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 #11 Acca Selections
Sligo Rovers vs Drogheda United - Sligo Rovers or Draw @ 8/15
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Galway United – Draw @ 12/5
Cork City vs Shamrock Rovers - Under 2.5 Goals @ 7/1063
Derry City vs Shelbourne - Shelbourne 1 Goal Ahead @ 13/10
Bohemians vs Waterford – Waterford + 2 @ 4/9
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 28/1 with BoyleSports.
Sligo Rovers vs Drogheda United – Saturday 7.45 pm, Virgin Media 2
Odds
Sligo Rovers @ 9/5
Drogheda United @ 11/8
Draw @ 21/10
Preview
Sligo Rovers are rock bottom of the Premier Division with 8 points from their opening 12 games of the season and currently trail Cork City immediately above them by 3 points. However, they remain competitive against the teams around them and have earned a respectable 4 points from their last 3 matches. This is a young side and will require time to gel but if they can stay up this season and keep their core there are glimmers of light for the Bit O’Red.
Drogheda United may have fallen to their 2nd loss of the season last weekend when Galway United came from behind to beat them 2-1. However, due to results elsewhere and their exceptional start to the season, they remain top of the table due to a +3-goal difference between their opponents from that game. The league is as tight as ever though and they are still only 3 ahead of Derry City in 7th so must contain consistency.
Prediction: Sligo Rovers 1-1 Drogheda United
Pre-season both were expected to be in a relegation battle, but they’ve had contrasting fortunes in the opening third of the season. There hasn’t been a draw between both in their last 5 games and I think we may get one on Friday Night.
Best Bet : Sligo Rovers or Draw @ 8/15
Sligo Rovers or Draw - 8/15
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Galway United – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic @ 3/5
Galway United @ 10/3
Draw @ 12/5
Preview
Pats have failed to hit the heights that were expected of them so far this season and are now winless in their last 3 league games. Stephen Kenny was the highest of profile appointments last season and though it’s far too early to cast aspersions on their title credentials for 2025 they need to go on a winning streak sooner rather than later or questions will begin to start even if those questions would be harsh.
Though Galway United were excellent last season on their return to the top tier, the lack of goals let them down with their tally of 33 the worst of all sides not relegated (Dundalk scored 23). However, in Moses Dyer manager John Caulfield has found his answer to a 2016 Sean Maguire and with that may have found the man to spearhead the most unlikely of title challenges.
Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 Galway United
Stephen Kenny vs John Caulfield is one of the great LOI Managerial rivalries and this latest iteration of it continues to entertain and fascinate. Pat’s are not playing quite as well at the moment, and I can see this being a draw.
Best Bet: Draw - 12/5
Draw - 12/5
Cork City vs Shamrock Rovers – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Cork City @ 9/2
Shamrock Rovers @ 4/7
Draw @ 9/4
Preview
Cork City are a very difficult side to assess this season, sitting in 9th place they’re 1 point behind Waterford and 3 ahead of Sligo Rovers it seems unlikely that either of those three will be able to separate themselves from one another this season. However, their performances since their 4-1 battering by their opponents in this game have been positive. It may be as simple to say that whether their season ends a relative “success” or a “failure” if they get Maguire back fit, fresh and consistent for the majority of the rest of the season.
Shamrock Rovers’ went from 4 Premier Division successes in a row (2020-2023) to a historic European run in 2024. This is a squad that under Stephen Bradley has consistently set the standards in Irish Football and yet they will still get plenty of criticism. Though there’s been positive signs after their 2-2 draw against Shelbourne last weekend they’re now 3 consecutive Dublin Derby victories without a win which gives cause for concern.
Prediction Cork City 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
Though Cork City were battered last time by Rovers’ I do think that the game will be far closer at Turners' Cross.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals - 7/10
Under 2.5 Goals - 7/10
Derry City vs Shelbourne – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City @ 11/10
Shelbourne @ 13/5
Draw @ 19/10
Preview
Derry City invested heavily into their playing squad during the off-season (like they usually do) but have failed to find the consistency that the on-the-paper quality would suggest how they’d perform. Their 2-1 defeat against Waterford last Friday Night was another setback in their season and means they currently sit 7th in the table. The table is tight though and if they can put together a run of wins they could quickly assert themselves back into a “title race”.
Shelbourne are a very interesting side to assess, following three successive 2-2 draws in the Premier Division they’re currently 5th in the table albeit only 1 point back of league leaders Drogheda. However, the underlying metrics behind their performances suggest that they’re the most accurate passers, create the most chances and have the most shots on target. If they can find a more ruthless streak in front of goal they will be well in the title picture again in 2025.
Prediction: Derry City 0-1 Shelbourne
Derry City are unpredictable, and Shelbourne need to convert their chances more, but I see the away side doing enough to win.
Best Bet: Shelbourne 1 Goal Ahead - 13/10
Shelbourne 1 Goal Ahead - 13/10
Bohemians vs Waterford – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians @ 4/7
Waterford @ 4/1
Draw @ 14/5
Preview
Bohemians have been the story of the 2025 Premier Division season and whether Alan Reynolds is the man to bring the club back to being a competitive force. Early days there was calls for a change in management but now following 4 consecutive wins in all competitions including 3 in the league the narrative has flipped entirely. Remarkably from 12 games, they’re yet to draw with 6 wins and 6 defeats if they maintain their recent run they will climb the table further.
Last Friday Night Waterford FC fought out a 2-1 win over Derry City, a result which could be huge in the context of their survival aspirations in 2025. 12 points from 12 games has them 1 clear of Cork City and 4 ahead of Sligo Rovers, the success of their next managerial appointment will go a long way in deciding whether they can stay up this season.
Prediction: Bohemians 2-1 Waterford
Two sides are inextricably interlinked in terms of personnel and management in recent seasons, both unpredictable too. I think Bohemians might do enough to continue their winning streak but the handicap on Waterford looks attractive to me.
Best Bet : Waterford + 2 - 4/9
Waterford +2 - 4/9
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
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