Stephen Walsh Betting Column - Week 16

We enter week 16 after a total disaster of a previous week getting a complete whitewash of results, failing to get a single winner on the docket for the second time this season.

As we look ahead to the fixtures this week, with Sophia Housing Agency still being the cause we hope to generate the funds for thanks to the Paddy Power enhancing and sponsoring the bet.

With the break coming up in two weeks we will be aiming to get a winner on the board before then so as not to have one win hanging over us heading into the second half of the season.

This week we have got our bet enhanced from 4.65/1 to 6/1. One can see the link at the bottom of the article.

First up in the treble will be Limerick. They got the new manager bounce last Tuesday defeating Bohemians thanks to a late own goal. However the biggest thing of note from that game was the change in formation to a 4-4-2 from the 4-3-3 that had served them earlier in the season. From reading reports and speaking to people the more attacking options this showed should help them against a Harps side who have only won one home game in the past five. With a miniscule injury list in comparison to the Donegal side they have another advantage here. Lastly, Neil McDonald has stated that he wants a European spot come the end of the year so for them to have any chance of realising that they will need to defeat Finn Harps tonight to prove that it is not just talk.

Ollie Horgan scouted Limerick on Tuesday night and will have a plan up his sleeve for this tie. Danny Morrissey scored for Harps on Monday which was a good boost to a side that have struggled to get goals however there is a big difference between Pat’s and Limerick this season with regard to where they will be finishing in the league. Harps defeated Limerick in a historic game back in 2015 when these two sides last met but this Limerick side is a stronger team since then so I think they will get the three points.

Second up we are going for UCD. The Students need a victory in Athlone in order to keep in the promotion hunt behind Cobh Ramblers and Waterford who play tomorrow. Athlone have picked up 10 of their 13 points at home showing where they are dangerous and they have played okay recent weeks when one considers the cloud that hangs over the club at present. UCD though are a team who easily won 4-1 when these two teams met earlier in the season but there was a hint of suspicion with the final result going by the reports from the game on social media. As a result we are expecting a tighter game but UCD should prevail.

Last in the treble will be the big tie of the weekend in Cork. We are backing the home side that will be supported by a close to full house if reports on the radio and social media prove accurate. The home side defeated the visitors 2-1 in Tallaght back in March but they will be irked by the comments from Stephen Bradley calling them a “so called top team”. Manager John Caulfield is well known for his motivational skills and will have used this phrase with his team all week so as to show what a top team can really do on the pitch.

City had a tight win over Sligo on Monday night and will want to improve on that performance for tonight against a Rovers side that beat a tired Galway side on Monday. As a result we are backing a City win.

Bets:

Limerick: 6/5

UCD: 4/6

Cork City: 4/9

Enhanced bet: 6/1

Enhanced link here