Irish Soccer: Eircom league betting preview

European Leagues / Johnny Ward / 25 July 2008 / Leave a Comment

Those following Johnny Ward's recent Eircom League Soccer advice are firmly in profit. Can he keep the winning run going this weekend?

The FAI's decision to allow Drogheda United a weekend off in advance of their Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kiev next week is to be lauded, even if it prompted justified annoyance in the Finn Harps camp. They were apparently not consulted, and with the postponement of Saturday night's game in Donegal made so late, it is nearly certain that Adamstown could have handled it better. Drogheda are effectively out of the title hunt but that is not the case as regards Cork City and Saint Patrick's Athletic, who bid to put added pressure on Bohemians in Sunday's live game at Turner's Cross. I am leaning towards a small investment in a scoreless draw here at [8.6].

Saint Pat's will be much better defensively with Jason Gavin in, while City have kept seven clean sheets in the last nine competitive games. Bohemians' clash with UCD hardly screams goals - yet the gulf between the sides increases the chance of The Gypsies opening up College if they take the lead. At [2.4], 'Overs' seems on the big side here as the best team in the league so far takes on one of the worst at home. Bohs are 'bottle on' [1.5] to get back in winning ways, which is probably about right.

'Overs' also looks long at [2.62] as Galway United, than whom only Finn Harps have a poorer defensive record, host Derry City. The Tribesmen have been making a fight of it at the drop, and I think they are capable of getting a result here but Derry would not be a layer's price at [1.97] given the gulf in class between the two teams.

Shamrock Rovers have been supported at home to Sligo Rovers, presumably in the main because of the visitors' financial problems and that they have let players go. I could see the Hoops going off little bigger than evens here. At the time of writing, they are worth a lay at [2.1]. Sligo raise their game against Pat Scully's men and there is not enough between these sides - despite Rovers' loss of the likes of Faz Kudozovic - to justify the hosts' low quote.

In the Premier Division's final game this weekend, Cobh Ramblers have a rare realistic chance to boost their plight at home to a Bray Wanderers side whose sequence of results lately implies a freefall of sorts. Confidence is not high and they can be opposed at [2.7] (nap). Cobh's recent results have generally been creditable and they are very difficult to defeat at Saint Coleman's Park.

In Division One, Limerick's rapid progression since they signed players from the local junior scene results in them being [1.61] at home to Wexford Youths. Youths boss Mick Wallace has initiated an interesting discussion by claiming that Noel O'Connor - now at the rookie club - "was badly treated by Limerick". Shelbourne, meanwhile, look worth a small lay on recent form at Kildare County [1.73].