Punter's Picks
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PJ Murray puts his dwindling reputation on the line yet again as he tries to find some value for money in the League of Ireland markets.
Good Friday, hopefully, but for the time being I’d prefer to see it as an optimistic Friday as I delve once again into the harsh mistress that is League of Ireland football. Come 9.30pm on Friday night I will then make my decision on whether it has been good or not.
The main games this week see Bohemians host St Patrick’s Athletic while across the city Shamrock Rovers host Cork City.
Premier Division
Bray v Dundalk
Both sides have had an up and down week, a win and a loss in their last two games, surely the law of averages has this as a draw.
You can back the draw at 11/5 with Paddy Power, while the home side are favourites for victory and are 11/8 with the Power. You can back Dundalk at 2/1 with Bet 365 and best price at 15/8 in the shops with Paddy Power.
A correct score selection of 1-1 is best price 6/1 with Stan James; neither side have scored many this season and Bray are unbeaten at home.
Under 2.5 goals is 8/15 with Paddy Power.
Darren Mansaram has being doing the business for Dundalk this season and he is 11/5 to score anytime with Boyles.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 11/5
Shamrock Rovers v Cork
Rovers and Cork both had scrappy one nil wins in mid-week, however, I fancy the home team for a win. They were very unlucky to lose at home to league leaders Derry City last time out in Tallaght and another full house should push the Hoops towards their second win on the bounce.
The home side are touted as 13/8 favourites on Bet365 while Paul Doolin’s side are rated as 7/4 underdogs with Boylesports and you can back the draw at 2/1 with Ladbrokes.
In terms of anytime goalscorers Gary Twigg is 2/1 – the Scot has also netted the first goal in two games to date - with Boyles while you can back Latvian hotshot Guntars Silagailis at the same price with Boyles.
Both sides are strong attacking forces and you can back the total goals at over 3.5 at 4/1 with Paddy Power, while the same firm are offering 6/4 over 2.5 goals, which seems a good bet in my opinion.
If you think Rovers won’t lose, but might not win then ‘draw-no-bet’ might be the market to look into. Bet365 are offering 10/11 for Rovers while you can get Evens about Cork draw-no-bet.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 6/4
Derry City v Sligo Rovers
RTE have their cameras at the Brandywell for this encounter and it will be hard to see past a home win with Derry in such a rich vein of form.
Derry, the only unbeaten side in the League, are unsurprisingly short price favourites, with Boyles offering 4/7 about a home win. Paul Cook’s Sligo, who recorded their first win on Tuesday, seem a bit big at 6/1 with BET365, while you can back them at 11/2 with Paddy Power who are best of the shop prices.
The draw is being priced up at 5/2 with Ladbrokes, something to consider if you don’t fancy a Derry win as Sligo are hardly likely to get more than a point out of the game.
I try to avoid handicap markets, as the handful of you who may follow this weekly column will have noticed that I’ve been stung several times with handicap betting, but Derry -1 at 7/4 with Paddy Power seems to be a big price.
The double result of Derry/Derry is being offered at 7/5 jointly by Boyles and Paddy Power and if you don’t fancy a handicap or straight win then this is the bet I’d recommend.
Thomas Stewart has been on fire for The Candystripes and he’s 17/10 with Paddy Power to score anytime.
Bet of the game: Double Result - Derry/Derry @ 7/5
Drogheda v Galway
Ian Foster will be looking to get his side back on track as they make the journey east to United Park to take on a Drogheda side edging ever closer to first win.
Galway are 13/8 with Boylesports while you can also back the home side at 13/8 with Paddy Power and the draw is 21/10 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.
Paul Shiels and Robbie Farrell scored the Drogs’ first goals of the current campaign and they are 9/1 and 9/4 with Paddy Power respectively to hit the back of the net anytime on Friday.
Jay O’Shea has been quiet in the last few games for Galway and the young captain is 11/4 to bag a goal within the 90 minutes, the price being offered by Paddy Power.
Both the double result of Draw/Drogheda and Draw/Galway are 5/1 with Paddy Power.
Paddy Power are offering 4/11 for a Drogheda +1 victory.
Bet of the game: Drogheda @ 13/8
Bohemians v St Pat's
The Dublin derby is the only Premier Division game to take place on Saturday night and this is surely a fixture Jeff Kenna would rather not face following a mid-week hammering at home.
Bohs are 4/7 favourites with Boyles while Jeff Kenna’s charges are 5/1 with Bet 365 and 4/1 in most other firms with the draw being 5/2 in Stan James.
Joseph Ndo should be included in the starting XI after Pat Fenlon dropped him away to Galway and the Cameroonian is 16/5 with Paddy Power to bounce back and bag a goal within regulation time.
Being a Dublin derby it’s surely going to be a heated affair. I think goals are sure to flow, and at 5/4 with Paddy Power, over 2.5 goals is well worth a punt.
The handicap draw at 13/5 with Boyles is a good shout as I think that Bohs won’t win by more than a solitary goal.
Bet of the game: Bohs @ 4/7
First Division
Monaghan v Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal make the trip up to Monaghan for what is the first in a double header, as Fingal will be back to Kingspan Century Homes Park on Monday for an EA Sports Cup first round match.
Fingal are currently on a three game winning streak and are 1/2 favourites with Ladbrokes, while the home side are 15/2 with Boylesports to cause an upset with the draw priced at 3/1 with Ladbrokes. Paddy Power are going odds-against at 11/10 for a double result of Fingal/Fingal.
Boyles are offering odds of 1/3 for Fingal to score first, and for the visitors to win -1 goal is 13/10 with Paddy Power.
Bet of the game: Double Result - Fingal/Fingal @ 11/10
Shelbourne v UCD
It’s a top of the table clash in the First Division as the Students travel to Tolka Park with both sides putting their perfect start on the line.
The bookies have made Shels the favourites for this with Boyles and Ladbrokes offering 11/10 about a home win. UCD are being priced at 23/10 with Paddy Power while the draw price is trading at 11/5 with Paddy Power.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 11/5
Wexford Youths v Limerick 37
Wexford hold a slender one point lead over Limerick and will be looking to distance themselves from the Munster side, before another Cup tie between the two on Monday.
Ladbrokes are offering 7/5 about a Wexford win while Limerick are 9/5 with Boyles and the draw is 9/5 with Boyles.
Neither side are prolific scorers and under 2.5 goals at 8/13 might be a safe bet.
Bet of the game: Wexford @ 7/5
Kildare v Mervue
Kildare and Mervue, play-off opponents last November, expected to be in different divisions following Mervue’s win but meet now for the first time in the League of Ireland proper. The Galway side are favourites to repeat their famous 3-0 victory.
Boyles are offering 6/5 about an away victory, as a Kildare win is 11/4 with Paddy Power and the draw is 12/5 with Powers.
Over 2.5 goals is 21/20 with Bet365 and with the way both sides have been leaking goals this might be another goal fest.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 21/20
Longford v Athlone
Longford welcome Athlone with only three points separating them in the table and a home win would close that gap.
Both sides enter the contest on the back of 1-0 away defeats last week. Boyles are offering 13/10 for Longford to win and bridge the gap, whereas if you fancy the Westmeath side you can get 5/2 with Paddy Power. The draw is available at 9/4 with Paddy Power and Bet 365.
Paddy Power are offering 1/2 about Longford draw-no-bet, while Athlone are 6/4 for the same market.
Bet of the game: Athlone Town Draw-no-Bet
Waterford v Finn Harps
Waterford secured a 1-0 win at home to Longford last week and are favourites to make it two wins in the week with Paddy Power offering 11/8 for a home win.
The Donegal side are trying to bounce back after a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Fingal last week and you can back them at 11/5 with Ladbrokes with the draw trading at the same price.
Waterford to win 1-0 is 11/2 with Boyles and I think this is probably good value.
Bet of the game:Waterford to win 1-0 @ 11/2
Bet Of The Week
The featured treble this week is Bohs, Fingal and Shels +1 which works out at just under 2/1 so €15 returns 42 euro if successful.
Total Remaining: €125.
Good Friday, hopefully, but for the time being I’d prefer to see it as an optimistic Friday as I delve once again into the harsh mistress that is League of Ireland football. Come 9.30pm on Friday night I will then make my decision on whether it has been good or not.
The main games this week see Bohemians host St Patrick’s Athletic while across the city Shamrock Rovers host Cork City.
Premier Division
Bray v Dundalk
Both sides have had an up and down week, a win and a loss in their last two games, surely the law of averages has this as a draw.
You can back the draw at 11/5 with Paddy Power, while the home side are favourites for victory and are 11/8 with the Power. You can back Dundalk at 2/1 with Bet 365 and best price at 15/8 in the shops with Paddy Power.
A correct score selection of 1-1 is best price 6/1 with Stan James; neither side have scored many this season and Bray are unbeaten at home.
Under 2.5 goals is 8/15 with Paddy Power.
Darren Mansaram has being doing the business for Dundalk this season and he is 11/5 to score anytime with Boyles.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 11/5
Shamrock Rovers v Cork
Rovers and Cork both had scrappy one nil wins in mid-week, however, I fancy the home team for a win. They were very unlucky to lose at home to league leaders Derry City last time out in Tallaght and another full house should push the Hoops towards their second win on the bounce.
The home side are touted as 13/8 favourites on Bet365 while Paul Doolin’s side are rated as 7/4 underdogs with Boylesports and you can back the draw at 2/1 with Ladbrokes.
In terms of anytime goalscorers Gary Twigg is 2/1 – the Scot has also netted the first goal in two games to date - with Boyles while you can back Latvian hotshot Guntars Silagailis at the same price with Boyles.
Both sides are strong attacking forces and you can back the total goals at over 3.5 at 4/1 with Paddy Power, while the same firm are offering 6/4 over 2.5 goals, which seems a good bet in my opinion.
If you think Rovers won’t lose, but might not win then ‘draw-no-bet’ might be the market to look into. Bet365 are offering 10/11 for Rovers while you can get Evens about Cork draw-no-bet.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 6/4
Derry City v Sligo Rovers
RTE have their cameras at the Brandywell for this encounter and it will be hard to see past a home win with Derry in such a rich vein of form.
Derry, the only unbeaten side in the League, are unsurprisingly short price favourites, with Boyles offering 4/7 about a home win. Paul Cook’s Sligo, who recorded their first win on Tuesday, seem a bit big at 6/1 with BET365, while you can back them at 11/2 with Paddy Power who are best of the shop prices.
The draw is being priced up at 5/2 with Ladbrokes, something to consider if you don’t fancy a Derry win as Sligo are hardly likely to get more than a point out of the game.
I try to avoid handicap markets, as the handful of you who may follow this weekly column will have noticed that I’ve been stung several times with handicap betting, but Derry -1 at 7/4 with Paddy Power seems to be a big price.
The double result of Derry/Derry is being offered at 7/5 jointly by Boyles and Paddy Power and if you don’t fancy a handicap or straight win then this is the bet I’d recommend.
Thomas Stewart has been on fire for The Candystripes and he’s 17/10 with Paddy Power to score anytime.
Bet of the game: Double Result - Derry/Derry @ 7/5
Drogheda v Galway
Ian Foster will be looking to get his side back on track as they make the journey east to United Park to take on a Drogheda side edging ever closer to first win.
Galway are 13/8 with Boylesports while you can also back the home side at 13/8 with Paddy Power and the draw is 21/10 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.
Paul Shiels and Robbie Farrell scored the Drogs’ first goals of the current campaign and they are 9/1 and 9/4 with Paddy Power respectively to hit the back of the net anytime on Friday.
Jay O’Shea has been quiet in the last few games for Galway and the young captain is 11/4 to bag a goal within the 90 minutes, the price being offered by Paddy Power.
Both the double result of Draw/Drogheda and Draw/Galway are 5/1 with Paddy Power.
Paddy Power are offering 4/11 for a Drogheda +1 victory.
Bet of the game: Drogheda @ 13/8
Bohemians v St Pat's
The Dublin derby is the only Premier Division game to take place on Saturday night and this is surely a fixture Jeff Kenna would rather not face following a mid-week hammering at home.
Bohs are 4/7 favourites with Boyles while Jeff Kenna’s charges are 5/1 with Bet 365 and 4/1 in most other firms with the draw being 5/2 in Stan James.
Joseph Ndo should be included in the starting XI after Pat Fenlon dropped him away to Galway and the Cameroonian is 16/5 with Paddy Power to bounce back and bag a goal within regulation time.
Being a Dublin derby it’s surely going to be a heated affair. I think goals are sure to flow, and at 5/4 with Paddy Power, over 2.5 goals is well worth a punt.
The handicap draw at 13/5 with Boyles is a good shout as I think that Bohs won’t win by more than a solitary goal.
Bet of the game: Bohs @ 4/7
First Division
Monaghan v Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal make the trip up to Monaghan for what is the first in a double header, as Fingal will be back to Kingspan Century Homes Park on Monday for an EA Sports Cup first round match.
Fingal are currently on a three game winning streak and are 1/2 favourites with Ladbrokes, while the home side are 15/2 with Boylesports to cause an upset with the draw priced at 3/1 with Ladbrokes. Paddy Power are going odds-against at 11/10 for a double result of Fingal/Fingal.
Boyles are offering odds of 1/3 for Fingal to score first, and for the visitors to win -1 goal is 13/10 with Paddy Power.
Bet of the game: Double Result - Fingal/Fingal @ 11/10
Shelbourne v UCD
It’s a top of the table clash in the First Division as the Students travel to Tolka Park with both sides putting their perfect start on the line.
The bookies have made Shels the favourites for this with Boyles and Ladbrokes offering 11/10 about a home win. UCD are being priced at 23/10 with Paddy Power while the draw price is trading at 11/5 with Paddy Power.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 11/5
Wexford Youths v Limerick 37
Wexford hold a slender one point lead over Limerick and will be looking to distance themselves from the Munster side, before another Cup tie between the two on Monday.
Ladbrokes are offering 7/5 about a Wexford win while Limerick are 9/5 with Boyles and the draw is 9/5 with Boyles.
Neither side are prolific scorers and under 2.5 goals at 8/13 might be a safe bet.
Bet of the game: Wexford @ 7/5
Kildare v Mervue
Kildare and Mervue, play-off opponents last November, expected to be in different divisions following Mervue’s win but meet now for the first time in the League of Ireland proper. The Galway side are favourites to repeat their famous 3-0 victory.
Boyles are offering 6/5 about an away victory, as a Kildare win is 11/4 with Paddy Power and the draw is 12/5 with Powers.
Over 2.5 goals is 21/20 with Bet365 and with the way both sides have been leaking goals this might be another goal fest.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 21/20
Longford v Athlone
Longford welcome Athlone with only three points separating them in the table and a home win would close that gap.
Both sides enter the contest on the back of 1-0 away defeats last week. Boyles are offering 13/10 for Longford to win and bridge the gap, whereas if you fancy the Westmeath side you can get 5/2 with Paddy Power. The draw is available at 9/4 with Paddy Power and Bet 365.
Paddy Power are offering 1/2 about Longford draw-no-bet, while Athlone are 6/4 for the same market.
Bet of the game: Athlone Town Draw-no-Bet
Waterford v Finn Harps
Waterford secured a 1-0 win at home to Longford last week and are favourites to make it two wins in the week with Paddy Power offering 11/8 for a home win.
The Donegal side are trying to bounce back after a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Fingal last week and you can back them at 11/5 with Ladbrokes with the draw trading at the same price.
Waterford to win 1-0 is 11/2 with Boyles and I think this is probably good value.
Bet of the game:Waterford to win 1-0 @ 11/2
Bet Of The Week
The featured treble this week is Bohs, Fingal and Shels +1 which works out at just under 2/1 so €15 returns 42 euro if successful.
Total Remaining: €125.
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