In this post, you can find our League of Ireland tips and predictions along with our weekly acca ahead of the opening weekend of the LOI Premier Division season.

It’s that time of the week year again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back to light up your Friday Nights and weekends! This promises to be as compelling as ever, with Damien Duff’s Shelbourne side looking to retain their 2024 Premier Division success.

LOI Friday Night #7 Acca Selections

Shelbourne vs Bohemians -  Shelbourne @ 11/8

Cork City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – St Patrick’s Athletic Win + Under 3.5 Goals @ 11/8

Derry City vs Drogheda – Over 2.5 Goals @ 11/8

Shamrock Rovers vs Waterford – Shamrock Rovers @ 1/3

Sligo Rovers vs Galway United -  Galway United 1 Goal Ahead @ 11/10

An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 27/1 with BoyleSports.

Shelbourne vs Bohemians –  Friday 7.45 pm,  Virgin Media 2

Odds

Shelbourne @ 11/8

Bohemians @ 2/1

Draw @ 2/1

Preview

The 2024 Premier Division Champions have had a mixed start to the 2025 season though they’ve only one defeat too many draws means they have only 13 points from their opening 8 league games which has them fourth in the table. Last week they earned a “credible” point in another Dublin Derby playing out an entertaining 0-0 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic. Though it’s been back-to-back draws in their last game and are winless against Bohemians in their last three they’re playing Bohemians at the right time on Friday Night.

Bohemians had what many viewed as a “positive” off-season when it came towards their recruitment including the headlining addition of former Premier League player Lys Mousset. They then opened their league campaign with a 1-0 win in the Dublin Derby held at the Aviva it felt like things were on the up for the club. However, a poor run of form followed and even though they had a 4-2 win over Sligo Rovers last weekend the pressure remains on Alan Reynolds with the team only 7th.

Prediction Shelbourne 2-0 Bohemians

This is an important game for either side with a win for changing the early context of their season, but I think the home side are better placed to capitalise on this game.

Best Bet: Shelbourne @ 11/8

Cork City vs St Patrick’s Athletic –  Friday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds

Cork City @ 15/4

St Patrick’s Athletic @ 4/7

Draw @ 14/5

Preview

What looked on paper to be a solid start for CCFC on their return to the Premier Division this season has quickly taken a nose dive for the worst. If their collapse against Derry City last Friday Night wasn’t bad enough the season-ending injury for Ruairi Keating may just be the bigger story which impacts their season. With Maguire, Keating, Dijksteel and Bolger, McLaughlin and Nevin injured it means their squad looks sliver-thin and with them second from bottom it could be a struggle for them in the next few weeks.

Pats managed by former Ireland Manager Stephen Kenny have quietly gone about their business this season with 14 points from their opening 8 matches putting them in second place 1 back of surprise leaders Drogheda. However, the most interesting thing is they’re grinding out results while not playing well and as the top scorers in the league (12) if they tighten up at the back they will be justified as Premier Division favourites.

Prediction: Cork City 0-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

Pats’ are unbeaten in their last 5 against Cork City and look well-placed to win this game.

Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic Win + Under 3.5 Goals @ 11/8

Derry City vs Drogheda –  Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Derry City @ 7/10

Drogheda @ 9/2

Draw @ 23/10

Preview

The hierarchy at Derry City decided to double down on their 2024 transfer strategy following their disappointing league finish and FAI Cup Final defeat. During the off-season, they brought in the experienced and relatively strong additions of  Holt (32), Winchester (31), Boyce (33), Whyte (28) and Cann (21) with the age profiles suggesting that an immediate title challenge was required. Though they showed resilience in their comeback win over a poor Cork City side last Friday Night more points are needed for them to put them in the top-half conversation.

Kevin Doherty and Drogheda United are in dreamland to start the season following up the momentum from their FAI Cup victory in November to top the table 8 league games in with a total of 15 points. However, that form will need to continue it should be noted that this is their first season back in full-time football so it could be the case where they tire toward the end of the season.

Prediction: Derry City 2-2 Drogheda

A repeat of the 2024 FAI Cup Final both sides have seen contrasting results to open their 2025 season, but I can see them cancelling each other out in this fixture.

Best Bet : Over 2.5 Goals @ 6/4

Shamrock Rovers vs Waterford – Friday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds

Shamrock Rovers @ 1/3

Waterford @ 8/1

Draw @ 7/2

Preview

Last weekend Shamrock Rovers ‘earned themselves a more than credible 0-1 victory against an in-form Galway United side at Eamonn Deasy Park. That win extended their unbeaten run in the league to 4 matches including 3 wins. Following a post-Europe hangover you get the impression this Rovers’ side are starting to come good again which will be far earlier than they did last season.

Waterford did exceptional last season as a newly promoted side to quickly take them away from any relegation battle following their bright start to the 2024 season. Despite a positive start to their season, they’ve now lost their last 4 matches including a 2-0 defeat to Drogheda last weekend. You get the sense they could be in for more of a struggle in 2025 and their next 5 games will shape the narrative of their season.

Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Waterford

Rovers’ looked to be growing in confidence while Waterford’s performances give cause for concern when it comes to their survival aspirations.

Best Bet : Shamrock Rovers @ 1/3

Sligo Rovers vs Galway United – Saturday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds                                                                                         

Sligo Rovers @ 9/4

Galway United @ EVS

Draw @ 12/5

Preview

Sligo Rovers are a well-run community club, that consistently outperforms the resources at its disposal relative to the rest of the Premier Division and the man in the dugout John Russell deserves credit for the role he’s played at the club since he took the main role in 2022. Despite their being positives in their squad injuries and suspensions have ravaged an already thin squad and they’re now rooted to the bottom of the table with 4 points from their opening 8 league games.

Galway’s rise under John Caulfield has been one of the most underappreciated stories in Irish Football. A First Division title success in 2023 before competing for an unlikely European place toward the end of last season though they ultimately lost out. This season they’ve continued that positive trajectory and though they lost to Shamrock Rovers last weekend 8 games into the season they’re only 2 points off the top of the table.

Prediction: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Galway United

Though both sides have had contrasting fortunes so far in 2025, Galway are winless in their last 5 against Sligo Rovers so can’t underestimate the challenge ahead of them on Saturday.

Best Bet: Galway United 1 Goal Ahead @ 11/20

*Prices are subject to fluctuation

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