Eircom League Betting Preview

European Leagues / Johnny Ward / 11 July 2008 / Leave a comment

Hot off the back of a winning weekend last week - three winning selections from four advised bets - Johnny Ward looks to kick your punting weekend off to the best possible start with his Eircom League betting preview.

Bohemians ought to have the measure of FK Riga in their Intertoto Cup second-leg clash at Dalymount Park on Saturday. Whether they will progress or otherwise (1-0 down from the first leg) remains to be seen, but the Gypsies should win the game and are not a bad price at 1.62 on Betfair.

That leaves five Eircom League games, and I'll start with my own team, Galway United, who have had a season of general woe so far but it can get better, starting against Sligo Rovers at Terryland Park. Rovers are too short at [2.46]. One may overstate the relevance of a single player, but Faz Kudozovic is a huge loss to Paul Cook's men. Granted, United have lost Paul Deegan and the unpredictable Derek O'Brien, but Mark McCullogh is back fit and Alan Murphy's return is very welcome. This game will probably be close and I would make Rovers marginal favourites, but certainly bigger than the price at which they can be laid.

UCD are another side who are more likely than not to get relegated; their opponents on Friday evening at The Bowl - Shamrock Rovers - are not entirely free of such portents themselves. UCD's basic deficiency is in attack: they are decent enough defensively. The latter comment also applies to the Hoops, and a scoreless draw at [9.0] is well worth an investment above your average wager. 'Unders' is priced at [1.54], which is about right.

Finn Harps were shockingly inferior to a haughty Saint Patrick's Athletic in their 5-1 reverse last week, while admittedly exhibiting a decent enough attacking threat. Cork City are in such form that they are liable to be heavily backed [1.7] - but I think 'Overs' is long at [2.24].

There have been 41 goals in Harps' 17 games, while Cork's scoring rate is not far off two per game. The departure of George O'Callaghan is disappointing for the Rebels, but it will be more important that Joe Gamble remains.

Derry City are yet in the title hunt and should have Bray Wanderers' measure at The Brandywell. They are worth a small bet at [1.65], with City's defence performing well, as one would expect under Stephen Kenny. Bray have certainly been the over-achievers this year relative to pre-season expectations, and it would be a considerable achievement if they were to finish in the top six.

Cobh Ramblers have laboured, as expected, but they have not done at all badly and they are strong enough to take something off Saint Patrick's Athletic at Saint Coleman's Park: lay the Inchicore side at [1.65]. Stephen Henderson's men have an excellent home record, and come here on the back of a creditable scoreless draw at Shamrock Rovers.

Finally, there is a shade of value in Division 1 this week in the Midlands derby between Athlone Town and Longford Town. The home side, for all that they remain dramatic failures relative to the club's great days (AC Milan and all of that), are long at [2.9].