Last Monday night provided a quite few shocks in the League of Ireland- some this column saw coming and some that we most certainly did not. So how did we do Monday night? A pretty satisfactory two correct scores, one correct result meant for a pretty satisfactory Monday night. Plus as a bonus (you heard it here first) we did predict Waterford would be top of the league come Monday Night. So how will Friday nights fixtures go? Let’s take a look!
Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick’s Athletic
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first- I did not see a Sligo victory in the battle of the Rovers coming at all.
It’s weird to see how having received much praise after their European exploits that the Tallaght side now finds themselves bottom of the table 3 games into their league season with of course the postponed match against Cork still to be played. Stephen Bradley has said in his pre match press conference to judge them at the end of the season. Its very true that leagues are not won in March but they certainly can be lost and it feels weird to say for the second time in a week that a loss for Rovers tonight would put them under severe pressure in the title race giving St Pats a nine point lead over them albeit with Rovers game in hand
If you were to compile a list of the big winners from Monday Nights games, Waterford might be the word on everybody’s lips but its hard to argue there was a bigger winner than St Pats. Dropped points by all their expected title rivals was made all the more impressive by the fact they brushed aside one of those rivals in the form of Derry City. Stephen Kennys side are beginning to build a bit of momentum and will be looking to inflict some more damage on one of their rivals and really make a statement when they make the short trip to Tallaght this evening in front of the television cameras.
So what’s going to happen as Rovers play their first home game of the season tonight? The suspicion is there right now that despite there being a lot excellent youth prospects at the club, the loss of a number of players in the off-season does seem to have left them a little bit lacking in personal as they await some players to get back up to pace after injuries as well as waiting for this crop of youthful prodigies to fully adapt at their new level. My suspicion is that St Pats will want to finish what has been a very good week for them on a high note and while the potential is there to mount a comeback later in the season, it might be a very good time for Pats to play them. Away win
Prediction Shamrock Rovers 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 3
Cork City vs Sligo Rovers
Another team who will have been disappointed by their Monday night excursions would have been Cork who look to have lost Seanie Maguire for the next little while as well due to a knock picked up in the game. In all they are down 3 or 4 starters tonight which makes this game all the more precarious especially after the result Sligo got on Monday.
There were probably a lot of sighs of relief in the Yeats County as what looked to be a season that was slipping away from them in these early stages has now sparked to life after their win Monday night. One thing that cannot be said of John Russels side is a lack of quality in attacking areas as they’ve now scored 7 in 4 games. They still have not kept a clean sheet either though which should make tonights game interesting.
Cork being down a few first reamers and Sligo on a high gives the slight feeling that if anybody will shade it, then it might be Sligo but I just think Cork will just about do enough to take a share of the spoils
Prediction: Cork City 1 Sligo Rovers 1
Shelbourne vs Drogheda United
Two of 3 still undefeated teams in the league play this evening in a rematch from the Presidents Cup a few weeks ago. Despite losing their position at the top of the table, you’d still feel that come the end of the season that Damien Duff ( a name that provided a little bit of discussion on the podcast this week!) will look back on the point in Galway as a good one! They will feel confident back in the home comforts of Tolka Park this evening.
Drogheda head to North Dublin for the second time in five days and do so level on points with their opponents tonight. Having beaten Bohemians on Monday they will arrive to Tolka Park in fine form and Kevin Dohertys men will arrive looking for a bit of revenge having lost the Presidents Cup match to them last month!
Its hard though to see past Shels tonight though as Duffs side will look to be getting back to winning ways after two draws this week and despite Droghedas good early form it should come to an end tonight
Prediction Shelbourne 2 Drogheda United 0
Waterford FC vs Bohemians
Waterford entertain the Gypsies tonight flush from a late winner against their Munster rivals Cork and sitting pretty at the top of the table. Of course it also doubles up this evening as the Keith Long and Alan Reynolds Derby and both sides will be looking to help their manager get one over on their former employer!
Bohs are definitely another side who will be very disappointed with the start they’ve made and while it feels like they should be doing better, it’s also worth pointing out that they have been dealing with a number of injury issues so you’d feel we have yet to see the best of them!
That being said Waterford will be looking to keep extend their moment in the sun and at home you’d have a sneaking suspicion that they will. Narrow Home win
Prediction Waterford 1 Bohemians 0
Derry City vs Galway United
Probably the most difficult game of the night to call tonight. Derrys title charge so far has resembled an F1 car starting on the front two rows flooding the engine at the starting lane and watching most of their rivals disappear into the distance as they desperately try to get the car back on the road. They will have been disappointed with the loss to St Pats on Monday but have probably been a bit lucky this week that Shamrock Rovers troubles have taken the Spotlight.
For Galway it’s a case of still being undefeated after the draw on Monday with the reigning champs but it will be a whole different test for them tonight as they head north to face a team desperate for points.
Derry badly need the win to kick-start their season and I think they will just about do enough to sneak the win
Prediction Derry City 1 Galway United 0
So all in all I’m not predicting too many goals tonight in the Premier Division, we could see a few in the First Division!
Predictions:
Cobh Ramblers 3 Longford Town 2
Wexford FC 3 Athlone Town 1
UCD 1 Finn Harps 1
Kerry FC 2 Bray Wanderers 1
Dundalk 3 Treaty United 0
That’s your lot on what’s been a busy week in the League of Ireland. Lots more to come next week before we hit the International Break! Enjoy all the action from the #greatestleagueintheworld