LOI Betting Column 17/10/25
The 2025 League of Ireland season is now well and truly down the home straight with Shamrock Rovers closing in on the Premier Division title while Dundalk have already secured their return to the top flight. However, the race for the European places is set to go down to the wire while the battle to avoid the drop and the make up of the play-off places is yet to be finalised.
With the pressure at boiling point, LOI TV Commentator Kieran Burke managed to keep his cool in his most recent column as the Between the Stripes LOI podcast host returned a small profit to bring his overall P/L for the season to +7.84.
This week’s LOI Betting Column can be found below….
St.Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, Fri 7.45, Virgin Media Two
This season is quickly turning into a total failure for Stephen Kenny’s St.Pat’s and it would be almost fitting if they are the team to hand the title to Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops are on the verge of a historic league & cup double and will also still harbor ambitions of reaching the knockout stages of the Conference League. Victory here will ensure a fifth league title in six seasons for Stephen Bradley’s men.
Rovers could have won the title last week but were surprisingly beaten at home by Dublin rivals Shelbourne and the Tallaght men must now prepare for another all Capital clash. As for St.Pat’s, they need to show their supporters some kind of response after a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Cork City in the FAI Cup semi-finals.
The Cup was a real route back into Europe for St.Pat’s, who currently find themselves as low as sixth in the table and six points off the automatic European qualification places, but they have now left themselves with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the continent again next season.
The manner of the Saints defeat at Turners Cross is hugely concerning, Kenny’s team looked lifeless and devoid of ideas with goalkeeper Joey Anang at fault for all three goals. Big name players like Chris Forrester went missing and that has been a common complaint among the Pat’s fanbase for much of this forgettable season.
Shamrock Rovers pumped St.Pat’s 4-0 in the most recent meeting between the two in May and are unbeaten across the last three such meetings, winning two of those. It’s difficult to see Rovers losing back to back league games given they haven’t done so all season.
BEST BET: Shamrock Rovers draw no bet (21/20) +1pt
Athlone Town v Longford Town, Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
The final Midlands derby of the season will also serve as the final game of the season for both these sides with Athlone already condemned to collect the wooden spoon while Longford have just ran out of road in their quest to reach the play-offs.
Had other results gone in their favour last week, Longford would have been making the short trip to the local rivals still in with a chance of a top five finish which is remarkable given how poorly they started the season. However, Longford go into this game as the in form team in the division off the back of four straight wins.
All four of those wins came against teams in the top five places, including against the top three, so the Red & Black will be supremely confident of ending the season with a fifth consecutive victory against a team who haven’t won a game since May.
Despite their woeful form, there have been some slight shows of improvement from Athlone in recent weeks with Ian Ryan’s men picking up three draws in their last four games. One of those points was at home to Dundalk, who have since won the title, while last week Athlone were 2-0 up away to promotion chasing UCD only to let that advantage slip.
These two Midland rivals played out three consecutive draws before a late winner finally saw Longford get back to winning ways in this fixture in June, so Athlone will also be confident they can get something out of this game.
However, Longford have found a new gear of late and should have too much for the league’s basement boys here.
BEST BET: Longford win & BTTS (16/5) + 1pt
HOT STAT: Both teams have scored in the last 7 H2H’s.
Wexford FC v Treaty United, Fri, 7.45, LOI TV
It’s a straight shootout for the final play-off place as Wexford FC hosts Treaty United at Ferrycarrig Park. The equations are simple, only a win will do for Wexford but a draw is enough for Treaty to secure fifth spot and a place in the play-offs.
Wexford appear to be timing their finish to perfection with four wins from their last five but the suspension of star striker Mikie Rowe could come back to bite them here. However, Stephen Elliott’s side did get the job done last week without Rowe against Kerry.
Treaty United overcame a Bray side who have been on the beach for a few months now but overall their form has been patchy with 7 defeats in their last 13 games in all competitions.
The Limerick men’s record in this fixture is also uninspiring with no win in the last five H2H’s and just one draw in that time.
Away from home, Treaty United have earned only 12 points this season and this trip to the South East may prove to be a step too far in the end.
BEST BET: Wexford FC (7/5) +1pt
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