The League of Ireland was rocked last week by the news of Damien Duff’s shock departure from the champions Shelbourne. While Duff did take aim at his players in a series of explosive post match interviews after Friday’s defeat to Derry, the news of his swift exit on Sunday morning still caught everyone off guard including the owners of the club judging by all reports.
Duff’s impact on the league was absolutely huge, aside from delivering Shels a first league title in almost two decades, the Irish legend brought untold amounts of extra media attention to the domestic game. However, the show must go on with Shelbourne since playing out a 2-2 draw with Waterford on Monday.
LOI TV Commentator Kieran Burke discussed the Duff departure and his impact on the league on this week’s Between the Stripes LOI podcast. Kieran is running a level stakes profit of β¬4.98 this season and he has picked out four “best bets” for Friday’s games across the two divisions.
GALWAY UNITED v SHELBOURNE – Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
Joey O’Brien will again take charge of Shelbourne following Damien Duff’s dramatic exit at the weekend but will the players be up for a fight against Galway United? The Tribesmen were beaten in a heated Connacht derby by Sligo on Monday but they’ll be seeking a third straight home win having run over St.Pat’s on Friday.
Stephen Kenny’s team weren’t up for the fight against an ultra physical Galway and they’ll fancy their chances among all the chaos at Shelbourne right now.
Shelbourne have won just three of their last 11 away matches while Galway have won half of their home games.
United won both of their home games against the subsequent champions last season but they look set to go into this game without top scorer Moses Dyer. The New Zealander is reportedly set for a move abroad and that will be a huge blow for a Galway team who do struggle for goals.
BEST BET: Under 2.5 goals (1/2) +1pt
BOHEMIANS v SLIGO ROVERS, Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
The gypsies beat the other Rovers on Monday night to breath fresh life into the League of Ireland title race. A 2-0 win at home to arch rivals Shamrock Rovers has Bohs fans believing with a fourth straight Dalymount Park win possibly on the cards here.
Sligo Rovers had a huge derby win of their own against Galway on Monday but with four losses from their last five away games a follow up win looks unlikely.
Bohs have won the last three meetings with the Westerners, including a 4-2 win at Dalymount earlier this season.
BEST BET: Bohemians (2/5) +1pt
SHAMROCK ROVERS v WATERFORD FC, Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
Shamrock Rovers eleven game unbeaten run came to an end against Bohemians on Monday. The Gypsies just seem to have the Hoops number in that fixture in recent times so a quickfire response could be forthcoming by Stephen Bradley’s side on Friday.
Waterford beat Bohemians on Friday but could only draw at home to Shelbourne on Monday. The Blues continue to leak cheap goals with 11 conceded across the last six games. Two or more goals were shipped in four of those six games.
John Coleman’s men have no issues scoring goals but neither do Shamrock Rovers and being at home it’s unlikely the title favourites will be out gunned.
Rovers have won the last four H2H’s.
BEST BET: Shamrock Rovers (7/20) +1pt
TREATY UNITED v FINN HARPS, Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
Harps were the team to finally end Dundalk’s long unbeaten run on Friday but following up may prove difficult against a Treaty United team who deserved more than two draws over the weekend.
The Limerick lads dominated the game against Wexford on Monday but couldn’t find a deserved goal. However, they’ve now suffered just one defeat in six matches and only two across their last nine games.
Finn Harps needed a soft penalty to defeat Dundalk, who have been off the boil for weeks now, while their young goalkeeper made a string of incredible saves to shut out Dundalk.
Harps have scored just 22 goals in 19 games with Treaty United netting 33 times, only Cobh have scored more.
Treaty United have won the last four meetings and should bring up a five-timer on Friday.
BEST BET: Treaty United (6/10) +1pt