LOI Premier Division Odds, Tips & Weekly Acca – Friday Night #16

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 #16 Acca Selections

Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers – Shelbourne Double Chance – 8/15

Derry City vs Galway United – Under 2.5 Goals – 8/15

St Patrick’s Athletic vs Drogheda – St Patrick’s Athletic – 8/11

Cork City vs Bohemians – Cork City +1 – 10/11

Sligo Rovers vs Waterford – Sligo Rovers 1 Goal Ahead – 4/6

An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 12/1 with BoyleSports.

Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers –  Friday 7.45 pm,  Virgin Media 2

Odds

Shelbourne – 19/10

Shamrock Rovers – 11/8

Draw – 21/10

Preview

Reigning League of Ireland champions Shelbourne, face Shamrock Rovers this Friday, but their title defence has been shaky following 27 points from their opening 19 games of the season at the same stage last season they had 37. Last time out Duff’s halftime dressing room rant viral in their game against Cork City which ended in a 1-1 draw. His further criticism of the mid-season break as “amateurish” in the media was the cherry on top for their volatile start to 2024.

Before Shelbourne’s fairytale story under Damien Duff, was the dominance of Shamrock Rovers guided by Stephen Bradley who won five consecutive titles from the 2020-2023 season. Following a season off from silverware, they look to be the team to beat again with their 36 points from 19 games putting them 6 clear of surprise packages Drogheda in second place.

Prediction: Shelbourne 1-1 Shamrock Rovers

I’m expecting a different Shelbourne performance in this Dublin Derby, and they look good value to secure at least a point at home.

Best Bet: Shelbourne Double Chance – 8/15

*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Derry City vs Galway United–  Friday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds

Derry City -  4/5

Galway United -10/3

Draw – 23/10

Preview

Derry City’s “geriatric” (yet talented) footballers are winless in their last 3 league games following their 1-0 defeat against Bohemians before the International Break. That defeat took them to sixth in the table though it’s far too early to press alarm bells with them only 3 points back of second spot and won’t have Europe to balance this season in comparison to the majority of those around them in the top half.

All is not right at Galway United with only 1 win from their last 5 league games with that coming crucially against Cork City in a 2-1 effort at Eamonn Deasy Park it would take a series of unfortunate events for them to be dragged into the relegation picture with them 11 clear of Cork City. They still need to pick up points though or that reality might come closer to fruition.

Prediction: Derry City 1-0 Galway United

This should be a tight game, with very little separating the sides, especially on current form, don’t expect there to be too many goals either.

Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals – 8/15

*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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

Odds

St Patrick’s Athletic – 8/11

Drogheda -  16/5

Draw – 13/5

Preview

St Patrick’s Athletic earned themselves a crucial 3 points last time out after Aidan Keena’s 10th-minute penalty (and comical celebration) further severed ties with his former club. Though only 1 point behind Drogheda and Bohemians, the nature of their performances relative to the pre-season expectation levels suggests to me that there might be a few arrivals and departures in a squad "refresher” in the next month or so.

“Surprise Packages” Drogheda have already accumulated 30 points from 19 games this season meaning they only need a further 4 to equal their tally from 36 games last season! There is a lot to like about how they do their business both on and off the pitch and seem to have this uncanny ability to bounce back from poor performances/results/

Prediction: St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Drogheda

Stephen Kenny’s side needs a strong result, and I think the mid-season break may have been the perfect thing to revitalise their season similar to in 2024.

Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic – 8/11

*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Cork City vs Bohemians–  Friday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds

Cork City – 16/5

Bohemians – 5/6

Draw – 23/10

Preview

Cork City picked up a 1-1 draw at Turners Cross before the season break which was the club’s first point since the appointment of Gerard Nash. Though performances have somewhat improved since he came in that was the minimum expectation and that will need to continue along with reinforcements if he’s to first distance the club from automatic relegation and then to look if he can navigate them out of the relegation playoff spot.

18 Games and counting, this remarkable streak of drawless matches hasn’t ended yet and 30 points from 19 games means they’re now only 12 off the entire total from 2024. Their major concern is their lack of goals though with their 21 scored only higher than Waterford’s 20 so far this season. They do have striking talent though with Whelan and Mousset if they can find form they could have an exceptional second half to their season.

Prediction: Cork City 2-1 Bohemians

Cork City’s improved performances in recent weeks signals to me they’re due a big result and Bohemians aren’t averse to losing matches like they’re drawing.

Best Bet: Cork City +1 – 10/11

*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Sligo Rovers vs Waterford – Saturday 7.45 pm,  LOI TV

Odds                                                                                         

Sligo Rovers  – 13/10

Waterford – 8/5

Draw - 12/5

Preview

Sligo Rovers may still sit bottom of the Premier Division but is only 1 point back of Cork City directly above them in the relegation playoff spot. The issue with this Sligo Rovers side isn’t the lack of quality, it’s that the quality in its depths generally comes from their younger players like McElroy (19) and Elding (19). If their older “more experienced” heads took a leaf out of the book of their younger stars they’d likely be far better off in their points tally.

Waterford are an interesting case, though they’re 10 clear of Cork City and 11 ahead of their opponents in this game their form has still been questionable at times. Had it not been for a few narrow victories they’d be also in the relegation conversation and their goal difference of -10 (level with Cork City) and -2 better than Sligo Rovers is indicative to me that the gap between them and the other two could be cut considerably in the coming weeks.

Prediction: Sligo Rovers 1-1 Waterford

They say the table never lies, but I do think the gap between these sides is far closer than their points tallies would have you believe and I wouldn’t be surprised to see both cancelling each other out.

Best Bet: Sligo Rovers 1 Goal Ahead – 4/6

*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

*Prices are subject to fluctuation

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