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.
LOI Football is back! Shelbourne managed by Damien Duff lead the way at the top of the table with 10 points from their opening 4 games, with the remaining top-four having Derry and the newly promoted duo of Waterford and Galway United.
On the bottom end of the table, you have reigning Cup Champions St Patrick’s Athletic in 8 th , reigning league Champions Shamrock Rovers in 9 th and Dundalk in disarray bottom with 1 point.
This season we will be continuing our domestic coverage previewing the weekly action along with a weekly acca for readers to consider!
League of Ireland Matchday 4 Acca Selections
St Patrick's Athletic vs Dundalk – BTTS + St Patrick’s Athletic Win 14/5
Galway vs Drogheda – BTTS + Draw 4/1
Derry City vs Waterford – Derry City Win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 4/1
Bohemians vs Shelbourne – Shelbourne Win + Under 2.5 Goals 15/4
Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers – Shamrock Rovers + Under 2.5 Goals 3/1
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 450/1 with BoyleSports
St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic @ 8/11
Dundalk @ 15/4
Draw @ 5/2
Preview
St Patrick’s Athletic were expected by many to build on their FAI Cup victory last season and challenge at the top of the table this year, especially with what most saw as a positive off-season with regards to recruitment. However, after winning their first game of the season they’ve now three defeats on the spin and there’s already been murmurings of pressure starting to come on Jon Daly.
If things look poor for Pats, they look even worse for Dundalk bottom of the table with 1-point 4 games into the season. Last Friday Dundalk were hammered 0-5 at home against Sligo Rovers which typifies their miserable start to the season losing convincingly at somewhere they’re usually so strong. Stephen O’Donnell is in a precarious position with his job if he can’t find a few results in the coming games.
Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Dundalk
The “Donnell Derby” has now only a few months later turned into something of an El Sackico. A poor result for either side could make things interesting, especially on the Dundalk side. Pat’s should have too much about them and could land Donnell in further hot water.
Best Bet: BTTS + St Patrick’s Athletic Win 14/5
Click For Our LIVE St Patrick's Athletic v Dundalk Odds
Galway v Drogheda – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway @ 11/20
Drogheda @ 5/1
Draw @ 14/5
Preview
Galway have had a solid start to their season, following their domination of the First Division last year, they’ve 6 points from their first 4 games. While it’s fair to say Caulfield’s Galway aren’t the most attractive of footballing sides, thus far they have been effective, never convincingly beaten and always in the game.
Drogheda recovered from two defeats on the bounce this season with a worthy 2-1 victory against Bohemians on Monday to kick-start their campaign. They recruited decently in the off-season, but it could take time for the squad to gel together and I think the pricing of this betting market is disrespectful to Drogheda’s chances
Prediction: Galway 1-1 Drogheda
Galway have made themselves competitive in each Premier Division game and more of the same can be expected here, but I think Drogheda still get a point at the very least.
Best Bet: BTTS + Draw 5/1
Click Here For Our LIVE Galway v Drogheda Odds
Derry City v Waterford – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City @ 2/5
Waterford @ 13/2
Draw @ 10/3
Preview
While performances haven’t been quite there for Derry this season, they remain unbeaten with 8 points from their 4 games. The acquisition of Hoban has proved relatively fruitful too with 3 goals and 1 assist from those games and had it not been for a late Poom equaliser against them he could’ve played a big role in that victory albeit wasn’t to be in the end.
Waterford have proved plenty of doubters (which includes myself) wrong in their opening few games accumulating 7 points and currently sitting 3rd in the Premier Division. While it’s a small sample size, they can only be judged on games played and they do deserve credit for their start, how “Long” it continues remains to be seen.
Prediction: Derry City 3-1 Waterford
Two of the Premier Divisions top-three (for now) both sides have far different expectation levels this season, but both have arguably the best strikers in the country with Hoban (Derry City) and Amond (Waterford). Hoban to outscore Amond and give them the win.
Best Bet: Derry City Win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 4/1
Click Here For Our LIVE Derry City v Waterford Odds
Bohemians v Shelbourne – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians @ 9/5
Shelbourne @ 13/8
Draw @ 2/1
Preview
Following a tough off-season with the loss of Afolabi in particular, they struggled to recruit players which left them scrambling for signings on Transfer Deadline Day. While some of those look promising (on paper) they need time to bed in and their squad on the whole have flattered to deceive at a minimum so far this year, a tough season could be ahead for the Bohemian faithful.
Shelbourne have started this season strongly, leading the way at the top of the table with 10 points from their opening 4 games. The foundation of said “success” has been their watertight backline with 2 goals conceded which assists their 5 goals conceded for a winning combination. They may not win a league, but they’re the toughest side in the division to play.
Prediction: Bohemians 0-2 Shelbourne
Bohemians are faltering while Shelbourne are in the ascendency, expect this to be your coincidental Duff game a low-scoring Shelbourne win.
Best Bet: Shelbourne Win + Under 2.5 Goals 15/4
Click Here For Our LIVE Bohemians v Shelbourne Odds
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers – Saturday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Sligo Rovers @ 3/1
Shamrock Rovers @ 20/23
Draw @ 5/2
Preview
Sligo Rovers have had an impressive start to their season with 5 points from their opening 4 games and the exclamation point on that start came last Friday in Oriel Park with their 0-5 demolition of Dundalk in Oriel Park. Their squad looks threadbare away from the first 11 but if they can keep their main squad fit they could be in line for a more positive season than last year.
Shamrock Rovers have started slowly (as they always seem to do) but that Dundalk draw aside, a narrow defeat to in-form Shelbourne away from home and a 2-2 draw in Tallaght against Derry suggests to me there is no need for alarm bells yet. They’ll want to get that first win duck off their back though.
Prediction: Sligo Rovers 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
Two sides with contrasting expectation levels and fortunes for the season ahead, and while Sligo are always strong at home I suspect the Dublin Rovers will have enough to win this game.
Best Bet: Shamrock Rovers + Under 2.5 Goals 3/1
Click Here For Our LIVE Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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