Only a few days before the official kick off of the World Cup 2010. The Irish national team have not qualified for it, but their domestic football league still excites us! Here is tonight's preview.

St. Patrick`s Athletic vs Bray Wanderers
Tuesday 08/06/10 - Kick off at 20:45 CET

St. Patrick's Athletic
It's the final game before a month-long break in Ireland’s Premier League, but St. Pat’s still have all to play for. They are currently second, just one point away from leaders Dundalk and have one game in hand. If they manage to win on Tuesday, St. Patrick’s will probably go to the break as leaders - and that's something worth playing for.
One cannot say that St. Patrick's are in good form, especially looking back to the last two or three games, where they lost away to bottom club Drogheda United and then lost a League Cup game to Sligo Rovers (4:1, no less). But, St. Patrick's are much better at home than away, having won three out of their last four home games. Their win over leaders Dundalk in the FAI Cup, just a few days ago, will also give them a boost.
As far as injuries are concerned, defender Derek Pender remains out with a knee injury, and Garret Coughlan is still on the long-term injury list. Midfielder David McAllister is suspended.

Bray Wanderers
For Bray, playing against St. Patrick's Athletic is a bleak prospect when all that your players have done this season is lose again and again. Bray Wanderers are at the very bottom of the table, with a dismal away record, having lost 5 games, and managing to draw only once and win only once. They will go to the mid-season break in last place, no matter what they do on Tuesday, but every point counts now, if they have any hope of avoiding relegation this season.
A bright spot for Bray is their FAI Cup game against Derry City, which they managed to draw. Trying to lift a team's spirit with a draw against an opponent from a lower league (if truth be told, Derry are undisputed leaders in Division 1) is something manager Eddie Gormley will surely have in mind.
Gormley hasa lot of trouble trying to put a team together, with a long term injury list consisting of Richie Baker, David Tyrell and David O'Neill. Chris Shields and John Mulroy both picked up knocks in the last game, and David Webster is still recovering. One good bit of news is that Dean Zambra is returning to the team, after missing the last 7 games with a knee injury.

Suggestion: Odds on the home win are very low and not worth risking on, although I believe that St Paricks will start score a few goals here and perhaps concede one... Therefore, the best option here is Over 2.5 goals, @ 1.72 at Bet365.




UCD Dublin vs Sligo Rovers
Tuesday 08/06/10 - Kick off at 20:45 CET

UCD
Two back to back wins and it's suddenly all well at the Bowl. First, the almighty Dundalk fell 3:1 in the Premier League, and then UCD kicked Drogheda United out of the FAI Cup with a 2:1 away win. Next on the line are Sligo Rovers, whom UCD will face at home on Tuesday night. These two teams are next to each other, rankings wise, but a win here will certainly be more valuable to UCD, since they still have a chance to get involved in a fight for one of the places leading to the Europa League.
This will be the first game these two teams will play since 2008. Historically, there were never a lot of goals in the games between UCD and Sligo Rovers; out of 10 games played since 2006, only two have had more than 2 goals scored in them, and the majority one or none at all.
UCD's defender Andy Boyle is back from international duty for his first League game in a few weeks.

Sligo Rovers
High scoring, entertaining games seem to be a hallmark for Sligo Rovers these days. They are destroying almost all opposition, with results such as 4:1, 5:1, 6:0! Padraig Amond, the 22 year old Sligo striker, is in the form of a life time, scoring 8 goals in the last 4 home games. Sligo went through to the next round of both the FAI and League Cup, eliminating St. Patricks' and Athlone Town in the process.
Now it's time for Sligo to show that their current form will carry on to the away games, as they play against UCD. So far, Sligo Rovers have lost just one and won just one away game - drawing the rest. They frequently fall behind and spend the rest of the game trying to equalize, or simply play out a goalless draw, but that tactic will have to change for the game on Tuesday night.
Matthew Blinkhorn and Mauro Almeida are still injured for Sligo, while Doyle, Ventre and Keane are back from suspension. A big problem might be a knock that Padraig Amond picked up in Rover's last game, but his fitness wil be assessed close to the tie.

Suggestion:The home team is closer to the win in this game. Home win @ 2.40 at Bet365

 

Galway United vs Bohemians
Tuesday 08/06/10 - Kick off at 20:45 CET

Galway United
Unlike most of the other Ireland Premier League teams, Galway United haven't played three games in the last seven days. Galway players have themselves to thank for that, having been booted out of the EA (League) Cup way back in April. They also have the misfortune to play on Tuesday against another team that had a somewhat easier schedule - Bohemians. Bohs ended their involvement in the EA Cup too, so being “rested” won't be an advantage for either side.
The last game Galway played was just slightly more than a training session - Galway won 5:0 against Malahide, in the FAI Cup.
Galway has a fairly average home record, with just two wins so far, both coming against bottom teams, Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers. Win or lose, Galway will end this part of the season near the bottom, but comfortably away from places that could lead to a play-out or relegation.
There are no injured players for Galway United, and since Rhys Meynell and Barry Ryan served their suspensions, there will be no selection worries for manager Sean Connor.

Bohemians
Bohs must have some kind of a mental block, a problem that is not often seen in a club with such a history. Throughout this season, Bohs have been playing great - but only in games away from home. Their away record is stellar, 5 games won, 3 lost, and they would be Ireland Premier League leaders, if only away games counted for rankings. As it is, Bohemians are fifth, but still just three points away from leaders, Dundalk. Their home record is what pulls them down. Bohs have drawn four games at home, lost one, and won only two, scoring just 5 goals.
Thankfully, the last two games Bohs played away. Just a few days ago, they won again Glenville in the FAI cup game, and scored 7 while doing it. Galway will be a somewhat harder obstacle, but Bohemians are firm favorites for Tuesday's game.
Bohemians have no suspensions or injury worries for the last game before a month-long break.

Suggestion: Bohemians have a great record in Terryland Park. They have won 12 straight matches since 1995. No surprise if they win tonight as well. Away win @ 1.72 at Bet365.

Dundalk vs Sporting Fingal
Tuesday 08/06/10 - Kick off at 20:45 CET

Dundalk
Dundalk are holding on to their lead in Ireland's Premier League with all their might, luck, and god-knows-what else. It doesn't matter if they win or lose, somehow it all works out so that when you look at the table, you seem the same name after 1. - Dundalk. They have won just two games out of the last five, and are clearly on a bad run, but other teams just can't seem to take advantage of this. A few days ago, St. Patrick's DID win against Dundalk, but in an FAI cup game, which makes for 12 years since Dundalk last felt what a victory over St. Pat's feels like.
That game was important for a number of things though. Dundalk finished the game with 8 (eight) players, due to three straight red card - one for a tackle, and two for off-ball incidents. These three players will not be able to help Dundalk on Tuesday night against Sporting Fingal (Breen, Melligan and McGuigan, two regular first-team players and a "regular" substitution).
With these players missing, it will be significantly harder for Dundalk to try and maintain their good home record, with just one out of eight games lost. Sporting Fingal have already won against Dundalk once this season (2:1, at home), and unfortunately for Dundalk, this is a good chance for them to make it 2 out of 2.


Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal are last year's winners of the FAI Cup, and this young side have a clear chance to take one of the top three places in their first season in Ireland's Premier League. They are out of form though, with just one win in the last five games. In the FAI Cup they stumbled, drawing against Mervue United; in the League Cup, they lost to Dundalk; in the Premier League, they have had two draws, against Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers.
On Tuesday, they will have to play against a strong opponent, Dundalk. Sporting Fingal won the first match between these two teams this season, but that was at home, whilst now they have to play away - and Fingal have won just two away games so far. They have lost just one though, but also have had five draws, and four out of those in the last five away games!
Sporting will have to do without captain, Shaun Maher, who got himself a straight red card in the game against Mervue United.

Suggestion: Dundalk are the favourites tonight. Home win @ 2.25 at Bet365

Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United
Tuesday 08/06/10 - Kick off at 21:45 CET

Shamrock Rovers
Just one more game, and Shamrock Rovers can go on to a well-deserved break. After having had to play three games in a week, Shamrock players will certainly look forward to a month of rest from football. However, stakes are still high, since a win against Drogheda on Tuesday might take Shamrock all the way to the top of Ireland’s Premier League.
Shamrock Rovers are on a great run, unbeaten for seven games in a row. They won the last two games, both in the EA and FAI cup, and have drawn the last two league games, against Bohemians and Sporting Fingal. While Rovers are not the best home team in the league, they do have a decent score of three won, three drawn and two games lost, having scored just six goals in 7 games.
For the game against Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers should have a full roster of players to choose from, but there is slight concern about Paddy Kavanagh, who injured his ankle in an EA cup game against Derry City.

Drogheda United
Despite being eliminated from the FAI cup, Drogheda's players must still be on a high. They managed what no-one thought possible - in the last round, Drogheda beat St. Patricks Athletic, 2:1. That home win was the first one this season for Drogheda, and probably played a part in the decision by the board of Drogheda United to appoint Darius Kierans as a first team manager. Kierans led the team in that game as a caretaker manager, and is currently the youngest manager in Ireland's Premier League, having turned 31 just a few days ago.
On Tuesday, Drogheda United will have another tough test, away against Shamrock Rovers. Kierans will have a big task ahead of him - Drogheda lost 4 out of the last 5 games played away. His side played Shamrock Rovers at home earlier this year, but that game won't be something his players will try to repeat, since Rovers beat them 2:0.
Paul Crowley will be back for Drogheda after serving a one match suspension for reaching four yellow cards. Ryan Brennan, on the other hand, is still a doubt, after feeling unwell at the cup game against UCD.

Suggestion: Again, low odds on the home win so I am not risking it. What is interesting though is the Draw-Home win at Half Time-Full Time. Bet365 offer it at 3.25 which is great price for a single bet.