Punter's Picks
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Three weeks in and so far I find myself facing a deficit from my weekly endeavours, but there is a long way to go before my original budget runs out and I’m left facing pariah status among the extratime crowd.
But all talk of money loss aside, the big talking point for Friday night is the televised clash between Bohemians and Cork City. Bohs have proved unbeatable so far this season, although they did look vulnerable away to Drogheda last week. But in the safety of Dalymount Park it would take a big effort to wrangle anything away from the Gypsies. Elsewhere St Pat's travel to Bray while Ian Foster's Galway United will try to defend their unbeaten status at the Brandywell against a Derry side who are also yet to feel the sting of loss this season.
Last week in the First Division saw Sporting Fingal trounce lowly Kildare County while Ciaran Kilduff keeps on scoring for UCD. This week sees Kildare and UCD meet at the Bellfield Bowl for what can only be expected to be a home win.
Bohemians v Cork City
This Friday sees Bohemians once again grace our screens as they welcome Cork to Dalymount.
Earlier on in the week you could have gotten 10/11 about the Gypsies winning on bet365, this was a massive price and has now been shortened to 4/5 by the online company.
The best price you can get in the shops is with Boyles who are offering 4/5 for a home win. There is no real looking past this in my opinion.
Cork are big 15/4 underdogs, the price being quoted by Paddy Power, and despite picking up their first league win last week at home to Bray it’s hard to see them continuing on a winning vein of form.
The draw is 23/10 with Ladbrokes, but I find it hard to see Cork taking anything from this game.
Bohemians with a handicap of minus one goal are best price 9/4 with Paddy Power, and the handicap draw is available 5/2 with Boyles.
Having tipped Bohs on the handicap last week and their failure to cover it I am a little wary of repeating my mistake, despite the fact they are at home to a Cork side somewhat struggling to find consistent form.
Bohs have conceded just one goal all season and Paddy Power have them priced at 7/5 to win to nil, with Cork an unsurprisingly 7/1 - a tad short considering the task required for this result.
Guntars Silagailis is the current top scorer in the league with three goals, two of which were scored last week as Cork put Bray to the sword and the Latvian is 16/5 to be an anytime goalscorer with Paddy Power. Jason Byrne who has two goals so far is 6/4 along with Glen Crowe with Paddy Power to bag a goal in the 90 minutes.
Bet of the game A somewhat predictable Bohemians to win @ 4/5
Bray v St Patricks Athletic
Since their opening day defeat St Pat's have been unbeatable notching up three successive wins, and Ladbrokes are offering a pretty big 11/10 for an away victory. Most other firms are offering evens about a Pat's win.
However it must be pointed out that Galway found themselves in a similar position last week and they failed to beat Sligo at home to claim their 4th win on the trot.
Bray are being made 5/2 underdogs by Boylesports, the best price available while the draw is being priced at 9/4 with various firms, Boyles and Bet365 included.
St Pat's have so far, according to our stats department, gone 306 minutes without conceding and are 11/10 to keep a clean sheet.
Both sides are somewhat injury ravaged and I can see this being a low scoring affair with under 1.5 goals available at 6/4 with Paddy Power.
Bray have yet to register a win, drawing their first three games but it would be hard to see against a Pat's win.
Bet of the game: Pat's to keep a clean sheet @ 11/10
Derry City v Galway Utd
Derry, buoyed by their come from behind win last week, will look to end Galway’s unbeaten streak this Friday night.
Derry are favourites for the clash with Boyles offering 8/13 for a candystripe win, while Galway are big odds against shots with Paddy Power who rate the westerners as 5/1 outsiders.
The draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes and I can see both sides maintaining their unbeaten records with a score draw in this game.
Stan James are offering 13/2 about a 1-1 draw while in the shops Boyles are slightly shorter at 6/1. The English firm are again best price on a score line of 2-2 at 20/1 with Paddy Power a shade shorter at 19/1.
Derek O’Brien has scored twice so far this season and the Galway winger is 6/1 with Paddy Power to score at anytime.
Bet of the game: Correct Score 2-2 @ 20/1
Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers
A lot of people are talking about Bohs poor performance last week, but from being at the game I felt it was a resilient performance from Drogheda that stopped the away side from playing and as a result at 13/5 with Boyles they are being way too underestimated for this game.
If you fancy an away win you can back Rovers at 6/5 with Paddy Power, while the draw is 9/4 with Bet365 and 11/5 with both Boyles and Ladbrokes.
With Robbie Martin injued, Robbie Farrell will deputise up-front, and the striker certainly looked dangerous last week. You can back him at 12/5, anytime goalscorer, with Paddy Power to bag his and potentially Drogheda’s first goal of the season.
If you think the homeside aren’t guaranteed a victory you can back them plus one goal at 8/13 with Paddy Power, while Rovers minus a goal are 7/2 with both PP and Bet365.
I feel a double result of Draw/Drogheda at 8/1 with Ladbrokes is hard to ignore.
Rovers have failed to score an away goal in their two fixtures outside Tallaght and Drogheda look defensively strong at home so I feel that at 9/4 Drogheda to keep a clean sheet is a good price with Paddy Power.
Alternatively Drogheda are scoreless and PP are offering 13/10 about the away side keeping a clean sheet, and its 11/2 with Boyles for a goal-less night at United Park.
Bet of The Game: Drogheda @ 13/5
Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
Saturday night sees Sean Connor’s men travel to the Showgrounds to face the Bit O’Red and it will be the home side going into this game on the back of a good result as they held Connacht rivals Galway to a 0-0 stalemate last week.
Sligo are favourites I feel on the basis of the home side bias, they are available at 6/5 pretty much across the board, where as the visitors are available at 2/1 again across the board. Skybet and Stan James are offering 9/4 for the draw, which could be the bet of the game.
Neither side have shown any consistent form and both find themselves straddling Drogheda United at the bottom.
Both sides welcome players back into their squads, but Dundalk have yet to find the unity that is needed if they are to push toward the upper echelons of the Premier Division.
Darren Mansaram so far is Dundalk's best hope of a goal and the striker is priced at 11/4 anytime goalscorer with Paddy Power. For those who are inclined to lay bets then Laying Declan O’Brien at anytime goal scorer would be worthwhile considering the striker has yet to hit the target since turning his back on Drogheda United.
Back from international duty with Benin Romuald Boco at 2/1 with PP looks a likely goal scorer for the home side.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 9/4
Mervue v Shelbourne
League newcomers Mervue recorded their first three points in League of Ireland football against Monaghan last week, and the celebrations will have barely died down when Shels come to Terryland to try and bring them back down to earth.
Since their win, the home side have been knocked out of the EA cup and Shels are hardly the team you want to try and bounce back against, everything about this game screams away victory and with Shels priced at 8/15 with Boyles the bookies think so too.
Mervue are 15/2 underdogs with Bet365 while the draw is 7/2 with Paddy Power. This game for me is shaping up to be a comprehensive away victory with Mervue missing their first choice keeper and Shels back to full strength.
At 13/10 with Boyles a double result of Shelboure/Shelbourne is well worth a punt and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 priced at Paddy Power is another market to glance at.
Bet Of The Game: Over 2.5 goals @ 11/10
Sporting Fingal v Finn Harps
Their 8-0 victory last week still has several tongues wagging and Fingal will be looking to rack up their third win in a row against a Harps side languishing in mid-table. Indeed, the Donegal men don’t seem capable of opposing this as their 7/1 tag would suggest.
Fingal are short priced favourites, 2/5 with Bet365 the best price available. While the draw is 7/2 with Paddy Power.
Generally I think backing Fingal with a handicap this season will be a fruitful endeavour and at 10/11 minus a single goal this is a pretty big price being offered by Paddy Power.
A double result of Fingal/Fingal at 10/11 is also a big price.
Eamon Zayed at 10/11 with Paddy Power for anytime goalscorer is another selection I'd highly fancy for this game
Bet of the Game: Fingal -1 @ 10/11
UCD v Kildare
The Thoroughbreds travel to the Belfield Bowl looking to put last week's performance behind them, however they are being priced at 16/1 by Paddy Power to take three points from this clash.
As expected, the students are odds on favs with Ladbrokes best price at 1/5. The draw is 5/1 on Bet365.
For me it is a question of how many UCD are going to win by. Back on the overs, double result of UCD/UCD and handicaps.
The double result of UCD/UCD is 8/13 in both Boyles and Paddy Power while both firms differ on the handicap for this game. Boyles have it at a single goal offering UCD at 4/7 -1 while Paddy Power are offering UCD -2 at 6/4. Two goals should be the handicap, meaning that the price should be around 10/11, so in my opinion 6/4 is a massive price for this.
Over 4.5 goals is being offered by Paddy Power at 4/1, maybe not something to be overlooked.
Bet Of The Game: UCD -2 @ 6/4
Limerick 37 v Monaghan United
Limerick are favourites for this game, but clashes of this calibre are hard to call. Both sides are coming into the game after losses, but Limerick are the only one of the two who have tasted victory so far this season
Paddy Power and Boyles are offering 4/5 about a home win and this is really the only result I can see for this game. Limerick are somewhat the form team with home advantage, which usually translates into home win.
Mons are 3/1 with Paddy Power and Boyles, maybe too big considering the unpredictability of such games while the draw is 9/4 with Paddy Power.
For me this is a home win.
Bet of the game: Limerick @ 4/5
Waterford v Longford
The battle of the Fords see Longford make the journey down to the RSC where they go in as 11/2 underdogs, the price available with Boylesports.
Waterford recorded an away win last week beating Athlone Town 2-1 in Westmeath while Longford were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline away to Wexford Utd.
Waterford are 1/2 with Boyles to take another three points, while the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes.
Under 2.5 goals at 8/11 with Paddy Power is well worth a bet.
Bet of the game: Under 2.5 goals
Athlone Town v Wexford Youths
Athlone Town are flying high in the First Division as Wexford face a scrap at the bottom having only garnered three points this seasan and as a result find themselves 21/10 underdogs with Boyles.
The Westmeath side are odds against with Paddy Power rathing them as 5/4 shots to take the spoils.
The draw is 21/10 with Boyles, but with Athlone looking to hit back from their loss last week it is hard to see passed the home side.
Bet of the Game: Athlone @ 21/10
Featured Treble
This week I’m backing Bohs to win, UCD -1 and Fingal to win at just under 3/1 with Boyles where a 10 euro treble will return 37.17.
Bet Of The Night
I am going to place 5 euro on the correct score in the Derry Galway game. 5 euro on a 2-2 draw @ 20/1 returns 105 euro.
And finally another 10 euro treble of St Pats, Bohs and Shels all to win with Paddy Power at just under 4/1 where a 10 euro bet returns 48.15
Total Wagered: 25 Total Remaining: 140
Contact Punters Picks
If you have a hot tip or wish to congratulate or chastise me regarding my weekly selections you can now e-mail punters picks at punterpicks@gmail.com
We will publish any shrewd bets or comments and every month we will award the best tip two tickets to any league of Ireland game of their choice.
But all talk of money loss aside, the big talking point for Friday night is the televised clash between Bohemians and Cork City. Bohs have proved unbeatable so far this season, although they did look vulnerable away to Drogheda last week. But in the safety of Dalymount Park it would take a big effort to wrangle anything away from the Gypsies. Elsewhere St Pat's travel to Bray while Ian Foster's Galway United will try to defend their unbeaten status at the Brandywell against a Derry side who are also yet to feel the sting of loss this season.
Last week in the First Division saw Sporting Fingal trounce lowly Kildare County while Ciaran Kilduff keeps on scoring for UCD. This week sees Kildare and UCD meet at the Bellfield Bowl for what can only be expected to be a home win.
Bohemians v Cork City
This Friday sees Bohemians once again grace our screens as they welcome Cork to Dalymount.
Earlier on in the week you could have gotten 10/11 about the Gypsies winning on bet365, this was a massive price and has now been shortened to 4/5 by the online company.
The best price you can get in the shops is with Boyles who are offering 4/5 for a home win. There is no real looking past this in my opinion.
Cork are big 15/4 underdogs, the price being quoted by Paddy Power, and despite picking up their first league win last week at home to Bray it’s hard to see them continuing on a winning vein of form.
The draw is 23/10 with Ladbrokes, but I find it hard to see Cork taking anything from this game.
Bohemians with a handicap of minus one goal are best price 9/4 with Paddy Power, and the handicap draw is available 5/2 with Boyles.
Having tipped Bohs on the handicap last week and their failure to cover it I am a little wary of repeating my mistake, despite the fact they are at home to a Cork side somewhat struggling to find consistent form.
Bohs have conceded just one goal all season and Paddy Power have them priced at 7/5 to win to nil, with Cork an unsurprisingly 7/1 - a tad short considering the task required for this result.
Guntars Silagailis is the current top scorer in the league with three goals, two of which were scored last week as Cork put Bray to the sword and the Latvian is 16/5 to be an anytime goalscorer with Paddy Power. Jason Byrne who has two goals so far is 6/4 along with Glen Crowe with Paddy Power to bag a goal in the 90 minutes.
Bet of the game A somewhat predictable Bohemians to win @ 4/5
Bray v St Patricks Athletic
Since their opening day defeat St Pat's have been unbeatable notching up three successive wins, and Ladbrokes are offering a pretty big 11/10 for an away victory. Most other firms are offering evens about a Pat's win.
However it must be pointed out that Galway found themselves in a similar position last week and they failed to beat Sligo at home to claim their 4th win on the trot.
Bray are being made 5/2 underdogs by Boylesports, the best price available while the draw is being priced at 9/4 with various firms, Boyles and Bet365 included.
St Pat's have so far, according to our stats department, gone 306 minutes without conceding and are 11/10 to keep a clean sheet.
Both sides are somewhat injury ravaged and I can see this being a low scoring affair with under 1.5 goals available at 6/4 with Paddy Power.
Bray have yet to register a win, drawing their first three games but it would be hard to see against a Pat's win.
Bet of the game: Pat's to keep a clean sheet @ 11/10
Derry City v Galway Utd
Derry, buoyed by their come from behind win last week, will look to end Galway’s unbeaten streak this Friday night.
Derry are favourites for the clash with Boyles offering 8/13 for a candystripe win, while Galway are big odds against shots with Paddy Power who rate the westerners as 5/1 outsiders.
The draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes and I can see both sides maintaining their unbeaten records with a score draw in this game.
Stan James are offering 13/2 about a 1-1 draw while in the shops Boyles are slightly shorter at 6/1. The English firm are again best price on a score line of 2-2 at 20/1 with Paddy Power a shade shorter at 19/1.
Derek O’Brien has scored twice so far this season and the Galway winger is 6/1 with Paddy Power to score at anytime.
Bet of the game: Correct Score 2-2 @ 20/1
Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers
A lot of people are talking about Bohs poor performance last week, but from being at the game I felt it was a resilient performance from Drogheda that stopped the away side from playing and as a result at 13/5 with Boyles they are being way too underestimated for this game.
If you fancy an away win you can back Rovers at 6/5 with Paddy Power, while the draw is 9/4 with Bet365 and 11/5 with both Boyles and Ladbrokes.
With Robbie Martin injued, Robbie Farrell will deputise up-front, and the striker certainly looked dangerous last week. You can back him at 12/5, anytime goalscorer, with Paddy Power to bag his and potentially Drogheda’s first goal of the season.
If you think the homeside aren’t guaranteed a victory you can back them plus one goal at 8/13 with Paddy Power, while Rovers minus a goal are 7/2 with both PP and Bet365.
I feel a double result of Draw/Drogheda at 8/1 with Ladbrokes is hard to ignore.
Rovers have failed to score an away goal in their two fixtures outside Tallaght and Drogheda look defensively strong at home so I feel that at 9/4 Drogheda to keep a clean sheet is a good price with Paddy Power.
Alternatively Drogheda are scoreless and PP are offering 13/10 about the away side keeping a clean sheet, and its 11/2 with Boyles for a goal-less night at United Park.
Bet of The Game: Drogheda @ 13/5
Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
Saturday night sees Sean Connor’s men travel to the Showgrounds to face the Bit O’Red and it will be the home side going into this game on the back of a good result as they held Connacht rivals Galway to a 0-0 stalemate last week.
Sligo are favourites I feel on the basis of the home side bias, they are available at 6/5 pretty much across the board, where as the visitors are available at 2/1 again across the board. Skybet and Stan James are offering 9/4 for the draw, which could be the bet of the game.
Neither side have shown any consistent form and both find themselves straddling Drogheda United at the bottom.
Both sides welcome players back into their squads, but Dundalk have yet to find the unity that is needed if they are to push toward the upper echelons of the Premier Division.
Darren Mansaram so far is Dundalk's best hope of a goal and the striker is priced at 11/4 anytime goalscorer with Paddy Power. For those who are inclined to lay bets then Laying Declan O’Brien at anytime goal scorer would be worthwhile considering the striker has yet to hit the target since turning his back on Drogheda United.
Back from international duty with Benin Romuald Boco at 2/1 with PP looks a likely goal scorer for the home side.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 9/4
Mervue v Shelbourne
League newcomers Mervue recorded their first three points in League of Ireland football against Monaghan last week, and the celebrations will have barely died down when Shels come to Terryland to try and bring them back down to earth.
Since their win, the home side have been knocked out of the EA cup and Shels are hardly the team you want to try and bounce back against, everything about this game screams away victory and with Shels priced at 8/15 with Boyles the bookies think so too.
Mervue are 15/2 underdogs with Bet365 while the draw is 7/2 with Paddy Power. This game for me is shaping up to be a comprehensive away victory with Mervue missing their first choice keeper and Shels back to full strength.
At 13/10 with Boyles a double result of Shelboure/Shelbourne is well worth a punt and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 priced at Paddy Power is another market to glance at.
Bet Of The Game: Over 2.5 goals @ 11/10
Sporting Fingal v Finn Harps
Their 8-0 victory last week still has several tongues wagging and Fingal will be looking to rack up their third win in a row against a Harps side languishing in mid-table. Indeed, the Donegal men don’t seem capable of opposing this as their 7/1 tag would suggest.
Fingal are short priced favourites, 2/5 with Bet365 the best price available. While the draw is 7/2 with Paddy Power.
Generally I think backing Fingal with a handicap this season will be a fruitful endeavour and at 10/11 minus a single goal this is a pretty big price being offered by Paddy Power.
A double result of Fingal/Fingal at 10/11 is also a big price.
Eamon Zayed at 10/11 with Paddy Power for anytime goalscorer is another selection I'd highly fancy for this game
Bet of the Game: Fingal -1 @ 10/11
UCD v Kildare
The Thoroughbreds travel to the Belfield Bowl looking to put last week's performance behind them, however they are being priced at 16/1 by Paddy Power to take three points from this clash.
As expected, the students are odds on favs with Ladbrokes best price at 1/5. The draw is 5/1 on Bet365.
For me it is a question of how many UCD are going to win by. Back on the overs, double result of UCD/UCD and handicaps.
The double result of UCD/UCD is 8/13 in both Boyles and Paddy Power while both firms differ on the handicap for this game. Boyles have it at a single goal offering UCD at 4/7 -1 while Paddy Power are offering UCD -2 at 6/4. Two goals should be the handicap, meaning that the price should be around 10/11, so in my opinion 6/4 is a massive price for this.
Over 4.5 goals is being offered by Paddy Power at 4/1, maybe not something to be overlooked.
Bet Of The Game: UCD -2 @ 6/4
Limerick 37 v Monaghan United
Limerick are favourites for this game, but clashes of this calibre are hard to call. Both sides are coming into the game after losses, but Limerick are the only one of the two who have tasted victory so far this season
Paddy Power and Boyles are offering 4/5 about a home win and this is really the only result I can see for this game. Limerick are somewhat the form team with home advantage, which usually translates into home win.
Mons are 3/1 with Paddy Power and Boyles, maybe too big considering the unpredictability of such games while the draw is 9/4 with Paddy Power.
For me this is a home win.
Bet of the game: Limerick @ 4/5
Waterford v Longford
The battle of the Fords see Longford make the journey down to the RSC where they go in as 11/2 underdogs, the price available with Boylesports.
Waterford recorded an away win last week beating Athlone Town 2-1 in Westmeath while Longford were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline away to Wexford Utd.
Waterford are 1/2 with Boyles to take another three points, while the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes.
Under 2.5 goals at 8/11 with Paddy Power is well worth a bet.
Bet of the game: Under 2.5 goals
Athlone Town v Wexford Youths
Athlone Town are flying high in the First Division as Wexford face a scrap at the bottom having only garnered three points this seasan and as a result find themselves 21/10 underdogs with Boyles.
The Westmeath side are odds against with Paddy Power rathing them as 5/4 shots to take the spoils.
The draw is 21/10 with Boyles, but with Athlone looking to hit back from their loss last week it is hard to see passed the home side.
Bet of the Game: Athlone @ 21/10
Featured Treble
This week I’m backing Bohs to win, UCD -1 and Fingal to win at just under 3/1 with Boyles where a 10 euro treble will return 37.17.
Bet Of The Night
I am going to place 5 euro on the correct score in the Derry Galway game. 5 euro on a 2-2 draw @ 20/1 returns 105 euro.
And finally another 10 euro treble of St Pats, Bohs and Shels all to win with Paddy Power at just under 4/1 where a 10 euro bet returns 48.15
Total Wagered: 25 Total Remaining: 140
Contact Punters Picks
If you have a hot tip or wish to congratulate or chastise me regarding my weekly selections you can now e-mail punters picks at punterpicks@gmail.com
We will publish any shrewd bets or comments and every month we will award the best tip two tickets to any league of Ireland game of their choice.
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