It’s an Easter Monday extravaganza in the League of Ireland today- fresh off of a cracking night of entertainment on good Friday. We’re beginning to get some sort of picture of the league as a whole but at the top it’s very nip and tuck and no real breakaway from the pack as of yet!
As for how this column did last week well two correct scores one correct result made it a pretty good Friday all in all. As for the First Division well we had an additional two correct scores there so all in all not a bad night at the office! We move on now to today and tomorrow’s games and have a look at how things might go.
Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians (2pm)
Only one place to start and that’s at the early kick-off today. What a last few minutes of drama we had in Richmond Park on Friday night. Considering what went on in the days before Stephen Bradley would probably have taken a draw pre-match although have taken the lead in the dying minutes before an instant reply from St Pats, its difficult not to see him being disappointed that they did not close out the win. Jack Byrne seems to be in the best shape fitness wise he’s been in for a long while and that can only be a big positive for the Tallaght side.
Last Friday night pretty much turned out as I expected for Bohemians- they huffed and puffed and eventually broke Cork hearts near the finish. That being said Cork missed a guilt edged chance at the death and probably should have come away with something at the death. Bohemians got the three points but not in a manner that overly seems to have impressed their fans all that much particularly in light of it being their first game after the loss of their long time player and manager Billy Young. A win today would also have them on the cusp of joining the group at the front which considering they have struggled at times this season will be a massive confidence boost.
Nothing rallies a Bohemians team more than this fixture at the moment their opening weekend victory a case in point. It also makes it a tough game to call. I’m going to give Rovers the edge just based on home advantage. I don’t think the TV viewers will get quite as many goals as they got Friday night today but it should be a tight tense game
Prediction Shamrock Rovers 2 Bohemians 1
Cork City vs Waterford United (5pm)
Only one place to start on this one and that obviously is the sacking of Keith Long on Friday night after the 4-0 loss to Sligo. Waterford started the season so well but confidence seems to have free fallen fairly quickly within the side. The straw that broke the camels back obviously was Friday night but looking back with hindsight it’s hard not to see St Pats smash and grab down in Waterford a few weeks ago as the key result that has led to the actions taken Friday night.
What to say about Cork! Tonight feels like a massive game for them. Being without their two main strikers recently has given them a sympathetic ear but a loss tonight would really put them in a bad spot. A point minimum is really required tonight to not cast them adrift at the bottom.
We’ve said all season that Corks home games are going to be key to their hopes and I’ve a feeling a bumper crowd and a thirst to avenge that early season loss in Waterford at the Cross this evening will get them over the line!
Prediction Cork City 1 Waterford FC 0
Drogheda United vs St Patrick’s Athletic (5pm)
Drogheda are still leading the way which will come as a surprise for some. The cup win has really given them an extra belief and the fact they took the lead twice against Shels on Drogheda shows you they fear nobody right now in this league. Two home games over the weekend will mean they should be coming in today relaxed and with a quiet confidence.
Pats last minute goal from Joe Redmond will feel like a win and Stephen Kenny will look to build on the never say die attitude they will have gained from that. Again its one of those moments that come the end of the season could prove vital. They have to capitalise on that momentum though and it feels at previous key moments so far this season they have not always done that.
These sides played out a 0-0 draw on opening night but it’s fair to say since then both sides have kicked on from there. I’ve a very slight suspicion that much like Shamrock Rovers did earlier in the season that St Pats might just come away from Sullivan and Lambe Park with the three points but there will not be much in it.
Prediction Drogheda 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
Shelbourne vs Galway United (5pm)
This is a game I will have the pleasure of attending myself this evening and it should be a very good game. Shelbourne will have been reasonably happy with the determination shown in their 2-2 draw with Drogheda and they are nicely placed in the pack and will see this evening as a good opportunity to put a bit of a gap between themselves and Galway.
You feel if Galway fall short at the end of the season that they might well look at this weekend as a decisive one for their chances. They were the last team standing in terms of being undefeated and since they lost that tag its taken them a bit of time to steady the ship. An away game to the league champions is probably not the game John Caulfield would have wished for in that regards. They will however take some solace from their 1-1 draw they played out with Shels earlier in the season
I’m hoping for goals and I think Shels might look to really set down a marker tonight. I think they might win this one reasonably comfortably
Prediction Shelbourne 3 Galway United 1
Derry City vs Sligo Rovers Tuesday Evening
Derry are the team coming around the outside of track at the moment and the victory on Friday night brings them back into contention. A home game tomorrow night against Sligo would on paper look like a good opportunity to close the gap a little further on some of the teams ahead of them.
Sligo though will be feeling confident themselves after their annihilation of Waterford Friday night not just gave them a vital three points but also took them ahead of Cork to 9th on goal difference.
Derry won a month ago when these sides played in Sligo and I think they will do that again here. A two goal win
Derry City 2 Sligo Rovers 0
First Division Predictions
Wexford 2 Treaty United 2
Bray Wanderers 0 UCD 0
Kerry FC 1 Cobh Ramblers 2
Dundalk 3 Finn Harps 1
Athlone Town 2 Longford Town 1
There you have it for today! A lot of rivalries will continue to be played out the next couple of days but rest assured the drama will be high in the #greatestleagueintheworld