In this post, you can find our League of Ireland tips and prediction s along with our weekly acca ahead of the third weekend of the LOI Premier Division season.
It’s that time of the year again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back to light up your weekends!
Last weekend brought us our first full round-up of Friday Night fixtures for the season, with Bohemians beating Derry City away and Shamrock Rovers dispatching St Patrick’s Athletic in Tallaght Stadium.
Elsewhere, nothing separated the sides, with the remaining results finishing Waterford 0-0 Sligo Rovers , Shelbourne 1-1 Galway United and Dundalk 1-1 Drogheda . Shamrock Rovers were also held to a 1-1 draw in Tallaght on Monday Night.
In 2026? Expect. The. Unexpected.
LOI Acca Selections
LOI Friday Night #4 Acca Selections
Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers – Over 2.5 Total Goals @ 5/4
Derry City vs Waterford – Derry City @ 4/9
Drogheda vs Shelbourne – Drogheda Double Chance @ 6/10
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Dundalk - Dundalk Double Chance @ 21/0
Galway United vs Sligo Rovers - Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 3/4
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 17/1 with BoyleSports.
Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers – Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media 2
Odds
Bohemians – 6/4
Shamrock Rovers – 17/10
Draw – 19/10
Preview
Are Bohemians finally the real deal? Their tally of 7 points from their opening three league games has them top of the Premier Division following their 0-1 victory over Derry City at the Brandywell last weekend. They’re currently the top scorers in the league with 5 and are the only side yet to concede a goal in 2026 across both divisions. Unlike some in the Premier Division who have struggled to find their sides, Bohemians seem to have balance across the park, along with options on the bench.
Shamrock Rovers (finally) got their title defence last weekend when they dispatched of St Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 on Friday Night before being held to a 1-1 draw on Monday following a late Dundalk leveller. Interestingly, that double header was an early test for the depth in the Rovers’ squad, using 21 players across those 4 days, with their opponents for this game using the next most with 20.
Prediction: Bohemians 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians have started well, but Shamrock Rovers will be particularly disappointed with their latest draw against Dundalk. One way or another, I can see there being goals with their being an average of 3.3 Goals Per Game in their last three head-to-head matches.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Total Goals @ 5/4
Derry City vs Waterford
Derry City vs Waterford– Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City – 4/9
Waterford – 11/2
Draw – 3/1
Preview
Following a fortunate opening couple of weeks, where Derry City rode their luck to pick up 4 from a possible 6 points. Third time wasn’t the charm at the Brandywell last Friday Night when they fell to a 0-1 defeat against Bohemians following a goal from Dawson Devoy. Tiermam Lynch is already coming under considerable criticism for the team's lack of balance, but the addition of RB Barry Cotter on Deadline Day should help that going forward.
It’s hard to know where Waterford are for their 2026 prospects. Though the club invested well on paper in the off-season, they’re yet to properly click and find balance. Their 1-1 draw with Shelbourne on opening night was more than credible, but that was followed by a disappointing defeat 2-0 against Drogheda and a 0-0 home draw against Sligo Rovers, which will be seen as a missed opportunity for Jon Daly’s side.
Prediction: Derry City 2-1 Waterford
Derry City are really in need of not just a positive performance but a convincing victory, and this is really a game where we see both from them.
Best Bet: Derry City @ 4/9
Drogheda vs Shelbourne
Drogheda vs Shelbourne – Friday 7:45pm, LOI TV
Odds
Drogheda – 9/4
Shelbourne – 6/5
Draw – 2/1
Preview
Though non-footballing matters have marred the couple in the last couple of weeks, the late leveller from Conor Keeley last weekend in the Louth Derby extended their unbeaten start to the season. Ahead of another Friday Night, the signs are strong for their battle with Shelbourne, having gone unbeaten in their last four games against them with two victories and two draws.
Shelbourne are yet to quite click with back-to-back 1-1 draws to open their 2026 season, first away to Waterford and last week at home to Galway United. With respect to both sides, the comparative expectation levels of both would’ve been far smaller this season. Statistically, though, they can probably consider themselves unfortunate not to have picked up at least one victory.
Prediction: Drogheda 1-1 Shelbourne
Drogheda are performing well while Shelbourne’s start has been a little more understated. Games between both are usually tight, and though Shels will be fancied, I’m not so sure about their short-term prospects.
Best Bet: Drogheda Double Chance @ 6/10
St Patrick's Athletic vs Dundalk
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Dundalk – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic – 7/10
Dundalk – 7/2
Draw – 5/2
Preview
The Saints have been nothing short of a damb squid in the opening weeks of their season, and their 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers means they’ve accumulated a sole point and sit second from bottom, only ahead of Sligo Rovers by goal difference. Though it’s early days yet, Stephen Kenny needs to start picking up points sooner rather than later, or the pressure will start to mount.
Dundalk have held themselves accountable, picking up three draws from their opening three games on their return to the Premier Division. Though said start has been positive and certainly with their 1-1 draw on Monday against Shamrock Rovers’ particuarly credible. There remains a sense that their “experience” has failed to deliver their “experience” at times, and they will still need to find a way to turn some of those draws into victories.
Prediction: St Patrick's Athletic 1-1 Dundalk
The Battle of the Kenny’s with Stephen coming up against his son, Pats have started slowly while Dundalk have for the most part performed well, but I fancy the away team to get something.
Best Bet: Dundalk Double Chance @ 21/0
Galway United vs Sligo Rovers
Galway United vs Sligo Rovers – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway United – 20/23
Sligo Rovers – 5/2
Draw – 12/5
Preview
It may seem outrageous for a side which has only 1 point from their opening two league fixtures, but Galway United are already arguably the 2026 “Surprise Packages” (though that may say more about their pre-season expectations). There is a constant robust steeliness about John Caulfield’s side, and following their deadline addition of proven goal-scorer Frantz Pierrot their may be more than a glimmer of light in their fight for safety.
Sligo Rovers have started another season slowly, though the performance was there in Derry; they still fell to a defeat, and their subsequent 0-4 loss to Bohemians was, by all accounts, a poor showing. Last weekend, they picked up, on the surface, an “ok” point away to Waterford in their 0-0 fixture. But we need to see more from John Russell’s side, both individually and as a collective unit, or they could have a difficult 2026 in store.
Prediction: Galway United 1-1 Sligo Rovers
Galway have this uncanny knack of picking up points, and though I believe Sligo Rovers' squad has a higher ceiling, I can’t see there being too many goals in this one.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 3/4
Prices are subject to fluctuation
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