Stephen Walsh Betting Column (25th March 2017)

We are back for another week in the hope of finally getting the magic three results correct. Last weekend was another poor result in that of our initial three predictions we only had one right with Derry City emerging victorious, as both Bray Wanderers and UCD both failed to win their respective games.

While all eyes will be on the Aviva tonight for the much anticipated clash of Ireland versus Wales, this column will focus on tomorrow’s matches of a league that has shown everything good about Irish football this week in the way that clubs have come together to mourn the loss of Ryan McBride in Derry through donating jerseys for the ‘Auction for Ryan’ cause on twitter. All of these jerseys will be sold via eBay in the coming week so as one would say watch this space.

The treble selection for this week has been enhanced by Paddy Power from 9.6/1 to 10/1 along with the kind sponsorship of a bet in the hope of raising much needed funds for the blood bikes south organisation.

First up in the treble is Shamrock Rovers to win at evens. Yes they come into the clash after not having played the best in their recent games but with the exception of the Derry City game they have found the net in every game this season.

Pats on the other hand are a team who just appear to be lacking confidence and organisation at the moment and have only achieved one point from 15, scoring only three goals as they conceded 10 during those games. Rovers will want to bounce back from losing to Cork and they don't concede as much but attacking wise they have yet to really thrive but against weaker teams in the league they have scored two goals on a number of occasions against; Bohemians and Galway United so all signs indicate towards a victory for the away team.

Cobh Ramblers are the second on the list to win at 7/5. The record books will state that they have never lost to Cabinteely before and they have Dean Swords returning from injury which is a boost to the side that is currently top of the First Division. Cabinteely have had their ups and downs so far this season as they lost to a depleted UCD side at the start of the season who were focused on inter-varsity competitions, but they managed to beat Wexford, something that Cobh failed to do at the start of the season. On the whole Pat Devlin sides are tough to beat but Stephen Henderson has his side playing with a confidence similar to the end of last year and will be hoping to pull off the three points as they keep up their outside chance of promotion.

Next up is Shelbourne to win at evens. Yes I am aware they have yet to get three points and they have only scored three goals this season but when one looks over the record three of the draws came against teams that would be expected to finish above them this season. Of those two needed last minute goals showing that the team will play right to the final whistle. They are a young team who appear to have learned from their hiding to UCD at the beginning of the season and have tightened up defensively since that four nil defeat.

Their opponents Athlone Town had a super start to the season with victories over Waterford and Wexford but since then things appear to have taken a bad turn. Losses to Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers shipping eight goals in the process show a team that has big defensive problems and the talk during the week of a divided dressing room, reported walk outs, coaches stepping down can’t be doing the players any good in their preparation for the match.

Outside of that, signing 36 year olds from faraway shores in place of local talent will be doing the club no good as they hope to get a crowd out to support them when one considers the boycott that is currently in place at the game. They are a club in disarray from the outside this week and as a result I believe they will lose to Shelbourne.  

Bet;

Shamrock Rovers evens

 Cobh Ramblers 7/5

 Shelbourne evens

€5=50

http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-specials/league-of-ireland-specials?ev_oc_grp_ids=3057077