Having failed to land the jackpot during his recent break in Vegas, LOI TV Commentator and host of Between the Stripes LOI podcast Kieran Burke is back hunting some winning bets in the League of Ireland this weekend.
DROGHEDA UNITED v SLIGO ROVERS – FRI, 7.45, LOI TV
Two of the leagues draw specialists meet at Weavers Park with Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers both drawing roughly half of their league games so far this season. Rather fittingly, the Bit O’Red arrive into this fixture off the back of consecutive draws while Drogheda United picked up a point in four consecutive matches before their narrow 1-0 defeat against Bohemians last Friday.
Sligo Rovers had been performing above expectations in the early stages of the season but something of an order appears to be forming in the Premier Division now with the Connacht outfit sliding down to seventh in the standings.
Drogheda United are at risk of getting cut adrift in the bottom two but the Louth men have actually performed quite well this season and are probably just suffering from the increased strength of teams around them in the division compared to years gone by.
A lack of cutting edge in front of goal will be Kevin Doherty’s biggest concern with the Drogs scoring just 9 times in 10 matches while Sligo Rovers recent goal return is far from inspiring with John Russell’s team finding the net just twice in their last four matches.
The reverse fixture between the sides was an interesting one with Drogheda United bursting out of the blocks only to find themselves 2-0 down after 26 minutes. However, after making another strong start to the second forty five minutes, Drogheda were rewarded this time with a goal from Andrew Quinn. A plethora of chances then fell United’s way to grab an equaliser but some lackluster finishing not only let Sligo off the hook but allowed them to recompose themselves and kill the game off with a third goal.
With chances likely to be at a premium in the tight surrounds of Weavers Park this should be another evenly fought contest.
BEST BET: Draw (11/5)
SHAMROCK ROVERS v GALWAY UNITED, FRI, 8.00, LOI TV
Rovers recent form has an ominous look about it for the rest of the league with the four-in-a-row league champions claiming five wins from their last seven to move within touching distance of top spot.
If anyone is capable of taking a big scalp this season it’s Galway United as the newly promoted side have already stunned the likes of Derry City and Shelbourne since their return to the top-flight.
These two teams met in mid March with Galway United producing a trojan effort only to be caught out by a late Johnny Kenny goal. That was the Hoops first win of the season and they’ve cranked up a few gears since then with Stephen Bradley’s side suffering just one defeat in their nine subsequent matches.
Monday’s scoreless draw away to Shelbourne was a dull affair but the Tolka Park pitch was a big factor in the lack of entertainment on offer. Prior to that Shamrock Rovers had scored six goals across their previous two matches with their 3-1 victory in Derry arguably their best performance of the campaign to date.
Scoring goals has been an issue for Galway, only rock bottom Dundalk have scored fewer but incredibly, the Tribesmen have conceded only six times in 11 matches, that is by far and away the best defensive record in the league and a remarkable stat for a team new to this level.
However, returning to a pristine playing surface and with the likes of Aaron Greene and Rory Gaffney being rested for large parts of the draw on Monday, Rovers may just have a gear or two too many for John Caulfield’s side on Friday.
BEST BET: Shamrock Rovers (6/10)
TREATY UNITED v UCD AFC – FRI, 7.45, LOI TV
Treaty United’s form has fallen off a cliff recently with the Limerick men losing four of their last five and going winless in that time.
As for UCD, after a shaky start to the season the Students have stabilised with an unbeaten run of seven matches containing four victories. Their latest win was particularly impressive with Willie O’Connor’s side winning 3-2 in Wexford, the hosts would be viewed as a potential promotion rival so that was a real statement victory.
Despite a change in management during the off-season, UCD have stuck to their principals by playing a lovely brand of football and the big wide open nature of the Market Fields pitch could suit the Students down to the ground.
BEST BET: UCD (7/5)
- A €10 treble on Kieran’s selections could return €122.88!