Punter's Picks
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After a hectic start to the season, the form lines seem to have settled a bit and the upsets are a little fewer as Bohs begin to assert their authority on the Premier Division followed closely by Derry and Cork, the only surprise being the fact that Jeff Kenna’s former side Galway are currently surpassing his present side St Pat’s in mid table. But come Saturday night I may once again be dining on the digestive fodder than are my words. But all in all I will have to make do with current circumstances and attempt to pick a few winners.
Premier Division Outright
With the first series of games concluding this weekend and already a quarter of the season finished the outright markets might look a bit tempting. Bohemians are currently league favourites and you can back them at 5/6 with Paddy Power while Derry City are as expected second favourites and are available at 13/5 with Boylesports. Shamrock Rovers are good value for an each way bet as Paddy Power are offering a 1/3 of the odds for the first three places and the Tallaght outfit are currently trading at 14/1 with Power’s and I think coming into the closing stages Rovers will be up there in the mix.
Division One Outright
The First Division sees U.C.D heading proceedings as the Students have gotten the jump on their rivals. The Belfield outfit have only lost one game so far this season, which came last week in a shock defeat by Wexford Youths. However they aren’t expected to be top come the end of the season and you can back them at 11/2 with Paddy Power if you think the Students can pass the upcoming tests and graduate top of the class. However the odds on favourites are Sporting Fingal who currently lie in joint second along with Waterford United but the north Dublin side are best price 8/13 to top the table and I think this price will only shorten over the coming weeks so it would be best to get involved now.
Bohemains v Bray
Bray make the journey to Dalymount to face a Bohemians side looking to get back to winning ways after what was an exciting draw against Sligo last week. No surprise that the home side after 1/3 favourites, the price being offered by Paddy Power and Bet365, while the visitors are 9/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power to take three points from the clash. The draw is 10/3 best price with Ladbrokes, but it’s hard to see anything past a home win.
Bohs along with Derry have the best home record in the league and have only been beaten once where as Bray have picked up one point on the road and conceded four goals.
Paddy Power are offering 10/11 about a Double Result of Bohemians/Bohemians while backing the Dublin side -1 is 11/10 with Bet365 and Evens with Paddy Power. Bohs have scored six in their home games so far this season and only conceded two, three of those six goals coming in their last home game where they demolished St Pats 3-0.
Jason Byrne is the Gypsies top scorer having bagged five out of the ten goals scored by Pat Fenlon’s men this season and the striker is 11/8 along with Glen Crowe to score a goal at any stage during the 90 minutes.
Bet of the game: Bohemians -1 @ 11/10
Cork v Galway Utd
Cork have found a sudden rich vein of form while Galway have seen their good start to the season slowly eroded as they struggle to pick up points, however the Tribesmen are unbeaten on the road.
Paul Doolin’s men are odds on favourites with the bookies rating them as 4/7 shots, the prices being quoted by Boyles and Paddy Power. Having suffered a 3-1 defeat last week against Gary Twigg and the rest of Shamrock Rovers, Ian Foster’s men will look to rebound but the Leeside might not be the best place to do that and as a result they are rated as 9/2 shots to do so. You can back that with Boyles, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, where as the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes. Cork stole a last gasp winner away to Dundalk last week and in their most recent victories have never beaten a team by more than a goal, while Galway have only conceded a single goal on the road in their last two away games.
The handicap for the game is Cork -1 a goal, but I think the handicap draw at 5/2 with Boyles is highly likely. Guntar Siligas is 6/4 with Paddy Power to be an anytime goalscorer while Galway’s Jay O’Shea is 4/1 with Paddy Power.
Cork to win and keep a clean sheet are 6/5, but this seems like a short price considering the two stipulations involved. Bet of the game: Handicap Draw @ 5/2
Derry v Dundalk
Derry couldn’t capitalise on an early goal last week away to Bray and ended up drawing with the Wicklow side, but Dundalk haven’t been finding any sort of consistent form of late and are languishing at the bottom of the table along with their Louth rivals Drogheda United.
The home side are 8/15 with Paddy Power while the Lilywhites are 6/1 with Paddy Power, Boyles and Ladbrokes and the draw can be backed at 11/4 with Bet 365 and Ladbrokes.
Both sides have players who are currently riding high in the scoring charts, Derry’s Thomas Stewart and Ciaran Martyn are all on four goals along with Dundalk’s Chris Turner ranking them joint third in the scoring table. Stewart is 7/4 to score anytime while Martyn is 10/3 and Turner is 6/1 all with Paddy Power.
Derry have only been beaten once so far at home, that coming at the surprising hands of Sligo while Dundalk have only recorded a solitary victory on their travels along with a draw.
A somewhat low scoring affair is expected at the Brandywell and under 2.5 goals at 8/15 with Paddy Power might not be a bad bet.
Dundalk +2 goals at 2/5 with Paddy Power might seem a bit short but could work within an accum. Ladbrokes are offering 7/2 about a double result of Draw/Derry.
Bet of the game: Derry to win @ 8/15
Drogheda v Sligo
Paul Cook brings his Sligo side to United Park having claimed four points in the last two games against the top two sides in the country, while his Drogheda counterpart is left to wonder what he needs to do to get points after losing away to St Pats despite several chances to claim a share of the spoils.
The visitors are 6/4 favourites with Boylesports while Drogheda are a big price at 21/10 with Paddy Power to claim their first win of the season and the draw is 11/5 across the board with Ladbrokes, Boyles and Paddy Power.
Drogheda’s only loss by more than a single goal came in week two away to Dundalk since then the Boynesiders have not been beaten by more than a single goal and I have a feeling Sligo won’t be able to match Dundalk’s feat.
Drogheda with a one goal head start is 8/15 with Paddy Power and might be a good bet if you think it might be a draw or Drogheda win. Or alternatively you can back the home side at 6/5 draw no bet or the away side at 8/13 with Paddy Power.
Sligo’s hero against Derry Raf Creataro is 9/4 to score anytime along with Romuald Boco while Drogheda’s lone striker Jamie Duffy is 11/4 and Brian King is 13/2.
Bet of the game: Drogheda +1 @ 8/15
Shamrock Rovers v St Pats
Saturday night sees Jeff Kenna’s side travel to the Tallaght stadium to try and build on their win last week over Drogheda.
Rovers home form has been sketchy having only won, drawn and lost one game in their three home matches, however after their 3-1 demolition of Galway 5/4 being offered by Boyles and Bet 365 seems a bit big. The visitors are 12/5 with Paddy Power to secure all three points while the draw is 23/10 with Bet365.
Gary Twigg scored the first hatrick of the 2009 season and he is 66/1 to repeat that feat with Paddy Power, when compared with the 28/1 being offered by Boyles it seems quite a generous price.
Twigg is also 7/4 to score anytime with Paddy Power while Pat’s Andy Haran is 13/5 to bag a goal in the 90 minutes with Paddy Power.
This is a game that potentially could be a scorefest and over 3.5 goals at 7/2 with Paddy Power seems like a good price.
Bet Of The Game: Rovers @ Evens
Limerick v Waterford
Third place Waterford travel to Jackman Park for an all Munster clash, and both sides are almost equal in the market with Ladbrokes offering 7/4 about an away win and Boyles and Paddy Power going 6/4 about Waterford. The draw is 11/5 across the board.
Both sides have been performing well and come into this game on the back of strong wins, Limerick defeating lowly Kildare County 3-0 and Waterford destroying Monaghan 6-0.
Over 2.5 goals in this game is 5/4 with both Paddy Power and Bet 365 and considering their current strike rates this game could see a few goals bagged on either side.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4
Mervue v UCD
The Students travel to Galway and should feel somewhat at home amid Terryland Park situated in the vibrant college city of Galway as they look to extend their lead atop Division One. However the home side have won three of their last four league games and will prove a stern test for the travelling side.
It is no surprise that the visitors are favourites for the tie with what seems to be a slightly short price of 4/6 with Paddy Power and Bet 365. You can back Mervue to continue their recent run of league wins at 9/2 with Boyles while the draw is trading at 12/5 across the board.
If you fancy UCD at an odds against price you can back them to be leading at half time and win outright at 13/8 with Powers. Mervue have score on average two goals in their last four games where as UCD have an average of three. Paddy Power have offered 11/4 for over 3.5 goals while over 4.5 is 7/1 with the same firm.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 12/5
Monaghan v Kildare
The two bottom sides meet for the first time this season and neither side has recorded a win so far this year.
The home side are 4/9 with Boyles to claim their first win of the season while Kildare are 11/1 on Bet 365 and the draw is 3/1 with Paddy Power.
Monaghan -1 goal are 6/5 with Boylesports.
Bet of the game: Monaghan -1
Shelbourne v Athlone
Shels will be looking to put back to back defeats behind them as they host an Athlone side who sitting just four points behind them.
Athlone have only lost one game on the road so far and have a better away record than a home one yet they are 7/1 outsiders with Ladbrokes to claim all three points. Shels are odds on at 4/9 with Paddy Power and the draw is 11/4 across the board.
Powers are offering 11/8 for over 2.5 goals and 8/15 for under that total.
Bet of the game: Shels to win @ 4/9
Sporting Fingal v Longford
Fingal host Longford on Saturday night with the visitors currently just outside the bottom two teams and trying to envisage anything other than a home win is pretty difficult.
The home side are currently best price 4/9 with Paddy Power while you can back the visitors at 13/2 with Boylesport and the draw is currently trading at 11/4 with Paddy Power and Boyles.
Sporting have only lost once this season in their Santry stadium where as Longford have failed to gain anything on their travels conceding seven goals and scoring only three.
Paddy Power are offering 6/5 about the home side to win with a handicap of one goal while backing Fingal at halftime/fulltime time is 11/10 with Paddy Power
Bet of the game: Fingal -1 @ 6/5
Wexford Youths v Finn Harps
Both sides are in the lower part of the First Division as neither have put together a good run so far and the home side are Evens favourites with Bet 365. You can back the Donegal at 3/1 with Boylesports with the draw at 9/4 across the board.
Wexford upset a strong UCD last week at Belfield and will be looking to add to their win last week.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 9/4
Bet of the Week
To leave me with exactly half of what I have started with I am wagering 15 euro on a quad of Derry, Rovers, Sporting and Shels with Boyles which works out at just under 6/1. The 15 euro stake will net me 99.15 and hopefully bring me almost back to the 200 that I started with.
Premier Division Outright
With the first series of games concluding this weekend and already a quarter of the season finished the outright markets might look a bit tempting. Bohemians are currently league favourites and you can back them at 5/6 with Paddy Power while Derry City are as expected second favourites and are available at 13/5 with Boylesports. Shamrock Rovers are good value for an each way bet as Paddy Power are offering a 1/3 of the odds for the first three places and the Tallaght outfit are currently trading at 14/1 with Power’s and I think coming into the closing stages Rovers will be up there in the mix.
Division One Outright
The First Division sees U.C.D heading proceedings as the Students have gotten the jump on their rivals. The Belfield outfit have only lost one game so far this season, which came last week in a shock defeat by Wexford Youths. However they aren’t expected to be top come the end of the season and you can back them at 11/2 with Paddy Power if you think the Students can pass the upcoming tests and graduate top of the class. However the odds on favourites are Sporting Fingal who currently lie in joint second along with Waterford United but the north Dublin side are best price 8/13 to top the table and I think this price will only shorten over the coming weeks so it would be best to get involved now.
Bohemains v Bray
Bray make the journey to Dalymount to face a Bohemians side looking to get back to winning ways after what was an exciting draw against Sligo last week. No surprise that the home side after 1/3 favourites, the price being offered by Paddy Power and Bet365, while the visitors are 9/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power to take three points from the clash. The draw is 10/3 best price with Ladbrokes, but it’s hard to see anything past a home win.
Bohs along with Derry have the best home record in the league and have only been beaten once where as Bray have picked up one point on the road and conceded four goals.
Paddy Power are offering 10/11 about a Double Result of Bohemians/Bohemians while backing the Dublin side -1 is 11/10 with Bet365 and Evens with Paddy Power. Bohs have scored six in their home games so far this season and only conceded two, three of those six goals coming in their last home game where they demolished St Pats 3-0.
Jason Byrne is the Gypsies top scorer having bagged five out of the ten goals scored by Pat Fenlon’s men this season and the striker is 11/8 along with Glen Crowe to score a goal at any stage during the 90 minutes.
Bet of the game: Bohemians -1 @ 11/10
Cork v Galway Utd
Cork have found a sudden rich vein of form while Galway have seen their good start to the season slowly eroded as they struggle to pick up points, however the Tribesmen are unbeaten on the road.
Paul Doolin’s men are odds on favourites with the bookies rating them as 4/7 shots, the prices being quoted by Boyles and Paddy Power. Having suffered a 3-1 defeat last week against Gary Twigg and the rest of Shamrock Rovers, Ian Foster’s men will look to rebound but the Leeside might not be the best place to do that and as a result they are rated as 9/2 shots to do so. You can back that with Boyles, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, where as the draw is 5/2 with Ladbrokes. Cork stole a last gasp winner away to Dundalk last week and in their most recent victories have never beaten a team by more than a goal, while Galway have only conceded a single goal on the road in their last two away games.
The handicap for the game is Cork -1 a goal, but I think the handicap draw at 5/2 with Boyles is highly likely. Guntar Siligas is 6/4 with Paddy Power to be an anytime goalscorer while Galway’s Jay O’Shea is 4/1 with Paddy Power.
Cork to win and keep a clean sheet are 6/5, but this seems like a short price considering the two stipulations involved. Bet of the game: Handicap Draw @ 5/2
Derry v Dundalk
Derry couldn’t capitalise on an early goal last week away to Bray and ended up drawing with the Wicklow side, but Dundalk haven’t been finding any sort of consistent form of late and are languishing at the bottom of the table along with their Louth rivals Drogheda United.
The home side are 8/15 with Paddy Power while the Lilywhites are 6/1 with Paddy Power, Boyles and Ladbrokes and the draw can be backed at 11/4 with Bet 365 and Ladbrokes.
Both sides have players who are currently riding high in the scoring charts, Derry’s Thomas Stewart and Ciaran Martyn are all on four goals along with Dundalk’s Chris Turner ranking them joint third in the scoring table. Stewart is 7/4 to score anytime while Martyn is 10/3 and Turner is 6/1 all with Paddy Power.
Derry have only been beaten once so far at home, that coming at the surprising hands of Sligo while Dundalk have only recorded a solitary victory on their travels along with a draw.
A somewhat low scoring affair is expected at the Brandywell and under 2.5 goals at 8/15 with Paddy Power might not be a bad bet.
Dundalk +2 goals at 2/5 with Paddy Power might seem a bit short but could work within an accum. Ladbrokes are offering 7/2 about a double result of Draw/Derry.
Bet of the game: Derry to win @ 8/15
Drogheda v Sligo
Paul Cook brings his Sligo side to United Park having claimed four points in the last two games against the top two sides in the country, while his Drogheda counterpart is left to wonder what he needs to do to get points after losing away to St Pats despite several chances to claim a share of the spoils.
The visitors are 6/4 favourites with Boylesports while Drogheda are a big price at 21/10 with Paddy Power to claim their first win of the season and the draw is 11/5 across the board with Ladbrokes, Boyles and Paddy Power.
Drogheda’s only loss by more than a single goal came in week two away to Dundalk since then the Boynesiders have not been beaten by more than a single goal and I have a feeling Sligo won’t be able to match Dundalk’s feat.
Drogheda with a one goal head start is 8/15 with Paddy Power and might be a good bet if you think it might be a draw or Drogheda win. Or alternatively you can back the home side at 6/5 draw no bet or the away side at 8/13 with Paddy Power.
Sligo’s hero against Derry Raf Creataro is 9/4 to score anytime along with Romuald Boco while Drogheda’s lone striker Jamie Duffy is 11/4 and Brian King is 13/2.
Bet of the game: Drogheda +1 @ 8/15
Shamrock Rovers v St Pats
Saturday night sees Jeff Kenna’s side travel to the Tallaght stadium to try and build on their win last week over Drogheda.
Rovers home form has been sketchy having only won, drawn and lost one game in their three home matches, however after their 3-1 demolition of Galway 5/4 being offered by Boyles and Bet 365 seems a bit big. The visitors are 12/5 with Paddy Power to secure all three points while the draw is 23/10 with Bet365.
Gary Twigg scored the first hatrick of the 2009 season and he is 66/1 to repeat that feat with Paddy Power, when compared with the 28/1 being offered by Boyles it seems quite a generous price.
Twigg is also 7/4 to score anytime with Paddy Power while Pat’s Andy Haran is 13/5 to bag a goal in the 90 minutes with Paddy Power.
This is a game that potentially could be a scorefest and over 3.5 goals at 7/2 with Paddy Power seems like a good price.
Bet Of The Game: Rovers @ Evens
Limerick v Waterford
Third place Waterford travel to Jackman Park for an all Munster clash, and both sides are almost equal in the market with Ladbrokes offering 7/4 about an away win and Boyles and Paddy Power going 6/4 about Waterford. The draw is 11/5 across the board.
Both sides have been performing well and come into this game on the back of strong wins, Limerick defeating lowly Kildare County 3-0 and Waterford destroying Monaghan 6-0.
Over 2.5 goals in this game is 5/4 with both Paddy Power and Bet 365 and considering their current strike rates this game could see a few goals bagged on either side.
Bet of the game: Over 2.5 goals @ 5/4
Mervue v UCD
The Students travel to Galway and should feel somewhat at home amid Terryland Park situated in the vibrant college city of Galway as they look to extend their lead atop Division One. However the home side have won three of their last four league games and will prove a stern test for the travelling side.
It is no surprise that the visitors are favourites for the tie with what seems to be a slightly short price of 4/6 with Paddy Power and Bet 365. You can back Mervue to continue their recent run of league wins at 9/2 with Boyles while the draw is trading at 12/5 across the board.
If you fancy UCD at an odds against price you can back them to be leading at half time and win outright at 13/8 with Powers. Mervue have score on average two goals in their last four games where as UCD have an average of three. Paddy Power have offered 11/4 for over 3.5 goals while over 4.5 is 7/1 with the same firm.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 12/5
Monaghan v Kildare
The two bottom sides meet for the first time this season and neither side has recorded a win so far this year.
The home side are 4/9 with Boyles to claim their first win of the season while Kildare are 11/1 on Bet 365 and the draw is 3/1 with Paddy Power.
Monaghan -1 goal are 6/5 with Boylesports.
Bet of the game: Monaghan -1
Shelbourne v Athlone
Shels will be looking to put back to back defeats behind them as they host an Athlone side who sitting just four points behind them.
Athlone have only lost one game on the road so far and have a better away record than a home one yet they are 7/1 outsiders with Ladbrokes to claim all three points. Shels are odds on at 4/9 with Paddy Power and the draw is 11/4 across the board.
Powers are offering 11/8 for over 2.5 goals and 8/15 for under that total.
Bet of the game: Shels to win @ 4/9
Sporting Fingal v Longford
Fingal host Longford on Saturday night with the visitors currently just outside the bottom two teams and trying to envisage anything other than a home win is pretty difficult.
The home side are currently best price 4/9 with Paddy Power while you can back the visitors at 13/2 with Boylesport and the draw is currently trading at 11/4 with Paddy Power and Boyles.
Sporting have only lost once this season in their Santry stadium where as Longford have failed to gain anything on their travels conceding seven goals and scoring only three.
Paddy Power are offering 6/5 about the home side to win with a handicap of one goal while backing Fingal at halftime/fulltime time is 11/10 with Paddy Power
Bet of the game: Fingal -1 @ 6/5
Wexford Youths v Finn Harps
Both sides are in the lower part of the First Division as neither have put together a good run so far and the home side are Evens favourites with Bet 365. You can back the Donegal at 3/1 with Boylesports with the draw at 9/4 across the board.
Wexford upset a strong UCD last week at Belfield and will be looking to add to their win last week.
Bet of the game: Draw @ 9/4
Bet of the Week
To leave me with exactly half of what I have started with I am wagering 15 euro on a quad of Derry, Rovers, Sporting and Shels with Boyles which works out at just under 6/1. The 15 euro stake will net me 99.15 and hopefully bring me almost back to the 200 that I started with.
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