We are into week three of the LOI Premier Division in what has been a somewhat, turbulent start to the season which kicks into gear with five top games tonight and another round of fixtures kicking off on Monday, making it an exciting weekend to be a League of Ireland fan.
Of course the big one tonight is the Dublin Derby between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers. So how will the games go tonight? Well, following in the footsteps of the likes of Lawrenson and Sutton I’m going to endeavour and see if I can successfully predict the weekly winners and losers for the rest of the season!
Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers
It’s crazy to think that victory for Shelbourne tonight would put them nine points clear of Shamrock Rovers albeit with a game in hand! A victory tonight in addition to their opening night victory over Derry would be quite the dominant start for the league champions. Throw in the early season difficulties at Richmond Park and victory tonight would sound an ominous warning to the rest of the league!
Mipo Odubeko has made a strong start to the season as evidenced by his place on the Lansdowne Roar Team of the Week this week. In all honesty he will feel he should have a few more goals to his name at this stage particularly during their opening night win against Derry. Mipo is getting into the right positions and the chances are being created so the feeling is as he builds his confidence and game time, there could be a couple of big goalscoring nights for him by the end of the season.
The travelling band of supporters from Leeside were probably not the only disappointed parties at the late postponement last Sunday in Tallaght. Its now been 8 days since the heartbreaking loss on penalties against Molde. Last Sunday was a bit of a catch-22 for Rovers probably, I’m sure they would have wanted the opportunity to bounce back in the league before the game tonight.
At the same time however having played an energy sapping extra 30 mins before the disappointment of the shootout they probably won’t have been too disappointed at the extra rest before this fixture. It’s going to be the mental hangover rather than any physical one that Rovers will have to overcome in the opening minutes tonight.
So what’s going to happen tonight? It’s weird to say it but Rovers need to get something tonight. It’s not that I think they couldn’t turn a 9 point deficit around but more to get a bit of positivity into the place after the disappointments they’ve endured since their marvellous win in Norway two weeks ago. I think they will get their point tonight to just keep Shelbourne in sight! The eternal optimist in me thinks there will be goals in this one, perfect as its the live game on TV tonight.
Prediction Shelbourne 2 – Shamrock Rovers 2
St Patrick’s Athletic Vs Sligo Rovers
Neither side you’d imagine would be too happy with how their team started the season. Having being tipped at the start of the season to challenge for the title, the perception so far would be that St Pats failed to fire early doors against Drogheda and struggled with the opening half blitz that Galway unleashed on them last week.
Sligo fans for their part will probably be a bit concerned with having conceded 6 goals in two games so far. The good news is that Pats attack hasn’t exactly set the world on fire yet either. We’ve seen Pats start badly before and come back strongly in the second half of the season but I’m sure Stephen Kennys men will be looking at tonight as an opportunity to get their season up an running.
Do I think they will score three like Waterford and Drogbeda did? No but I think Pats will do enough to get the three points
Prediction St Pats 2- Sligo 1
Cork City vs Bohemians
As a Corkman it’s difficult to know what to say about this Cork team so far simply because we haven’t seen as much of them because of the postponed game last Sunday. Having led twice at home to Galway in the John Caulfield derby two weeks ago, its hard not to feel that they were probably disappointed not to close that game out especially at home.
Both sides in this game you would feel are on the up with both teams having exciting front players as well!
Despite that, you have to say having been involved in two, 1-0’s so far, one that went their way against Rovers and one which didn’t against Derry that Bohemians are going to be keeping things tight this season. That trend might well continue tonight. Cork will know that to compete they will want to be picking up points at home. I think tonight they will just edge all three.
Prediction Cork City 1 Bohemians 0
Drogheda United vs Galway United
Two teams that will be extremely happy with their starts to the season. Drogheda appear to have kicked on from the cup win at the end of the season but tonight will be a different test against a team their former manager Tim Clancy described two weeks ago as proficient in the dark arts!
Winning 3-0 against Sligo last week with 40% possession shows while limiting them to one shot on target shows Drogheda are willing to roll with the punches themselves and two clean sheets so far will have Kevin Doherty thrilled!
The other stand out striker at the start the season has been Patrick Hickey and he will be looking to add to his tally tonight. This one should be quite open but I’m gonna sit on the fence on this one with both sides continuing their fine early season form! A second four goal thriller of the night!
Prediction Drogheda United 2- Galway United 2
Derry City vs Waterford United
Both sides on three points coming into this one. Waterford you’d imagine the slightly happier of the two. Derry were blown away early on by Shels two weeks ago and will probably be looking to follow up last weeks somehwhat feisty narrow 1-0 win over Bohs with another victory.
Not necessarily so though. Waterford scored three in Sligo two weeks ago so the long journey won’t faze them. They also kept the reigning champions honest last week with only the single goal separating the teams. We saw last year with Derry that you are never quite sure which Derry team will turn up. The shock of the night perhaps.
Prediction Derry City 1- Waterford United 2
Not forgetting the first division, we have a Midlands Clasico tomorrow night to look forward to – but in the meantime here are my predictions for the weekend
Kerry 0 Dundalk 2
UCD 1 Cobh Ramblers 1
Treaty United 2 Finn Harps 2
Wexford 2 Bray Wanderers 1
Longford Town 2 Athlone Town 0
Feel free to comment if I get these horribly wrong but until next time enjoy another great night courtesy of the #greatestleagueintheworld.