In this post, you can find our League of Ireland odds, tips plus a weekly acca for the second round of Premier Division fixtures.
The League of Ireland season is back! The opening night of Premier Division action had 23,000+ spectators viewing in on 12 goals, 28 yellow cards, 2 red cards, 3 draws, 1 home win and 1 away win. This Friday Night promises to be another action-packed night of football!
This season we will be continuing our domestic football coverage previewing the weekly action along with a weekly acca for all readers to consider.
League of Ireland Matchday 2 Acca Selections
Drogheda United vs Waterford - Drogheda Win 23/20
Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers Win + Under 2.5 Goals 13/5
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Bohemians – St Patrick’s Athletic Win 21/20
Dundalk vs Galway United – Dundalk Win 11/10
Sligo Rovers vs Derry City - Derry City -1 5/2
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 115/1 with BoyleSports.
Drogheda United v Waterford – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Drogheda United @ 23/20
Waterford @11/5
Draw @ 23/10
Preview
Drogheda travelled to Derry last Friday Night on the opening night of the season and despite losing 2-1 they can be encouraged by their performance against a side with much more lofty short-term aspirations this season.
At Derry, Doherty set Drogheda up in a 5-4-1 formation, but at a club fan forum event during the week the manager suggested the potential for some tactical flexibility during the season "We will of course play with a back four at some points this season. We might even play with one on Friday". A far better judgement of where Drogheda stand this season will be found in their result against newly promoted Waterford.
Waterford are back in the Premier Division for the first time since 2021 and earned themselves a very credible 1-1 home victory against Shelbourne during the opening night of the season. While Shelbourne did not have a good night, they’ve been widely called the best-coached team in the league and Waterford matched them for shots with seven a piece and seven corners to Shelbourne’s three.
Some were already writing off Waterford before the season commenced (including myself) but that draw suggests they could be a harder nut to crack than expected, when playing at home anyway.
Prediction: Drogheda United 2-0 Waterford
Both sides are searching for their first victories of the season, and both are expected to be among those fighting it out at the bottom of the table come the end of the season. However, as I’ve said before I like what Drogheda are doing on and off the field and can see them winning comfortably here.
Best Bet: Drogheda Win @ 23/20
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Shelbourne @ 16/5
Shamrock Rovers @ 20/23
Draw @ 9/4
Preview
Shelbourne slumped to a 1-1 away draw against Waterford on the opening night of the season in a game where they failed to match the lofty expectations put on themselves by some with their 4th place finish and European qualification last season. Shelbourne’s performance can be best understood in six minutes, with Boyd equalising in the 78th minute before being sent off in the 84th minute.
The lack of focus is something uncharacteristic of a Duff said and the squad and manager will need to step it up big-time if they’re to challenge Shamrock Rovers even with home advantage.
Shamrock Rovers drew 1-1 against Dundalk last Friday and while the draw was disappointing, the underlying numbers were acceptable with 11 shots, 8 corners and 73% of possession. The biggest concern for them will be the injury of Farrugia who was stretchered off in the 30th minute. This creates questions on who will fill in at RWB for the club in the coming weeks
Prediction: Shelbourne 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
These are usually low-scoring and right affairs with 2 or fewer goals scored in 3 of their last 5 matches, although it should be said that Shelbourne have zero victories with 3 draws taking place and 2 Rovers wins. I think Rovers win this one narrowly with the more “talented” squad.
Best Bet: Shamrock Rovers Win + Under 2.5 Goals @ 13/5
St Patrick’s Athletic v Bohemians – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic @ 21/20
Bohemians @11/5
Draw @ 5/2
Preview
“Pats” have been tipped as dark horses for the Premier Division title, following their FAI Cup victory last November and while the losses of starlets Adam Murphy and Sam Curtis to the UK shouldn’t be marginalised, with additions like Keating, Keeley and Kavanagh, they can have few complaints.
The opening night trip to a Galway side who romped the First Division would always be illuminating but their 0-1 victory in tough conditions suggests a doggedness and resilience about Daly’s team. Interestingly, there were 332 completed passes in total in the game with last year’s season not having a game with less than 350.
Bohemians are seemingly in disarray with a lot of hostility building between the fans, management and board even one game into the season following huge question marks over their recruitment. They rescued a point in Dalymount against Sligo last Friday through a Clarke 94th-minute equaliser to save Devine’s blushes.
Although it should be said that new signing Reinkort did get on the scoresheet and was impressive by all accounts. However, there’s an air papering over the cracks with that draw against Sligo and although a “Dublin Derby” bounce could well be on the cards, Pat’s will prove to be much tougher opposition,
Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 Bohemians
Pat's did what they had to on the opening night of the season by overcoming Galway in tough conditions, while Bohemians rescued themselves a point. Both sides seem to be on different trajectories and I'm expecting a home win here.
Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic Win @ 21/20
Dundalk v Galway United – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Dundalk @ 11/10
Galway United @ 23/10
Draw @ 23/10
Preview
Dundalk opened up their Premier Division season with a very respectable 1-1 draw against defending champions Shamrock Rovers, this was despite fielding an 11 with five new signings along with academy graduate Mayowa Animasahun who made his first-ever Premier Division start.
Although they had arguably the worst of the chances, a fine free kick from new hitman Gullan along with further squad integration expected in the coming weeks the signs for O’Donnell’s “tricky whites” may be brighter than some would’ve first hypothesised.
Galway were rampant winners of the 2023 First Division coming a staggering 25 points clear of Waterford and with an FAI Cup Semi-Final in the same season it would be foolish to dismiss their achievements from 2024. However, the step-up in divisions is considerable and with the majority of their recruitment coming from the First Division in the off-season question marks remain if they have the quality to stand the course this season.
Their opening night defeat against Pats was a low-quality affair not helped by conditions, this game presents them with the challenge of dealing with the fortress that is Oriel Park.
Prediction: Dundalk 2-0 Galway United
Dundalk’s performance on Friday Night was promising and while it’s important to not draw too many conclusions based on an opening round of fixtures things could prove more positive than originally expected. Galway lumbering long-ball tactics will be an interesting thing to view on the Oriel surface, but I think it’ll be another tough night for them.
Best Bet: Dundalk Win @ 11/10
Sligo Rovers v Derry City – Saturday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Sligo Rovers @ 16/5
Derry City @ 20/23
Draw @ 12/5
Preview
Sligo Rovers got themselves a hard-earned point on the opening night of the season with their 2-2 draw in Dalymount and while they can be disappointed with Bohemians 94th minute equaliser a draw was probably a fair reflection of the game itself. This has been a competitive fixture in recent times though with 1 win a piece and 3 draws from their last 5 encounters. Sligo Rovers are also unbeaten in their last 4 home fixtures against Derry since their 1-2 defeat back in August 2021.
Derry City have been the bridesmaid to Shamrock Rovers for two successive seasons, which prompted them during the off-season to sign Dundalk hitman Patrick Hoban to give them the much-needed goals they require if they’re to realise their league aspirations in 2024. Their 2-1 opening night victory with Hoban getting on the scoresheet could be a positive sign for their season.
While Derry have floundered against Sligo Rovers in recent games away from home, this has to be the type of game they target for 3 points to win the league.
Prediction: Sligo Rovers 1-3 Derry City
Sligo earned themselves a point on the opening night of the season and how positive that results look will become clearer in the coming weeks when we look at the broader picture of Bohemians form.
Derry need to have more steel about themselves if they’re to win the Premier Division title this season and I think a Hoban brace could be on the cards in this one.
Best Bet: Derry City -1 @ 5/2
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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