LOI Premier Division Odds, Tips & Weekly Acca – Friday Night #17

18 June 2025
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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 #17 Acca Selections

Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City – Cork City +2 – 20/23

Shelbourne vs Derry City - Under 2.5 Goals – 4/9

Galway United vs St Patrick’s Athletic – St Patrick’s Athletic – 6/4

Waterford vs Bohemians –  Bohemians – 8/11

Drogheda United vs Sligo Rovers -  Drogheda – 7/10

An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 18/1 with BoyleSports.

Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City– Friday 8 pm, Virgin Media 2

Odds

Shamrock Rovers – 2/7

Cork City – 9/1

Draw – 15/4

Preview

Following 13 points from their last 5 games, Shamrock Rovers now lead the way at the top of the Premier Division 9 clear of Bohemians albeit they’ve played 2 extra league games due to Europe being around the corner. Stephen Bradley’s side look a class apart from the rest this season but need to continue that form to give them an all-important buffer in the coming months.

Cork City now find themselves in a straight shootout with Sligo Rovers for the final 17 games of the season to see who can avoid automatic relegation into the First Division. Though they’ve shown in flashes that they have the capacity to be a decent side, concentration issues, inexperience and injuries mean they have averaged 0.68 points per game this season and by comparison in 2023 when they were relegated they averaged 0.86 points per game.

Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Cork City

Two sides on entirely different trajectories, it’s very hard to see past another home win, but I think Cork City may put on a better fight than they did last time in Tallaght.

Best Bet: Cork City +2 – 20/23

Cork City +2 - 20/23

Bet Here

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

Shelbourne vs Derry City – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Shelbourne – 8/5

Derry City -  7/4

Draw – 2/1

Preview

Shelbourne secured a crucial 0-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday Night which ended their two-game winless run. It’s been a tough title defence for Damien Duff’s side but they still only trail second-placed Bohemians by 3 points. Victory here would give them breathing room ahead of their opponents in this game directly below them who trail them by 2 points but also have 2 games in hand.

Derry City's expensively assembled squad received widespread criticism for the club’s preference for signing players in their late twenties and older. There was no doubting the talents of the players brought in though and they were expected to be thereabouts again in the top half in the 2025 season. As of yet, that hasn’t materialised though with the club struggling for goals as well as keeping them out. The European window will give them to chance to climb back up the table though.

Prediction: Shelbourne 1-0 Derry City

Shelbourne have a bit more momentum behind them and I think they will make the Tolka Park factor count with a narrow win.

Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals – 4/9

Under 2.5 Goals - 4/9

Bet Here

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

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

Odds

Galway United – 13/8

St Patrick’s Athletic – 6/4

Draw – 21/10

Preview

Galway United’s season is very difficult to assess, 22 Goals scored and 22 Conceded tells its own story and shows they’ve generally been in every game they played this season. However, their failure to pick up points now leaves them trailing those above them and now with Waterford breathing down their neck, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a further poor month or two wouldn’t bring them into the relegation conversation.

Stephen Kenny’s side were season as many pre-season favourites for the 2025 Premier Division title when considering their blistering finish to the 2024. However, the pressure continues following their defeat to Shelbourne on Monday they’re in fourth spot with Europe on the horizon which could add further load to their under-performing squad.

Prediction: Galway United 0-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

Both sides haven’t been in the best of form of late but I think Pat’s have that bit more about them in terms of quality.

Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic – 6/4

St Patrick's Athletic - 6/4

Bet Here

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

Waterford vs Bohemians– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Waterford – 3/1

Bohemians – 8/11

Draw – 11/4

Preview

Last weekend Waterford fell to a 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers which means they’re now only 8 ahead of them and 10 clear of bottom of the table Cork City. While unlikely if their 4-match winless streak continues to extend the gap between themselves and those below them could be cut further considerably. Their -11 Goal Difference level with Sligo Rovers and only one better than Cork City is another cause for concern.

19 Games and counting, this remarkable streak of drawless matches has continued for another week following their 0-2 win over Cork City at Turners Cross last Friday Night. If they can make a few additional signings in the summer transfer window a European qualifying spot looks more than achievable though a title challenge could still be beyond their scope.

Prediction: Waterford 1-2 Bohemians

Games between both sides are usually tight, but I think Bohemians may just edge it.

Best Bet: Bohemians - 8/11

Bohemians - 8/11

Bet Here

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

Drogheda vs Sligo Rovers – Saturday 7.45 pm, LOI TV

Odds

Drogheda – 7/10

Sligo Rovers  – 10/3

Draw - 13/5

Preview

It’s been a tough few days for Drogheda following confirmation of their expulsion from Europe after UEFA ruled against their owner's multi-club model. That legal defeat will have huge financial implications on their budget and their ability to both retain and recruit footballers. However, there’s always been a resilience about them, and I think that could save their squad and make them an even more dangerous prospect in the league this season.

Sligo Rovers earned what could prove to be a crucial victory in their survival aspirations last weekend against Waterford, which meant they climbed off the foot of the table as well as giving Waterford something to think about in the coming weeks. That win will only take them so far though and further will be needed to steer themselves away from any issues.

Prediction: Drogheda 2-0 Sligo Rovers

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: Drogheda – 7/10

Drogheda - 7/10

Bet Here

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

*Prices are subject to fluctuation

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