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 again! “The Greatest League in the World” is back to light up your Friday Nights and weekend! With 9 games remaining, there’s plenty left to play for in the respective title, European and relegation battles.
LOI Friday Night #24 Acca Selections
Waterford vs Sligo Rovers – Draw @ 12/5
Galway United vs Derry City – Derry City @ 13/10
Drogheda vs St Patrick’s Athletic - St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Goal Ahead @ 4/6
Bohemians vs Cork City – Cork City +1 @ 23/10
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 42/1 with BoyleSports.
Waterford vs Sligo Rovers – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Waterford – 20/21
Sligo Rovers – 9/4
Draw – 12/5
Preview
Waterford come into this fixture on the back of their FAI Cup elimination at the hands of Munster Rivals Cork City last weekend. That elimination puts their season into a peculiar position with 9 league games remaining, they sit in 7th place, 8 back of a European Place and 8 above the relegation playoff places. While their season is in danger of fizzling out in the closing weeks, a strong finish or poor end could drag them back into a battle on either end of the table again.
Sligo Rovers are yet to escape the relegation playoff spot following back-to-back Premier Division defeats, though their FAI Cup triumph last time out against Bohemians shows they still have plenty about themselves to navigate away from trouble. Time is running out, though, and they will need more points if they’re to stay ahead of Cork City, who are 7 back, and leapfrog Galway United, who are currently 4 ahead of them.
Prediction: Waterford 1-1 Sligo Rovers
This is a tough game to call, but I can see both sides cancelling one another out for the first draw between these sides since October 2021, when they drew 1-1 at The Showgrounds.
Best Bet: Draw @ 12/5
Galway United vs Derry City – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway United – 2/1
Derry City –13/10
Draw – 21/10
Preview
It’s been a complex season for Galway United both on and off the pitch, but following their 1-0 defeat to Cork City, they’ve gone undefeated in back-to-back games after holding Shamrock Rovers to a respectable 0-0 draw before a convincing 0-4 win in an all-Galway affair against Salthill last weekend. More points are needed in their final 9 games of the season, though, if they’re to ensure their Premier Division safety for 2026.
The wheels have seemingly fallen off the Derry City hype train for another season. 5 points in their last 5 league games means they’re now 3rd and 11 points back of league leaders Shamrock Rovers, and following their FAI Cup elimination at the weekend, 2025 looks almost certainly to be a disappointing season for the club. They now need a strong end to their season to ensure they salvage a European Place for 2026.
Prediction: Galway United 0-1 Derry City
Galway need points to ensure safety, and Derry City need them to ensure a European Place. I think the away side should have enough about them to get their job done.
Best Bet: Derry City @ 13/10
Drogheda vs St Patrick’s Athletic– Friday 7:45pm, LOI TV
Odds
Drogheda – 11/4
St Patrick’s Athletic - 21/20
Draw – 2/1
Preview
Though Drogheda were expelled from Europe before they could realise those dreams, this season has still been a net positive for Kevin Doherty’s side. They beat Derry City in the FAI Cup again last weekend, and their 8 points from their last 5 league games mean they’re currently sat in 4th spot and only 1 back of Bohemians in 2nd place. A key to their solid form has been their defence, with their 25 conceded only bettered by Shamrock Rovers' tally of 23.
There is an air of we’ve been here before with St Patrick’s Athletic. Though they’ve now been eliminated from Europe, that was what catapulted their end-of-season form in 2024, and there are signs we could be in line for a repeat showing this season. Their 2-0 win over Shelbourne in the Cup last weekend is the latest sign, and I think they may climb the table yet.
Prediction: Drogheda 0-1 St Patrick’s Athletic
Pats are inconsistent, and Sligo Rovers have picked up their form in recent weeks, so given the home side's European Exploits, I can see the away side picking up some sort of result.
Best Bet: St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Goal Ahead @ 4/6
Bohemians vs Cork City – Friday 7:45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians – 3/10
Cork City – 8/1
Draw – 15/4
Preview
Bohemians are another side who were dumped from the cup last weekend following their 0-1 elimination at the hands of Sligo Rovers. However, though their title aspirations are effectively over after 5 points from their last 5 games, they look well-positioned to secure a European Place for 2026, a prospect they would’ve taken at the start of the season.
Cork City, on the other hand, may have earned a Cup victory at the weekend, but there are far more pertinent problems for the Leeside outfit to navigate in the next few weeks as they look to overturn a 7-point deficit to Sligo Rovers and avoid automatic relegation from the Premier Division. However, the consistency they’ve found in recent weeks suggests it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they continue to pick up points.
Prediction: Bohemians 1-2 Cork City
Bohemians can now focus their full efforts on the league given their elimination, but Cork City have shown signs of fight in recent weeks, and I fancy them to pick up a result.
Best Bet: Cork City +1 @ 23/10
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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