Punter's Picks
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Week Four of League of Ireland see’s the focus shifts westwards with the Connacht Derby live on RTE 2. Galway are defending a 100% record while Sligo are looking to add to their solitary point and with Ian Foster sticking with what seems to be a winning formula, it’s hard to look past the Galway side to remain undefeated.
Elsewhere Bohs travel to Drogheda and Rovers host Derry in another Tallaght sell out. For the more conservative punter this week with the schedule of games the draw no bet option might be worth having a look at if you’re confident your team won’t lose, but obviously might not win.
Galway Utd V Sligo Rovers
Galway are unsurprisingly favourites for this clash and 13/10 with Boyles is the best price around, however if you fancy Sligo to gain their first three points of the season Ladbrokes are going 23/10 on a Sligo victory with the draw being quoted as just over 9/4 with Sky Bet.
For a bit of extra value a correct score bet of 2-1 to Galway is 9/1 with Stan James but 8/1 with most other firms.
Galway with a handicap of -1 is 15/4 best price with Boyles, but with both sides lacking an attacking threat (Boco and O'Shea absent) I can’t see past the Terryland side winning by more than a solitary goal.
The double result of Galway/Galway looks tempting at 11/4 with William Hills. With Foster refusing to change a winning formula, Shane Fitzgerald will have to take his opportunity to impress and he is 11/2 with Paddy Power score anytime, a bit overpriced considering Jay O’Shea will be missing.
Bet of the game: Galway Utd to win @ 13/10
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City
Another sell out at the Tallaght Stadium will see Derry face a Rovers side eager to put last week’s defeat behind them and at 7/4 with Sky Bet, the Hoops are well worth a punt.
Although it must be said the draw looks tempting in this fixture and you can get 11/5 with Boyles for this selection.
Derry are marginally favourites for the match, but have done little to deserve this mantle, hence 13/8 being quoted by PP and Ladbrokes about an away win.
Gary Twigg has been performing well for Rovers and looks a good bet to score anytime at 5/2.
The sides to finish level with one goal apiece is best price at 13/2 with Stan James, but you can get 11/2 in Boyles.
Rovers with a goal head start is 1/3 with Paddy Power and if you fancy the home side it might be a safe bet for your accum.
Bet of The Game: Draw @11/5
Cork City v Bray Wanderers
Bray make the trip down to Turner’s Cross for what looks to be another tough night for the Wicklow side and at 5/1 with Bet365, Coral and Stan James they are massive underdogs. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes are offering 9/2 about an away win.
The home side have yet to taste victory so far this season, and for Paul Doolin, a man who two years ago steered Drogheda to league and cup success this will not be acceptable.
Cork are odds on with Paddy Power best price at 4/7, but considering they are missing three key players this is too short a price.
There is value to be had in the draw selection though, at 13/5 with Boyles this might be the better option.
Although, with Cork's tendency to concede late goals this season a double result of Cork/Draw at 17/1 with Paddy Power is well worth considering and as a result I am making this selection my bet of the game.
Bet of the game: Cork/Draw @ 17/1
Drogheda Utd v Bohemians
Betting with your heart versus betting with your head is always a tough choice, in this game the heart says Drogheda can grind out a draw whereas my head is telling me that Bohs are just too much for my beloved Drogs.
Bohs are massive favourites and were at one point being quoted at 7/10 but this, according to my sources, was hammered into and has subsequently been cut to 8/15, but the best price is with Ladbrokes who have the Dublin side priced at 4/7.
For those who would much rather take Bohs as an odds against shot, you can get them at 13/8 minus a goal with Paddy Power.
Jason Byrne and Glen Crowe are both 5/1 with Paddy Power to be first goalscorer while Joseph Ndo is 10/3 best price with Paddy Power to score at anytime. And with many expecting a Drogheda rout Ndo would surely get among the scorers with his recent form.
Drogheda have yet to score a goal this season, but at home they generally look threatening going forward and at 4/1 again with Paddy Power, Robbie Farrell to score at anytime might be worth a shot for those who can see Drogheda finally breaking their duck.
Bet of the Game: Bohs -1 @ 13/8
St Pat's v Dundalk
Sean Connor’s side, buoyed by their win against Drogheda last week, travel to Dublin to take on a Pat's side who have lost one game so far.
The home side are a shade of odds on favourites with Boyles at 21/20, whereas most firms have the home win priced at 10/11.
An away win is 10/3 with Sky Bet, but this is not really likely in my opinion. Pat's have not conceded in the last two games and the Louth side generally look poor away from home playing on real grass.
To take Pat's at odds against, they are 15/8 to win with a clean sheet, and with Dundalk only scoring three goals, which came last week, that looks a likely shot.
Over 2.5 goals at 6/4 with Paddy Power looks a good bet, as despite the fact neither side have scored much they both are looking to build on victories last week and Dundalk have a full strength squad.
Bet Of The Game: St Pat's to win @ 21/20
Kildare County v Sporting Fingal
It’s going to be hard to get a decent price on Sporting Fingal this season, with their Chelsea-esque approach to the First Division they are big favourites to win the division and promotion.
This week they travel to the Garden County to take on a side who have only registered a single point so far. The visitors are best price at 4/11 with Boyles and Ladbrokes. Kildare are a massive 13/2 with Boyles and the draw is 7/2 with bet365.
For me the handicap market is the only one of real value, but Boyles are only offering 10/11 about Fingal minus a goal.
Bet of the game: Fingal -1 @ 10/11
Finn Harps v UCD
UCD travel to Finn park on the back of a comprehensive win at home to Monaghan last week and the students go into the game as joint 13/8 favourites with Bet365. This seems to be a big price considering their drive for promotion back into the Premier Division, and are currently unbeaten having registered a win away to Sporting Fingal this season.
You can back the home side at 13/8 with Ladbrokes with the draw 9/4 also with Ladbrokes.
UCD star player Ciaran Kilduff, who so far has scored 4 goals in three games, is 5/1 to be first goalscorer and 17/10 to score at anytime with Paddy Power.
UCD are 1/2 with a one goal head start and considering this may be a tighter than predicted affair, that goal could guarantee your bets a winner; Boyles are offering this price.
Bet Of The Game: Kilduff anytime goalscorer @ 17/10
Monaghan Utd v Mervue Utd
New boys Mervue make the trip to Monaghan with the home side looking to put a 3-0 defeat behind them. Mervue were held to a 1-1 score draw at home to Finn Harps last week, but still Mick Cooke's side are heavy favourites for this game, with Ladbrokes and Hills offering 4/6 for a home victory.
There is some value with Mervue, however, and at 9/2 with Paddy Power there is no reason to write off the Westerners as they go in search of their first three points in league football.
23/10 is the price being offered by Ladbrokes about the draw and with First Division football being so unpredictable this may be a good choice.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 23/10
Shelbourne v Limerick FC
Shels so far remain unbeaten and there is no reason for that not to continue at home to Limerick and bookies have inserted them as 4/7 favourites for this encounter.
Limerick are 9/2 outsiders with Boyles while the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes and Bet365.
William Hill have Shels at slight odds against to win to nil with a price of 11/10 and as the home side have conceded only once there is a good chance they will keep that going.
Bet of the game: Shelbourne to win to nil: @ 11/10
Wexford Youths v Longford Town
With Mick Wallace issuing a rallying call to his players, Wexford are 11/8 favourites for this game with Paddy Power.
Although they find themselves in the bottom half of the division they did start against all the favourites and with Longford only picking up four points having blown a three goal lead at the start of the season they are by no means guaranteed of getting anything from the midlands side.
Boyles and Ladbrokes are both offering 7/4 on the away side if you fancy an upset and the draw is 9/4 with Boyles.
Both teams have been involved in high scoring games recently and at 5/4 the over 2.5 goals with Paddy Power might not be a bad bet.
Bet of the game: Wexford Youths @ 11/8
Athlone Town v Waterford United
The only game not to take place on Friday night sees Waterford make the long trip to Westmeath to face the unbeaten Athlone.
Waterford are 6/4 favourites with Paddy Power and Hills, but I think the real value is with the homeside who are priced at 15/8 with Boyles for this Sunday afternoon clash.
Bet of the game: Athlone @ 15/8
Featured Treble
Although it might not seem to be the shrewdest bet, I am going to place 10 euro each week on the treble of Bohs, Sporting Fingal and Shels to win, and over the course of the season I expect to be up with this weekly bet.
This week I am backing Bohs -1 and Fingal -1 and Shels to win at just over 6/1 with Boyles. 10 euro bet = 71.65 return.
Bet Of The Night
For Friday’s bet I am placing 15 euro on a treble of Pat's, Galway and Bohs all to win at just over 5/1. 15 euro bet = 94.50 return.
Remaining total: 165.
Elsewhere Bohs travel to Drogheda and Rovers host Derry in another Tallaght sell out. For the more conservative punter this week with the schedule of games the draw no bet option might be worth having a look at if you’re confident your team won’t lose, but obviously might not win.
Galway Utd V Sligo Rovers
Galway are unsurprisingly favourites for this clash and 13/10 with Boyles is the best price around, however if you fancy Sligo to gain their first three points of the season Ladbrokes are going 23/10 on a Sligo victory with the draw being quoted as just over 9/4 with Sky Bet.
For a bit of extra value a correct score bet of 2-1 to Galway is 9/1 with Stan James but 8/1 with most other firms.
Galway with a handicap of -1 is 15/4 best price with Boyles, but with both sides lacking an attacking threat (Boco and O'Shea absent) I can’t see past the Terryland side winning by more than a solitary goal.
The double result of Galway/Galway looks tempting at 11/4 with William Hills. With Foster refusing to change a winning formula, Shane Fitzgerald will have to take his opportunity to impress and he is 11/2 with Paddy Power score anytime, a bit overpriced considering Jay O’Shea will be missing.
Bet of the game: Galway Utd to win @ 13/10
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City
Another sell out at the Tallaght Stadium will see Derry face a Rovers side eager to put last week’s defeat behind them and at 7/4 with Sky Bet, the Hoops are well worth a punt.
Although it must be said the draw looks tempting in this fixture and you can get 11/5 with Boyles for this selection.
Derry are marginally favourites for the match, but have done little to deserve this mantle, hence 13/8 being quoted by PP and Ladbrokes about an away win.
Gary Twigg has been performing well for Rovers and looks a good bet to score anytime at 5/2.
The sides to finish level with one goal apiece is best price at 13/2 with Stan James, but you can get 11/2 in Boyles.
Rovers with a goal head start is 1/3 with Paddy Power and if you fancy the home side it might be a safe bet for your accum.
Bet of The Game: Draw @11/5
Cork City v Bray Wanderers
Bray make the trip down to Turner’s Cross for what looks to be another tough night for the Wicklow side and at 5/1 with Bet365, Coral and Stan James they are massive underdogs. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes are offering 9/2 about an away win.
The home side have yet to taste victory so far this season, and for Paul Doolin, a man who two years ago steered Drogheda to league and cup success this will not be acceptable.
Cork are odds on with Paddy Power best price at 4/7, but considering they are missing three key players this is too short a price.
There is value to be had in the draw selection though, at 13/5 with Boyles this might be the better option.
Although, with Cork's tendency to concede late goals this season a double result of Cork/Draw at 17/1 with Paddy Power is well worth considering and as a result I am making this selection my bet of the game.
Bet of the game: Cork/Draw @ 17/1
Drogheda Utd v Bohemians
Betting with your heart versus betting with your head is always a tough choice, in this game the heart says Drogheda can grind out a draw whereas my head is telling me that Bohs are just too much for my beloved Drogs.
Bohs are massive favourites and were at one point being quoted at 7/10 but this, according to my sources, was hammered into and has subsequently been cut to 8/15, but the best price is with Ladbrokes who have the Dublin side priced at 4/7.
For those who would much rather take Bohs as an odds against shot, you can get them at 13/8 minus a goal with Paddy Power.
Jason Byrne and Glen Crowe are both 5/1 with Paddy Power to be first goalscorer while Joseph Ndo is 10/3 best price with Paddy Power to score at anytime. And with many expecting a Drogheda rout Ndo would surely get among the scorers with his recent form.
Drogheda have yet to score a goal this season, but at home they generally look threatening going forward and at 4/1 again with Paddy Power, Robbie Farrell to score at anytime might be worth a shot for those who can see Drogheda finally breaking their duck.
Bet of the Game: Bohs -1 @ 13/8
St Pat's v Dundalk
Sean Connor’s side, buoyed by their win against Drogheda last week, travel to Dublin to take on a Pat's side who have lost one game so far.
The home side are a shade of odds on favourites with Boyles at 21/20, whereas most firms have the home win priced at 10/11.
An away win is 10/3 with Sky Bet, but this is not really likely in my opinion. Pat's have not conceded in the last two games and the Louth side generally look poor away from home playing on real grass.
To take Pat's at odds against, they are 15/8 to win with a clean sheet, and with Dundalk only scoring three goals, which came last week, that looks a likely shot.
Over 2.5 goals at 6/4 with Paddy Power looks a good bet, as despite the fact neither side have scored much they both are looking to build on victories last week and Dundalk have a full strength squad.
Bet Of The Game: St Pat's to win @ 21/20
Kildare County v Sporting Fingal
It’s going to be hard to get a decent price on Sporting Fingal this season, with their Chelsea-esque approach to the First Division they are big favourites to win the division and promotion.
This week they travel to the Garden County to take on a side who have only registered a single point so far. The visitors are best price at 4/11 with Boyles and Ladbrokes. Kildare are a massive 13/2 with Boyles and the draw is 7/2 with bet365.
For me the handicap market is the only one of real value, but Boyles are only offering 10/11 about Fingal minus a goal.
Bet of the game: Fingal -1 @ 10/11
Finn Harps v UCD
UCD travel to Finn park on the back of a comprehensive win at home to Monaghan last week and the students go into the game as joint 13/8 favourites with Bet365. This seems to be a big price considering their drive for promotion back into the Premier Division, and are currently unbeaten having registered a win away to Sporting Fingal this season.
You can back the home side at 13/8 with Ladbrokes with the draw 9/4 also with Ladbrokes.
UCD star player Ciaran Kilduff, who so far has scored 4 goals in three games, is 5/1 to be first goalscorer and 17/10 to score at anytime with Paddy Power.
UCD are 1/2 with a one goal head start and considering this may be a tighter than predicted affair, that goal could guarantee your bets a winner; Boyles are offering this price.
Bet Of The Game: Kilduff anytime goalscorer @ 17/10
Monaghan Utd v Mervue Utd
New boys Mervue make the trip to Monaghan with the home side looking to put a 3-0 defeat behind them. Mervue were held to a 1-1 score draw at home to Finn Harps last week, but still Mick Cooke's side are heavy favourites for this game, with Ladbrokes and Hills offering 4/6 for a home victory.
There is some value with Mervue, however, and at 9/2 with Paddy Power there is no reason to write off the Westerners as they go in search of their first three points in league football.
23/10 is the price being offered by Ladbrokes about the draw and with First Division football being so unpredictable this may be a good choice.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 23/10
Shelbourne v Limerick FC
Shels so far remain unbeaten and there is no reason for that not to continue at home to Limerick and bookies have inserted them as 4/7 favourites for this encounter.
Limerick are 9/2 outsiders with Boyles while the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes and Bet365.
William Hill have Shels at slight odds against to win to nil with a price of 11/10 and as the home side have conceded only once there is a good chance they will keep that going.
Bet of the game: Shelbourne to win to nil: @ 11/10
Wexford Youths v Longford Town
With Mick Wallace issuing a rallying call to his players, Wexford are 11/8 favourites for this game with Paddy Power.
Although they find themselves in the bottom half of the division they did start against all the favourites and with Longford only picking up four points having blown a three goal lead at the start of the season they are by no means guaranteed of getting anything from the midlands side.
Boyles and Ladbrokes are both offering 7/4 on the away side if you fancy an upset and the draw is 9/4 with Boyles.
Both teams have been involved in high scoring games recently and at 5/4 the over 2.5 goals with Paddy Power might not be a bad bet.
Bet of the game: Wexford Youths @ 11/8
Athlone Town v Waterford United
The only game not to take place on Friday night sees Waterford make the long trip to Westmeath to face the unbeaten Athlone.
Waterford are 6/4 favourites with Paddy Power and Hills, but I think the real value is with the homeside who are priced at 15/8 with Boyles for this Sunday afternoon clash.
Bet of the game: Athlone @ 15/8
Featured Treble
Although it might not seem to be the shrewdest bet, I am going to place 10 euro each week on the treble of Bohs, Sporting Fingal and Shels to win, and over the course of the season I expect to be up with this weekly bet.
This week I am backing Bohs -1 and Fingal -1 and Shels to win at just over 6/1 with Boyles. 10 euro bet = 71.65 return.
Bet Of The Night
For Friday’s bet I am placing 15 euro on a treble of Pat's, Galway and Bohs all to win at just over 5/1. 15 euro bet = 94.50 return.
Remaining total: 165.
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile