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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