Where's the Banana skin?

Ah, a cup weekend. Splendid stuff. A live game on tv, a couple of potential banana-skins for the Premier sides and of course this being the League of Ireland...an uneven number teams left in the competition. Magnificent!

Let the analysis commence.

Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians
The potential for special markets on this could be mind boggling...'Pitch Incursions In-Running', 'First Dismembered Animal to Appear on Playing Field', 'First Player to be Struck with an Object from the Stands'.

On the pitch however, this game has a particularly Gypsy looking slant to it. A heap of Rovers players are cup tied here, effectively meaning that Pat Scully will be fielding 6 or so second string players.

Bohs have more experience, are coming off the back of a great win against Shels and of course Farrelly knows that his job may indeed depend on this result. I'm backing Bohs for small money.

9/4 Shamrock Rovers
2/1 Draw
11/10 Bohemians


Waterford Utd v Longford Town
Like Rovers, the Blues are similarly affected by the frustration of having several key players cup tied. In short Waterford will be without virtually every player who gave them hope of putting a shred of credibility into their campaign.

Longford are old hands at the cup competitions and will raise their game here - though they shouldn't need to raise it that much to progress. Longford are the weekend bankers.

4/1 Waterford United
12/5 Draw
8/13 Longford Town

Finn Harps v Athlone Town
A tricky game to call, simply because it's difficult to predict which Athlone Town will turn up. They are a hugely frustrating outfit, sometimes showing the ability to compete with the top teams in the first division and then getting tonked by bottom half teams.

The Donegal side are on a great run however and won this fixture in the league 2-0 just a month ago. I'm sitting this dance out.


8/11 Finn Harps
9/4 Draw
10/3 Athlone Town

Sligo Rovers v Bray Wanderers
This pair met in the league last weekend and Sligo were our banker bet. They obliged. Nothing has changed. Sligo again.

1/3 Sligo Rovers
3/1 Draw
15/2 Bray Wanderers


St Patrick's Athletic v Dundalk
This game brings back memories of my childhood watching this duo battle it out for league titles. Much has changed since then - particularly at Oriel Park as they find themselves in the league's second tier. However John Gill's men have found some consistency and are putting in a very strong challenge for the title at the moment.

On the other hand, the sparkle has faded at Saint Pats. As we mentioned last week, they are struggling to score and their weekend 0-0 shutout with Longford only emphasises the point.

This is perhaps the banana skin. 10/3 Dundalk is a value bet for small money.

8/11 St Patrick's Athletic
9/4 Draw
10/3 Dundalk



UCD v Limerick
The wheels are off at Limerick: three injured goalkeepers and no manager. Key player Tommy Barrett now steps between the posts. In early July The Shannonsiders beat Shamrock Rovers twice within a week but have shockingly failed to win a match in eight outings since then.

It looks a formality for Pete Mahon's UCD side, but goals don't come easy for the Students. 2 goals in 6 games is a poor return. This is the cup, strange things happen, I wouldn't have the nerve to oppose a team with no goalkeeper and no manager in a cup match - make up your own mind on it!

8/15 UCD
5/2 Draw
9/2 Limerick


Shelbourne v Derry City
A humdinger of a game as the top two in the betting to win the cup outright come face to face. Whoever wins this game could well be on course for a double (or a treble for Shels!). Derry were cruelly defeated by a late goal in their last trip to Tolka Park, they played the more adventurous football on the night and really deserved something from the game. It will be interesting to see if Stephen Kenny plays it a little cagier on Sunday or whether his side's attacking instincts simply know no bounds.

Shels come in to this tie having had their fantastic run of wins come to a stunning end at Dalymount Park last weekend when beaten by Bohs. In true Shelbourne fashion they are trying to claim those points back off the pitch though! I don't see any value in taking the short price on Shels. The draw looks a real possibility but in sympathy with Derry's all out attack, a small interest in Derry to win is the selection.

6/5 Shelbourne
11/5 Draw
15/8 Derry City

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