney goal in the 91st minute sent the Dundalk supporters into the clouds as they sunk the champions Shamrock Rovers. Could that be the victory that kick-starts their season or will it be back to regular programming at the weekend with another poor result? Only time will tell.
Prediction: Galway 1-1 Dundalk
Galway are in a strong vein of form and will enter this game as worthy favourites on Friday Night. However, despite turmoil at Dundalk their latest success against Rovers suggests this could be far less dull than their start to the season would have you first believe.
Best Bet: Draw @ 11/5
Derry City v Sligo Rovers– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City @ 4/11
Sligo Rovers @ 15/2
Draw @ 16/5
Preview
Derry City may have lost their recent game against Shamrock Rovers’ but their 30-point total with 50% of their games played still has them 2 points ahead of the reigning champions albeit 4 behind league leaders Shelbourne. Derry finished last season with 65 points and so, especially with Europe ahead of them must step up their league challenge sooner rather than later or they will be bridesmaids again (at best) this season in the Premier Division.
Sligo Rovers are back in somewhat of a slump with only 4 points earned from their last 5 games in the Premier Division (a tally equalled by Drogheda). It’s opened the door for Dundalk who despite their struggles have 7 points from their last 5 and now only trail Sligo by 6 and Drogheda by 3. However, Sligo Rovers tend to have a decent record against Derry City and get somewhat of solace from that.
Prediction: Derry City 1-1 Sligo Rovers
Two sides operating on entirely different expectation levels and budgets but both with managers who are only a few poor results away from major pressure being put on them (Russell with Sligo Rovers has it already). I can see this being a scored draw though.
Best Bet: Draw @ 16/5
*Prices subject to fluctuation
Remember, always gamble responsibly . Here’s our Safer Gambling Guide
