The League of Ireland is back for 2026, and Kieran Burke returns with his weekly LOI betting column for BAR 1 Betting. After finishing last season with a level-stakes profit, the LOI TV commentator previews Matchday 1, with Derry City tipped to start fast following a strong winter and the return of James McClean, alongside betting value elsewhere in the Premier Division.
BAR 1 Betting has announced Alan Cawley as its new League of Ireland ambassador ahead of the 2026 season. The former Shelbourne title winner and RTÉ pundit will front a new weekly show, LOI Lowdown, across BAR 1 Betting’s social channels, offering expert analysis, fixtures previews and weekly betting insights throughout the League of Ireland campaign.
BAR 1 Betting has also announced a charity bet sponsorship of the long-standing weekly League of Ireland podcast ‘Between the Stripes LOI podcast’.
BAR 1 Betting has become the first bookmaker to release outright betting on the 2026 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, with Shamrock Rovers installed as early 5/4 favourites. View the latest League of Ireland title odds and see how the chasing pack stacks up ahead of the new season.
League of Ireland Betting Tips – The Finish Line in Sight
The finish line is fast approaching, yet nothing is decided in the 2025 League of Ireland campaign. For the second week running, Shamrock Rovers missed the chance to clinch the title, suffering another Dublin derby defeat away to St. Pat’s. The Hoops can still secure a fifth league crown in six years by picking up a point away to Derry City on Sunday.
Elsewhere, the battle for European qualification and the relegation fight remain finely balanced. Monday’s draw between Bohemians and St. Pat’s leaves just one point separating those two sides and Drogheda United in the race for fourth, while Galway United, Sligo Rovers and Waterford FC are level on points as the scrap to avoid the relegation play-off goes down to the wire.
After another profitable week — taking the season’s overall profit/loss to +8.84 — LOI TV commentator and Between the Stripes LOI Podcast host Kieran Burke has put together his latest League of Ireland betting tips, featuring a near 5/1 treble for the penultimate round of fixtures.
Check out this week’s LOI predictions and best bets below.
The 2025 League of Ireland season is now well and truly down the home straight, with Shamrock Rovers closing in on yet another Premier Division title while Dundalk have already sealed their return to the top flight. However, there’s still plenty left to play for — the race for European qualification is set to go right to the wire, and the battle to avoid the drop, along with the final make-up of the promotion play-offs, remains delicately poised. LOI TV Commentator Kieran Burke previews this weekends matches and puts up his best bets.
LOI Betting Column Oct 2-5 It’s a busy week across all fronts as both Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers begin their respective UEFA Conference League campaigns on Thursday night before the Hoops host Kerry FC in…
After a dramatic week of Cup shocks and league thrillers, focus now shifts back to domestic action where Shamrock Rovers can extend their lead at the top, while Bohemians look primed to bounce back against struggling Waterford.
Kieran Burke’s best bets include Bohs to win at 7/20, Rovers at 11/20, and Dundalk at 21/50 as they close in on the First Division title. Shelbourne may also offer value away to Derry, while Treaty United look the play in their must-win clash with Athlone.
A €10 five-fold returns €141.73 with Bar One Racing.
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