LOI TV Commentator Kieran Burke picks out the best bets for this weekend’s domestic action, with games taking place in the League of Ireland Premier Division, First Division and FAI Cup.
LOI & FAI Cup Tips
- Waterford -1 (v Sligo Rovers)
- Athlone Town (v Finn Harps)
- Over 2.5 goals (Longford Town v Kerry FC)
- Odds: 169/20
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Waterford FC v Sligo Rovers, Fri, 19:45, LOI TV
An FAI Cup quarter-final involving two teams battling for survival in the Premier Division. Waterford’s outlook on the future is certainly much more optimistic than Sligo’s, with the Blues being THE most in-form team in the country over the last 10 matches.
Graham Coughlan’s arrival at the RSC has been transformative, with the former Boston United manager picking up 21 points in the last 10 league games (W6, D3, L1, GF 18, GA 8).
Last Friday’s terrific 0-2 win at St.Pats moved Waterford 9 points clear of bottom-of-the-table Sligo Rovers and five points above the relegation play-off position. Such a position was unthinkable after the Blues had gone 13 games without a win at the start of the campaign under Jon Daly.
Sadly for Sligo, they haven’t got the same sort of bounce from Darren Purse’s arrival from the Cardiff City U23’s.
Sligo’s only win in their last six came against Kerry FC, and their performance wasn’t as dominant as the 4-0 scoreline suggests. Brushed aside 3-0 by Bohemians last Friday, they now face a rampant Waterford attack, who many are now talking about as potential late challengers for a European place. From what I saw in Richmond Park last week, they certainly have the quality, and I expect them to swat Sligo aside.
Best Bet: Waterford -1 (2/1) – VALUE BET!
Finn Harps v Athlone, Fri, 19:45, LOI TV
There was some mild encouragement for a hapless Finn Harps last week as they scored four times at the UCD Bowl. However, they conceded five to take their tally for goals shipped over the last six matches to an eye-watering 23.
Just when it looked like Athlone’s season was beginning to fizzle out, the Midlanders have gone and strung three wins together under new manager Sean O’Connor.
Athlone have won twice and drawn the other meeting against the Donegal side this season and can keep the pressure on the top five with a win here.
BEST BET: Athlone Town (3/4)
Longford Town v Kerry FC, Sat, 19:30, LOI TV
Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend in the second tier, as two of the play-off hopefuls clash at Bishopsgate. Just two points separate the sides, with as many as six teams battling for five play-off places.
Aside from their proximity in the standings, Longford and Kerry share identical records over the last five league games, with three wins, one draw and one defeat each. Both sides have a goal difference of +3, while they both went out of the FAI Cup at the same stage away from home to Premier Division clubs 4-0.
Everything points to a titanic tussle, although it is worth noting that Kerry FC have NEVER won in Longford (6L, 1D). The recent stats & trends also point to an entertaining encounter.
- Both teams have scored in Longford’s last three league games
- Longford’s last four league games featured 3 or more goals
- Longford have scored in 13 consecutive league fixtures
- De Town’s last six home league games all featured 3+ goals
- Longford have failed to score in only 1 of their last 10 at home in the league
- Kerry FC have scored in 11 straight league fixtures
- The Kingdom haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last four games
- Both teams have scored in Kerry’s last three league matches
- Kerry have conceded 7 times in their last 2 away games
- Kerry’s last 4 away games have featured exactly 4 goals per game
- Kerry’s last five away games have contained 3+ goals
With all of that in mind, over 2.5 goals on Saturday appears to be a BANKER!
BEST BET: Over 2.5 goals (4/5) NAP
8/1 LOI & FAI Cup Treble
- Waterford -1 (v Sligo Rovers)
- Athlone Town (v Finn Harps)
- Over 2.5 goals (Longford Town v Kerry FC)
- Odds: 169/20
