Row Row Row in to Cork

There's a cracking double header in the capital tonight which leaves me fuming at inability to master bi-location (or the fixture committee's inability to have the big games on different days!).

At Dalymount, Bohs may as well be playing lead guitar with Mark Knopfler at the moment such is their standing (that's Dire Straits kids - ask your Dad). How far those heady double days must seem now as Sligo Rovers run rings around them. There's many schools of thought as to how the Gypsies have gone from worse to cat, mine is that they've never recovered from their neighbours raid on a sizeable chunk of the first team in Ryan, Hawkins and Crowe.

The champions visit tonight and morale could not be any more polarized in these camps. Having got one over on Drogheda at the weekend, and then seeing the Drogs drop points at home to Dublin City, the Rebelmen will fancy taking another three points tonight.

Admittedly, Cork haven't travelled particularly well thus far in the campaign - one win from six road attempts, against seven straight home wins. However, last year the away form was Cork's greatest asset with more points picked up away than at home. Cork to win, El Punter already has the money down.

Bohs 11/4
Draw 9/4
Cork 5/6



Just up the road from Dalymount, Shelbourne host Pats at Tolka Park. I think this is the game I'll take in. Shels burst of goals against Vetra will have done them a world of good - particularly Glen Crowe who has never found his true form at Tolka. With Gary O'Neill out, Crowe may get an extended run and a chance to find his scoring feet again. Pats pack a mean defence however, and it will be interesting to see if Shels have the guile to crack it. Joseph Ndo looked very sharp against Vetra (maybe it's hard not to against 8 men), hopefully Nutsy will give him a start and we can enjoy a good attacking spectacle.

I fancy Pats to return to Inchicore with a valuable point in a score draw.

Shels 5/6
Draw 9/4
Pats 11/4




Was it a Bray revival we witnessed in genesis at the weekend, or did they just find the one team in the league that was worse than them? Well, I don't think we'll be much wiser after tonight's game, as Longford too remain an enigma. I remain perplexed by Alan Matthews side - doubtless they will have taken a long look at themselves during the break. If Longford have any realistic aspirations of troubling the top six they must dispatch Bray tonight. I expect them to do so, but I couldn't back Longford at odds on if they were playing against a girls under 10 team.


Longford 8/11
Draw 9/4
Bray 10/3



Updated Race to the Top Half prices

Sligo 11/10
Bohs 9/4
Longford 7/2
UCD 6/1
Dublin City 10/1