BETTING COLUMN BY SEAMUS O’CONCHUR
We are getting into the meat of the second series of games now in the Premier Division of the Airtricity League, and although there is no “big game”, RTE has chosen to broadcast the Limerick v Sligo Rovers game.
As the All-Ireland GAA season starts to motor in the coming weeks, watch for a marked decrease in the number of live football offerings.
Live games can be often difficult to watch for people with only a passing interest in the Airtricity League but for the die-hards and keen gamblers alike, plenty can be learned.
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Limerick have a record that reads W4 D6 L4, and despite fancy predictions from some quarters, are probably sitting in roughly the league position most people would have expected of them.
Indeed, the table has now settled into something of a familiar look, with maybe only Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk in the opposite spots than would have been predicted, and Shelbourne 5 points worse than UCD and Bray another slight surprise.
Limerick host Sligo Rovers, who are seen by many as having “reacted well” to getting beaten 2-0 at Inchicore by St Pat’s. Their results since then, however, have included away draws at Shamrock and Bray, a home draw with Drogheda, and a Setanta cup elimination from the same outfit.
The manner of their 3-0 home win against Derry was convincing save for some generous refereeing decisions, but in general that Derry result may have been overplayed somewhat. In the Home-only league table, Limerick are two places better off than their league position of 7th, and at the result of sounding like a broken record here, this column is again tipping the draw at 53/21 on betfair
The other bet comes at the Tallaght Stadium, where the home side will hope to avoid another draw, which would incredibly be their tenth in 14 games this season (drawn 3 of their last 6). As they struggle to put a decent run together in the league, Trevor Croly will find that people will forget about the Setanta Cup final rather quickly. Tonight’s visitors are Shelbourne, and we all know how poor they have been this season, both in terms of discipline and everything else.
Even if they don’t snap a 3-game losing run in Tallaght, however, they have shown already this season that they can frustrate certain teams in certain games. They held tonight’s opponents scoreless in the first series of games, and tonight’s encounter may well again be low-scoring. Take under 2.5 goals at 6/5 with Pinnacle.
Our own game against St Pat’s will look an open and shut case for the neutrals. Our home record is poor, losing 4 of 7 thus far in the season. The Saints have been missing a league-winner’s ruthless edge for around ten years now, although as with most seasons, some observers will suggest this could be their year.
Killian Brennan is having a superb season and at his best he can drag those around him up another gear. Their general lack of ruthlessness means they don’t always do things the easy way though, and a short-list bet (not a full recommendation) for tonight’s game is the half-time draw at 13/11.
Recommended:
Limerick v Sligo Draw, 1pt 53/21 (betfair)
Shamrock v Shelbourne, under 2.5 goals, 1pt 6/5 (Pinnacle)
