Going Under at Pats & Athlone

Cork City v Bray Wanderers

Just as it looked as if the Cork lads were putting together a title challenge they slipped up again by failing to beat UCD. I don't buy in to the whole 'Belfield is a hard place to get a result' waffle that goes on. UCD are a mid-table Premier Division side at best and have yo-yo-ed up and down between the two divisions as a club characteristic. Title challengers should be taking maximum points at Belfield. Cork have now drawn 6 of their last 8 league games. Another draw tonight will see them kiss goodbye to finishing in the top two and a whole load of 'I told you the squad was too small' ringing in the Corkies ears.

I wouldn't back them at 1/4 if it was a free bet, but you couldn't back Bray to win a rigged coin toss at the moment either. Em....Let's focus on the cup action.

1/4 Cork
7/2 Draw
10/1 Bray



St Patrick's Athletic v Longford Town

A model fixture to get on the low side of goals totals. I'll be having a few quid on under 2.5 goals in the match (that just means less than 3 if you are confounded by what half a goal is!).

There's no doubting that Longford are a different entity when it comes to the cup and are capable of raising their game to beat anyone. Pats on the other hand are the cup's perrenial bridesmaids, and you would have to question their ability to raise their game. The Johnny Mc backside is rapidly approaching the bacon slicer - a defeat tonight would see the first slivers of flesh fly off the wheel. Keith Fahey who has scored in successive games for the Saints is absent.

As is often the case when Pats or Longford games are assessed....it looks a draw.

5/4 St Pats
2/1 Draw
2/1 Longford



Sligo Rovers v Killester Utd

I can't see how Sligo could possibly slip up here - they are too well drilled and focussed in my opinion. But at 1/6 it's best left alone.

1/6 Sligo
9/2 Draw
12/1 Killester



Athlone Town v Shamrock Rovers

This is another fixture where the unders can be played - not a lot of goals in games involving these sides. I'll be on Under 2.5 goals again here.

This is the fourth meeting of the duo this season, with Rovers having won all 3 league encounters on an aggregate score of 7-0 despite being away in the majority of fixtures. Athlone's entire season hangs on this game - it's a massive fixture for them. Live TV cameras in Athlone for a football match is a news story in itself, hosting the biggest name in Irish football in a cup quarter final only wratchets up the importance for the town.

Pat Scully's strict regime will ensure his players are in no doubt about the task facing them in Dubarry Park, but if there is to be an upset in this round of the cup it will be here. It's important to note that Rovers are without several first choice players who are cup-tied. Having said that, the Rovers 'cup side' looked smart enough against Bohemians in the last round. A small bet on Athlone is the recommendation.

11/4 Athlone
9/4 Draw
5/6 Shamrock Rovers




Derry City v UCD

With the magnificent European campaign now off their minds, Derry City can get on with the domestic business of trying to land a treble. The league cup is in the satchel already and the Candystripes awesome home record will be enough to push past UCD and move in to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup.

Those pesky students have caused Derry a few problems this season however, forcing a scoreless draw in two of their three league meetings. Pete Mahon will surely have a plan ready to foil the Foylesiders but City should be too worldly wise and the students may even get a little lesson at The Brandywell.


1/3 Derry
3/1 Draw
15/2 UCD

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Taking A Long-shot

Saint Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne

Pats have failed to score in their last four league outings, and are watching their league campaign slip away from them. Moral must be pretty low at Inchicore and the last visitors they wanted to see tonight must be Shels - who's will doubtless be in love-in mode in celebration of Pat Fenlon's committment to the cause.

Shels are still missing Owen Heary and Jason Byrne, but they have ample cover and you can't help but get the impression that four snowmen in the backfour could keep the misfiring Saints goalless. Shels to take the points.

3/1 Pats
9/4 Draw
4/5 Shels


Cork City v Bohemians

Drawing a simplistic recent formline through Sligo Rovers suggests this should be a handy enough win for Cork. Bohs lost out 1-0 at the Showgrounds last weekend, while Cork won 3-0 at the same venue a few days after. With John O'Flynn and Joe Gamble now back in the Cork team, they will be readying themselves for an assault on the title. Bohs have little to play for, and no manager to impress, I expect them to be dismissed without too much fuss.

4/6 Cork
12/5 Draw
7/2 Bohs


Waterford United v UCD

UCD have been blighted by injuries for this game according to newspaper reports. They are missing six regulars as they take on a resurgent Waterford side. The Blues are without the inspirational Alan Reynolds but they should still have enough to take maximum points here and make it three wins on the bounce.


5/4 Waterford
9/4 Draw
7/4 UCD


Bray Wanderers v Longford Town

Bray are a forlorn outfit. Having been trounced 3-0 by Waterford last weekend, they now looked doomed to prop up the table for the rest of the season. Injuries and suspension troubles add to Bray's woes and present goal shy Longford with an excellent opportunity to add three points to their thus far disappointing tally. Robbie Martin is welcomed back to the Longford frontline to assist in this task. Longford look the bet of the weekend. I won't be lumping on, but a reasonable single is in order.

2/1 Bray
2/1 Draw
5/4 Longford

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Shelling out on the draw

Drogheda United v Cork City
This fixture is being billed in some quarters as a title race elimination battle. I think that's overstating it a little as Drogheda still have to meet Derry twice and Shels once after this game so dropping a points here wouldn't be the end of their challenge in my opinion. Both sides are missing some key men tonight with Gartland, Keddy and Gamble among those missing out. If John O'Flynn returns to action he may swing the game in the visitors favour but his fitness is surely in doubt. Looks like a draw to me, but at 2/1 I'll let it pass.

5/4 Drogheda
2/1 Draw
2/1 Cork City



UCD v St Patrick's Athletic
You've to go back to July to find a Pats league win - and that was only against a freefalling Bray side. The Saints early season efforts to break in to the top four have faded badly, and now the fifth spot they have long occupied is gone too as Sligo and Bohs have raced ahead of them. UCD have conceded only once in the last four games and are looking a very durable outfit at the moment. They are well capable of edging out Pats with a 1-0 win. 6/4 on UCD is a good price and I'll be having a small bet.

6/4 UCD
2/1 Draw
13/8 St Pats



Waterford United v Bray Wanderers
No your eyes don't deceive you, Waterford are indeed favourites to take the victory. Last week's win over Pats was a long time coming as the Blues had become more competitive week on week since their squad bolstering in the transfer window and having Gareth Cronin take over at the helm. The visiting Seagulls are now just three points ahead of their hosts, and will be put under severe pressure by the home side who will see this as a very winnable game. Bray are somewhat of a misfit side - I think real questions have to be asked about the character of a team that can frighten the life out of Shels and Derry, but also capitulate helplessly to Bohs. They have taken only one point from their last nine league outings since beating Waterford 3-1. Oddly enough Bray have scored as many league goals as Cork this season - but the concession of an average of 2 goals per game is indicative of where the problems are. Waterford to win - again small money.

EVS Waterford
9/4 Draw
9/4 Bray



Shelbourne v Longford Town
Jason Byrne is out for Shels which is a massive boon to the hopes of Longford. Having said that, both Glen Crowe and Gary O'Neill are well capable of finding the net, but goals don't come easy against the meanest defence outside the top four. Conversely to Bray, Longford's problems are at the other end of the pitch where they just aren't scoring enough goals to trouble the top half of the table. Alan Matthews side shut out Shels at Tolka on St Patrick's Day, and at 3/1 to take a draw there is certainly some value in backing them to do so again.

1/3 Shels
3/1 Draw
15/2 Longford



Sligo Rovers v Bohemians
High flying Sligo host the managerless Gypsies at the Showgrounds, looking to perhaps overtake Cork City and move in to the top 4 of the Premier Division. These are heady times for the Connacht side and they certainlty have the class to take three points here. The absence of the injured Darren Mansarem prohibits me from having a wedge on Sligo here - they have been very good to us in recent weeks, but without their top scorer some caution must be advised. Bohs are not without injury problems either though they have decent cover for all absentees. They will however be a little thin should they need to change things about during the game. This one is best watched.

11/10 Sligo
2/1 Draw
9/4 Bohs

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