While all eyes will be on Ireland v England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, the League of Ireland serves up a nice appetizer over the coming days with two crucial rearranged games set to take place in the Premier Division while Cork City can wrap up the First Division title with victory away to UCD on Friday night.
Here to cast his eye over some potential betting angles is LOI TV Commentator and host of Between the Stripes LOI podcast, Kieran Burke.
DUNDALK FC v ST.PATRICK’S ATHLETIC – Thursday, 7.45, LOI TV
Yet another week, yet another off-field drama at Dundalk with media reports suggesting that current owner, Brian Ainscough is looking to off load the club after less than a year in charge. Other reports suggest the club is set to post a massive financial deficit in their upcoming set of accounts, all of this coming at a time when the club find themselves at the foot of the Premier Division table. Given the bleak financial outlook, relegation could prove catastrophic which makes the visit of Stephen Kenny’s St.Pat’s a mammoth game for the Lilywhites.
Dundalk are currently winless in their last five matches in all competitions and despite some promising efforts against the likes of Derry City and Shelbourne, the lack of goals in this Dundalk team could be what sends them down. The Louth men have a league-low 19 goals in 28 games. For comparison, their opponents on Thursday have netted 32 times in a well below par league season for the Saints.
St.Pat’s turned over Dundalk’s relegation rivals Drogheda 4-1 on Sunday at Richmond Park with an early Luke Heeney red card helping Pat’s on their way. That was St.Pat’s first domestic engagement since their impressive European odyssey came to an end in the UEFA Conference League play-off round with a brave defeat in Istanbul.
The big question regarding St.Pat’s now is if Stephen Kenny can keep them motivated and transfer that European form back to the league with a top-four finish possibly still in reach.
Dundalk’s legendary former manager and ex-Ireland boss Kenny took over at the Inchicore club in May and there is no doubt the Pat’s squad is stronger now than when he arrived in Dublin. Zack Elbouzedi is well on his way to establishing himself as being the best winger in the league with his performances since joining from AIK in Sweden while striker Aidan Keena was also signed by Kenny having lit up the league previously with Sligo Rovers.
There are also a number of players who were already at the club who appear to have upped their output under Kenny’s watch with Jake Mulraney in particular looking a far more consistent operator.
While St.Patrick’s Athletic should have far too much class for this struggling Dundalk outfit, it’s not likely to be easy work at Oriel Park, where Pat’s have only won once in their last five visits. The spectators at Oriel have been starved of goalmouth action this season with Dundalk failing to score in three of their last four home ties.
It’s not just Dundalk who have struggled for goals on the dreaded artificial surface of Oriel as there has been under 2.5 goals in 11 of the last 12 matches played there. In fact, between March and June, Dundalk recorded a club record of eight consecutive home clean sheets. However, that defence solidity has since evaporated with Dundalk conceding in all of their last four matches at home.
With 5 of St.Pat’s last 6 games featuring under 2.5 goals, a low scoring win for the Saints may be the way to play.
BEST BET: St.Patrick’s Athletic & under 3.5 (2/1)
BOHEMIANS v SHELBOURNE – FRI, 7.45, VIRGIN MEDIA TWO
Victory away to Dundalk last week combined with Derry’s defeat in Galway saw Shelbourne return to the top of the tree with just eight games remaining, are Damien Duff’s men closing in on the title? Friday’s trip to Dalymount Park is Shelbourne’s game in hand and an opportunity to build up a six point lead over Derry who will be watching on from home with no game of their own due to the international break.
Bohemians have had a poor league campaign but Alan Reynolds will be hoping Sunday’s Dublin Derby win at home to Shamrock Rovers can act as a lightening rod for his players. However, we’ve been here before with Bohs, they are no sure thing to back up that display.
The Gypsies can take confidence from their recent record against Shels with the Drumcondra outfit failing to get the better of Bohemians in the last two meetings while Shelbourne have prevailed in just one of the last seven H2H clashes.
Shelbourne’s success this season has been built off a rock solid structure that has seen them concede only 18 goals in 28 games, a league best defensive record. Shelbourne have only scored 31 goals this season though so that give you an idea of the kind of team they are.
Given last weekends results, a point on the road wouldn’t be the worst of results for either side here. A share of the spoils would take the home team further away from the bottom two while it would see Shelbourne go another point closer to the title.
As a result, expect a cagey but fiery affair (There have been media reports of a major bust up between the two managers so the card markets could be of interest here too).
BEST BET: Shelbourne draw no bet (9/10)