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 #7 Acca Selections
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Shelbourne – Over 1.5 Goals @ 2/5
Derry City vs Cork City - : Cork City or Draw @ 8/5
Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers – Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 4/9
Drogheda vs Waterford - Draw @ 21/10
Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers – Sligo Rovers @ 10/3
An accumulator with these selections pays at approximately 50/1 with BoyleSports.
St Patrick’s Athletic v Shelbourne– Friday 7.45 pm, Virgin Media 2
Odds
St Patrick’s Athletic @ 20/23
Shelbourne @ 16/5
Draw @ 11/5
Preview
Following a slow start to the season for Stephen Kenny and his squad, Pats have quietly gone about their business in recent weeks with back-to-back victories 3-0 against Bohemians and 1-2 against Waterford to lead the Premier Division with 13 points by a goal difference of +1 over Galway United. Though it’s a testament to the squads’ winning mentality that they’ve yet to reach top gear or play well for 90 minutes this season a step up in performance will be needed on this occasion.
The 2024 Premier Division Champions defied expectations under Damien Duff last season to land their first title since 2006. An even taller task would be retaining their title this time around while balancing European commitments. Though on paper they purchased well with the likes of Norris on loan from Liverpool and Ireland underage International Odubeko. Their Presidents’ Cup victory has been their most convincing showing by far and their 1-2 win over Sligo Rovers last Saturday was their first win following a four-game winless streak.
Prediction St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Shelbourne
Pats’ won their last head-to-head game 2-3 which ended their four-game winless streak in the fixture but only one goal has separated them in their last eight meetings so this will be a tight affair.
Best Bet: Over 1.5 Goals @ 2/5
Over 1.5 Goals - 2/5
Derry City v Cork City – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Derry City @ 4/9
Cork City @ 11/2
Draw @ 14/5
Preview
Following their disappointing end to the 2024 Premier Division season which saw them miss out on the league title as well as their FAI Cup Final defeat to Drogheda it was always going to be interesting to see how they approached their winter business. What came next was the relatively high-profile acquisitions of Holt (32), Winchester (31), Boyce (33), Whyte (28) and Cann (21) with the age profiles suggesting that an immediate title challenge was required. However, as of yet, they’ve failed to click with just 6 points from their opening 7 matches.
Cork City have had a solid start to life in the Premier Division, 7 points from 6 matches with 8 goals scored and 8 conceded. However, their recent 1-1 draw at Turners Cross against Drogheda last weekend was one of their poorest showings so far in the season whereby they considerably rode their luck and the back while looking ineffective going forward. The imminent return of Cathal O’Sullivan to the starting side on Friday will be a huge boost but the absence of Maguire still lingers, and Keating needs to step up his performances despite scoring last weekend.
Prediction: Derry City 1-1 Cork City
Ahead of this game Derry City are unbeaten in their last 12 games against Cork City with 10 wins and 2 draws. Despite that, I think there is very little between both teams in terms of performance levels at the moment so I can see the away side getting at least a point.
Best Bet: Cork City or Draw @ 8/5
Cork City or Draw - 8/5
Galway United v Shamrock Rovers – Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Galway United @ 21/10
Shamrock Rovers @ 5/4
Draw @ 2/1
Preview
Galway’s rise under John Caulfield has been one of the most underappreciated stories in Irish Football. Taking them to the 2023 First Division title and quickly establishing themselves in the Premier Division last season guiding them to 5th. This season his brand of no-thrills, robust football continues to make waves and their record of 3 wins and 4 draws puts them 2nd only behind Pats’ by goal difference as well as being the only side left in the league who are unbeaten.
Shamrock Rovers’ lost their stranglehold on the Premier Division last season being denied on the final day of the season by Shelbourne for a fifth consecutive league title win. Into 2025 their tremendous European run ended at the beginning of the season, and they also lost their historic season opener against Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium. It's fair to say the club have struggled since with only 8 points from their opening 6 games.
Prediction: Galway United 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Galway are flying and Rovers have been unconvincing, but games between both are usually tight and I think Rovers may just edge it.
Best Bet : Under 2.5 Total Goals @ 4/9
Under 2.5 Total Goals - 4/9
Drogheda v Waterford– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Drogheda @ 23/20
Waterford @ 11/5
Draw @ 21/10
Preview
Drogheda continue to defy expectations, avoiding relegation last season and landing an FAI Cup against the odds. Ahead of this season, people continued to doubt them placing them as relegation favourites especially after a poor showing in the Presidents Cup opener when they were outclassed and outthought by Shelbourne. However, 12 points from their opening 7 matches means they’ve already accumulated 35% of their tally from the 2024 season and could be on course for another positive season with Kevin Doherty.
Waterford did exceptional last season as a newly promoted side to quickly take them away from any relegation battle following their bright start to the 2024 season. Predictions were mixed for them in 2025 and though they’re currently 5th in the Premier Division they’ve lost their last 3 matches meaning they’re only 3 ahead of Bohemians who are second from bottom. It’s too early to forecast how their fortunes could go this time around.
Prediction: Drogheda 1-1 Waterford
Two sides who operate effectively with the resources and investment they receive compared to other teams in the country. I can see both sides cancelling one another out on Friday Night.
Best Bet : Draw @ 21/10
Draw - 21/10
Bohemians v Sligo Rovers– Friday 7.45 pm, LOI TV
Odds
Bohemians @ 7/10
Sligo Rovers @ 10/3
Draw @ 13/5
Preview
Bohemians had an extremely positive off-season with plenty highlighting what on paper looked like strong recruitment. That was followed by a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium. However, since that victory things have gone from bad to worse with the new squad failing to gel and fans calling for the head of another manager, this time Alan Reynolds. Their recent 0-2 against Galway means the club remains as volatile as ever on the field and another poor result here could end up being curtains for the management team.
Sligo Rovers are a well-run community club, who constantly overperform based on the resources they’re given which is a credit to both John Russell and his squad. However, there is no room for sentiment in football and the meritocracy in the league means that if you don’t consistently perform you’re certain to get relegated. Despite a win over Shamrock Rovers to boast about their total of 4 points from their opening 7 games has them rooted to the bottom and a defeat in this game would see a gap between them already.
Prediction: Bohemians 1-2 Sligo Rovers
A huge game early into the season at the bottom of the table, though both are in poor form I can see value in Sligo Rovers at odds of 10/3 to win.
Best Bet: Sligo Rovers @ 10/3
Sligo Rovers - 10/3
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
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