Sligo Rovers –v- Bray Wanderers 5:45
Sligo Rovers host bottom side Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds.
Sligo will be increasingly worried with how their season has started. Five games in and still no wins to their name, will have left quite a few worried. They have a perfect opportunity here to land their first three points of the season against a side in worse form than they are. For Owen Heary and his side, it’s an opportunity they can’t miss.
A nightmare start to the season just keeps getting worse as the weeks go by for Bray Wanderers. Five games, five defeats and no goals scored, it will take a huge effort for the Wicklow side to turn this around. Their opponents are in poor form themselves and Bray will hope to take advantage and land their first points of the season. It will be tough though given the week they have endured, with Alan Matthews and his backroom staff resigning en masse due to ongoing turmoil behind the scenes.
Prediction: Home win
Cork City –v- Derry City 7:45
North versus south here as Cork City play Derry City and Turner’s Cross.
A late goal from Kieran Djilali gave Cork City a 1-0 win against Bray Wanderers last week. That win keeps them in touching distance of Dundalk, whose early form could open a gap at the top Cork may struggle to close. John Caulfield will expect another three points from his side here and with home field advantage they may just get it.
A goal from Barry McNamee and a brace from Anthony Elding gave Derry City a 3-0 win over Drogheda United last week. Inconsistent form has left Derry in a mid-table and already eight points behind Dundalk. Peter Hutton and his side have their work cut out for them if they expect to mount a title challenge.
Prediction: Home win
Drogheda United –v- Bohemians 7:45
Bohemians travel to Louth to face Drogheda United at the Hunky Dory’s Stadium.
After a great start to the season with two wins in a row, Drogheda United have dropped eight points in their last three games, the latest of which came in a 3-0 defeat against Derry City. Johnny McDonnell and his side will be determined to get all three points here and put their season back on track.
Like their opponents Bohemians have dropped five points in their last two games. The 3-0 defeat against Dundalk will have been unsurprising, the 0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers, disappointing. Bohemians will now be as determined as ever to get back to winning ways and climb as high up the table as they can.
Prediction: Away win
Shamrock Rovers –v- Galway United 8:00
Shamrock Rovers host Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.
Shamrock Rovers will be relatively pleased with their start to the season. Three wins and two draws keeps them well in contention for a title challenge, something the Rovers faithful have been crying out for. The Dublin side enter this game highly optimistic of gaining all three points and ensuring that Tallaght Stadium is a fortress for the rest of the season.
Galway will be less than pleased with their start to the season. One win and four defeats is not how they would have imagined life back in the top flight. They now know that they will have to work hard for every point they get and will have to be at their best, if they are to manage to get anything out of this game.
Prediction: Home win
Limerick –v- Dundalk 6:30
Limerick welcome league leaders Dundalk to Jackman Park.
After two successful campaigns in Ireland’s top flight, Limerick have thus far struggled this season. Two points are all they have to show for their opening five games. And given the quality of their opposition it will likely be two points from six games. Limerick are capable of getting results against bigger teams and will have to be at their best to get anything here.
The perfect start is an apt description for Dundalk’s opening five games. Five wins out of five, 11 goals scored and none conceded, the Louth side could not have hoped for a better start to their title defence. Stephen Kenny and his side would like to make it six wins from six and theirs nobody who would want to bet against them.
Prediction: Away win
Longford Town –v- St Patrick’s Athletic 7:30
St Patrick’s Athletic travel to the City Calling Stadium, to take on Longford Town.
Goals from Gary Shaw and Don Cowan gave Longford Town a 2-1 away win against Galway United last week, a win that puts them seventh. Tony Cousins will be extremely pleased with his sides start to the season. His side have not been daunted by promotion and have worked hard to earn what they have, sometime that could translate to survival come the end of the season.
A brace from Aaron Greene gave St Patrick’s Athletic a 2-0 away win over Limerick last week. That win was their second in a row and added a bit on consistency that was lacking in St Pat’s early season form. They enter this game hoping to make it three wins in a row and Liam Buckley and his side will do everything to make it happen.
Prediction: Draw