Stephen Walsh's Betting Column (March 31st 2017)

Yes, another week has passed without us finding the net, with Shamrock Rovers and Cobh Ramblers letting down the treble as we go in search of the magic three for the victory and to raise some much needed funds for the blood bikes south charity.

Last week, Shamrock Rovers let down the first leg of the bet by going down a man and then collapsing as St Pat’s scored twice to get their first three points of the season. Shelbourne kept up their side of the bargain defeating Athlone Town for their first win of the season while Cabinteely defeated the early pace setters Cobh Ramblers for the first time in their history, 4-1.

This week with thanks to kind sponsorship of a bet and enhanced odds from Paddy Power we go in search of that first win.

After viewing through the fixture list we think we have picked out three teams that should they do the business then blood bikes south will be very happy with all at Extratime.ie HQ.

First up in the treble is Derry City to win at evens playing against Bray Wanderers at Maginn Park. This is sure to be an emotional occasional for all in Derry as it will be their first game since the loss of their captain Ryan McBride.

As with all teams across the globe they have now got two choices for the rest of the season; to either crumble under the emotion of the death or else they will be stronger from the experience and they will rally to honour the death. Much like how Munster rugby has gone from nothing to potential Champions Cup winners since the loss of Anthony Foley.

Anybody who will have heard Kenny Shiels poem at the funeral will already be thinking of how this club will go with the match likely coming as a welcome relief and it is for this reason that I see the Candystripes defeating Bray Wanderers.

The second pick of the treble will be Cabinteely to defeat Athlone Town in Athlone. Cabinteely after a poor start, one which people could put down to players not being used to being with each other as it was only back in December they had two players signed and since then they have signed 75 for all their teams so there was bound to be a bedding in process. Kieran Marty Waters has found his scoring boots recently scoring twice in his last his last two games as Cabo have won their last three matches showing that they have a forward to trouble an Athlone side missing their captain and main centre half through suspension.

Even with Athlone missing Niall Scullion, the rest of the defence doesn’t exactly inspire confidence having conceded, three, four and five goals against Longford Town, Shelbourne and Cobh Ramblers respectively in recent games.

The last team on the treble is Waterford at 11/10 to defeat Longford Town at City Calling Stadium. One has to go all the way back to October 2015 for the last time Longford won a league game at home so it’s obvious from a statistics point of view that Waterford are not going into a fortress on Saturday night.

Waterford have bounced back from their early season defeat to Athlone Town to go unbeaten in all games as the players have started to gel, with many not having played together before this season.

Longford Town on the other hand were tipped by people to be in the running for promotion appear to be lost in their ways and it is hard to pick out a positive for them such has been their performances this year save for a 3-0 victory over local rivals Athlone Town.

Fingers crossed that this week we get over the line and raise some important funds for such a worthy cause.

Bets:

Derry City 1/1

Cabinteely 1/1

Waterford 11/10

Enhanced from 8/1 to 10/1 with Paddy Power.

€5=€50

Get the enhanced treble here.