Christmas may still be 8 days away but League of Ireland fans up and down the country received a major stocking filler this afternoon when the fixtures for the 2025 season were released.
2024 was another hugely progressive season for the domestic game with record breaking crowds and TV audiences while on the pitch the title race went right down to the last few minutes of the final round of games with Damien Duff’s Shelbourne eventually being crowned champions for the first time in almost two decades.
With the fixtures now revealed for the 2025 LOI season, LOI TV commentator & host of Between the Stripes LOI podcast Kieran Burke breaks down Bar One Racing’s outright betting on next season’s title winners.
SHAMROCK ROVERS – 15/8
While they may have ended 2024 without a trophy for the first time in six years Shamrock Rovers fans are currently enjoying a historic European adventure with the Hoops looking set to become the first ever Irish side to reach the knockout stages of a major European club competition.
While such a European odyssey will bring great financial returns with already over €5 million bagged from their current run there will be challenges that come with it. Firstly, the Hoops season will go on beyond Christmas meaning very little downtime for the players with most teams beginning their pre-season schedules before Christmas.
Meanwhile, players such as Johnny Kenny and Neil Farrugia are likely to attract interest from elsewhere given their performances on the continent this season. Despite a great season in Europe there is some apparent unrest behind the scenes at the club in regards to their ownership structure meaning there is plenty for Stephen Bradley to consider before the league opener against Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday February 16th.
If Rovers can overcome those challenges and replicate their European showings in the league then they are obvious contenders to collect a fifth league title in six years but I would be concerned about burn out unless there is some freshening up of the current squad.
ST.PATRICK’S ATHLETIC – 15/8
Money appears to be no object at Richmond Park as the Saints continue to support manager Stephen Kenny with a string of impressive new arrivals and the re-signing of the clubs top performers.
St.Pat’s were relegation candidates when Kenny took over just before the summer of this year but an incredible run of nine consecutive league wins at the end of the campaign saw the Saints finish in the European places.
Having reached the play-off round for the Europa Conference League under Kenny last season there is a real belief that this Pat’s team can compete for top honors at home while challenging for a place in the group stage of the Conference League.
Even during Dundalk’s glory days Stephen Kenny’s teams haven’t always been the quickest of starters which means some punters may be tempted to wait and see if they can get a juicer price than 2/1 a few weeks into the season but if the men from Inchicore start next season how they ended the last then that 2/1 could very quickly look amazing value.
SHELBOURNE – 7/2
It wasn’t exactly a Leicester City at 5000/1 type upset but Shelbourne were 25/1 outsiders to win the league at the start of last season and that’s exactly what they did under the guidance of charismatic boss Damien Duff.
You can be sure Duff will be showing his players these outright prices too with the defending champions 6/1 third favourites to retain their crown.
Shelbourne’s championship success was built off the back of a rock solid defence and Duff will aim to replicate that next term. A lack of firepower was always a concern this season but they found a way to overcome it but it will be difficult to grind out another title in the same manner again unless they can pull some quality signings out of the fire.
DERRY CITY – 6/1
Derry City are under new management with Tiernan Lynch replacing Ruaidhrí Higgins. Lynch enjoyed great success during a long stint in charge of Larne, winning the NIFL title and making history by qualifying a Northern Irish side to the group stages of a European group stage for the first time.
Lynch is now charged with trying to pick Derry City off the floor after they fell flat on their face at the end of last season. The Candystripes were well placed to challenge for a first title in almost 30 years but didn’t appear to have the bottle to sustain a genuine challenge in the closing weeks while they were rolled over in the FAI Cup final by a Drogheda United side who finished second bottom in the Premier Division.
Shortly after that humiliating cup final showing (or non-show) it was announced that the McEleney brothers and striker Colm Whelan were all to leave the club. Further high profile departures were expected but new boss Lynch has been able to convince players such as Brian Maher and Adam O’Reilly to stick around and sign new deals which has lifted spirits among the supporters.
The much maligned plastic pitch in Derry remains a concern but it will be interesting to see how Lynch goes about setting his team up. Derry fans felt that under Higgins their team played a far too passive game with the atmosphere at the Brandywell clearly reflecting that last season.
If they can keep the likes of Pat Hoban fit then there’s no reason Derry can’t challenge but barring some big signings it may be a season too soon for Lynch to end City’s long wait for a league title. Former Northern Irish international Shane Ferguson has signed but at 33 it’s difficult to know how great his impact may be.
BOHEMIANS – 28/1
Last season was a disaster from start to finish for the Gypsies who quickly parted ways with manager Declan Devine before parachuting Alan Reynolds into the Dalymount Park hotseat. Aside from dumping arch rivals Shamrock Rovers out of the FAI Cup there was very little if anything for Bohs fans to cheer.
Recruitment has been heavily criticised by supporters in recent seasons but the acquisition of Derry City striker Colm Whelan has eased some pressure. Bohs have struggled for a goalscorer since they lost the likes of Georgie Kelly and Promise Omochere so the arrival of Whelan is most welcome even if fears over his injury record are high.
Another recent addition with a worrying injury record is John Mountney. The five-time league winner with Dundalk reunites with former boss Stephen O’Donnell who is the number two at Bohemians and the Mayo native should bring some much needed leadership qualities to the group.
Niall Morohan has signed from Sligo Rovers and is a steady performer so hopes shiould be high of improving on last season’s dismal showing but a title bid seems totally out of the question.
WATERFORD FC – 25/1
The Blues enjoyed a tremendous first year back at the top level last season even if a slight drop off at the end of the campaign saw Waterford FC finish seventh. Following up such an effort won’t prove easy.
Andy Boyle’s arrival from Dundalk has been the Blues most notable piece of business so far, it remains to be seen if the former Ireland defender can still make an impact at this level at this stage of his career.
However, it was an elder statesman in Padraig Amond who played the greatest part in Waterford’s success last season with a joint league best of 14 goals so perhaps we shouldn’t write Boyle off just yet.
Cementing their place in the division for another season should be the goal.
CORK CITY – 33/1
The Rebels are back in the big time but already there appears to be unrest with supporters of the club appearing unhappy with the Rebels leadership over issues surrounding the Women’s team.
However, focusing solely on the men’s team well Tim Clancy has been backed with the signings of star strikers Ruari Keating and Seani Maguire. Clandy has been ruthless in releasing a number of players from last season’s promotion winning side something the club probably didn’t do strongly enough when they last went up to the Premier Division.
It’s probably too early to make any concrete conclusions on City’s chances next season but it’s safe to say they won’t be winning the league. Safety will be the ultimate objective.
SLIGO ROVERS – 33/1
Many peoples favourites for relegation last season, Sligo Rovers outperformed all expectations with a top six finish last term. However, the age old problem of retaining their top talent has already reared its head with Simon Power moving to St.Patrick’s Athletic while other key players have also been linked with moves away.
John Russell had one of the thinner playing squads to choose from last season and injuries certainly did hamper the managers cause at times. Russell needs to add to his squad as opposed to a winter of replenishment. Again, a midtable finish would be fine in 2025.
GALWAY UNITED – 40/1
It’s interesting to note the Tribesmen are a larger outright price compared to the likes of Waterford and Cork City for next season given Galway finished a lofty fifth last year and were mathematically still in the title race with just a few games remaining.
John Caulfield’s side had the best defensive record in the league last season after Champions Shelbourne but they also had the worst goal scoring record after relegated Dundalk.
The fear among odds compilers may be that Galway may be found out by opponents if they attack next season with a similar gameplan to this, which they will. The Westerners will have to find a way to score more goals if they are truly to mix it with Ireland’s elite. Another midtable finish would be more than acceptable.
DROGHEDA UNITED – 50/1
The FAI Cup winners will likely still be pitched as potential relegation candidates and to be fair, they did need to go through a play-off to secure their top-flight status last season even after winning the cup.
Juggling European and domestic duties will be a brand new challenge for this group and that test will prove even harder should they lose star strikers Douglas-James-Taylor and Frantz Pierrot. At least Conor Keeley has returned after an unsuccessful stint at St.Pat’s but United may have to utilise their connections in the UK again if they are to make 2025 another successful season.