It’s the league that keeps on giving for League of Ireland fans this year. With three points separating the top 6 clubs and some of the others not that far behind either nearly every game right now has some sort of title implication at the moment. Last weekends stat that no teams inside the then top 6 won a match over two matchdays shows how difficult every point is to he earned this season!
So how did we do do last Monday? Well it wasn’t our best outing with 2 correct results in the Premier Division and one in the First Division but in a league that is completely unpredictable this season, its a case of dusting ourselves off, going again as we look at tonights games.
Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne
Only one place to start tonight and this one is going to be interesting. It’s in all likelihood been a tough week in Tallaght after last Mondays second half capitulation and this is not an easy one to have to pick yourselves up for. One thing is for certain if Shamrock Rovers turn up like they did in the second half on Monday, Shels will win easily. Their first half performance Monday and they will be in with a chance.
I attended the game on Monday at Tolka Park and it was a cracking spectacle. I was very impressed with Shels in a lot of ways. I thought that Odubeko had excellent hold up play at times as evidenced by Chapmans early goal and offered a lot as a threat. It will be interesting to see if everybody’s fit to play tonight as it was at times a bruising encounter.
These sides played out a draw early on in the season and prevailing wisdom would say that will probably be the case. I was impressed with Shels on Monday though and I think they might just edge it here
Prediction Shamrock Rovers 0 Shelbourne 1
Bohemians vs St Patrick’s Athletic
We don’t just get the one Dublin Derby tonight, we get two! Bohs will be absolutely ecstatic at their Easter Weekends work and both themselves and Derry were the big winners last weekend. Questions might be asked about the quality of their overall performances so far this season but these players are playing for Alan Reynolds and at just five points behind are certainly not out of the title race.
A scoreless draw in Drogheda meant for the second time this season St Pats failed to score against their Louth based opponents. Stephen Kenny will probably feel that they need to pick up a win soon to maintain momentum but Bohs have just brought themselves back on to the coat tails of the leading pack and won’t want to lose more ground on them having just about bringing themselves back into contention.
St Patrick’s showed a real clinical nature in their first game against Bohs this season winning 3-0 at home. The interesting thing about that game was that both sides created as much as the other. If neither side outcreates the other this time, I think this will end in a draw.
Prediction Bohemians 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
Galway United vs Drogheda United
After the game on Monday night John Caulfield was very complimentary about how well Kevin Doherty had his Drogheda side playing but he also deserves some praise himself for how he has created a formidable side out west. Moses Dyer was bang in form and seems to love playing matches in Dublin right now. Another player who impressed me for Galway on Monday night was Burns who was bustling and busy throughout the game.
Drogheda maintain their narrow lead and again it will be tested this evening. They are again a side who have set themselves up as very difficult to break down and are good going forward as well.
This is a very difficult game to call. Last time out they played a 1-1 draw and it’s difficult not to see a similar result today. I think it will be albeit maybe with fewer goals.
Prediction Galway United 0 Drogheda United 0
Waterford vs Derry City
Waterford suffered another kick in the teeth with their late capitulation in Cork and its hard to see how they can turn this around against a team who have hit a bit of form at the right time this season. Having seen Keith Long lose his job last week, I think until we see who is taking over Waterford might just have to thread water for a couple of weeks
Despite being written off by me earlier on in the season Derry have hit form at the right time and have just gotten a nice run of fixtures as well. I think they will maintain that run of form here. Having lost to Waterford in the Bradywell earlier in the season as well, a dash of vengeance will also be on the Derry Menu this evening.
Prediction Waterford 1 Derry 3
Sligo Rovers vs Cork City (Saturday Night)
This one is a 6 pointer tomorrow night. Sligo had an up and down Easter Weekend but will know that the opportunity is there to take themselves out of the relegation positions altogether if results go their way.
Cork on the other hand will be buoyant after their late late show on Monday. The same issues remain as we’ve mentioned on previous weeks but they will look at the table and think that they can really potentially put a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom tow with a victory tomorrow night
Both sides know the importance of a victory tomorrow night but having played a 1-1 draw earlier in the season I foresee more of the same tomorrow night.
Sligo Rovers 1 Cork City 1
Onto the First Division
Treaty United 1 Athlone Town 2
Wexford 2 UCD 0
Cobh Ramblers 2 Finn Harps 1
Bray Wanderers 3 Kerry FC 0
Longford Town 0 Dundalk 1 (Saturday night)
There you have it! It should be another cracking weekend but hey isn’t every weekend a cracking one when watching the #greatestleagueimtheworld. See you next week!