Shelbourne v St Pat’s Betting Odds & Ireland Premier Division Outrights | Friday 18th February

The SSE Airtricity Premier Division begins on Friday and FAI Cup holders St Pat’s start with the short trip to Shelbourne.

Tim Clancy’s side go into the Dublin derby off the back of a narrow defeat in the traditional teaser for the new campaign after Shamrock Rovers got the better of a penalty shootout in last Friday’s President’s Cup Final.

But St Pat’s earned enough plaudits of their own having been the better side for much of the contest in blustery conditions in Tallaght, and they have since shortened into 23/20 from 13/10 in the match betting to get their new league campaign off to a flying start at Tolka Park.

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Damien Duff, meanwhile, makes his senior managerial bow in the home dugout for Shelbourne after the departure of Ian Morris to Waterford following their promotion-winning campaign last season.

The former Republic of Ireland international has singled out newly recruited New Zealand defender Adam Thomas as a major addition to his options and the Shels have been chalked up at 23/10 to register a clean sheet on their first game back in the top-flight and at 9/2 to win to nil.

If they are to be breached, striker Eoin Doyle will likely be the most popular candidate to find the net as one of the most eye-catching signings for St Pat’s in the close season.

The former Bolton striker was the first goalscorer from close range in the President’s Cup Final and he has been installed at 5/1 in the top goalscorer betting for the new campaign, making him favourite to top the goals charts this season ahead of Derry City’s Jamie McGonigle, who has been backed into 13/2 from 8/1 this week.

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The outright betting has St Pat’s as third favourites at 11/2 in the race for the title, but it’s Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers who will kick off as hot odds-on favourites at 4/6 to bag a third consecutive Premier Division title.

By contrast, Friday’s hosts Shelbourne are a shorter price to finish bottom (14/1) than they are to win the league (50/1), but the unwanted tag of favourites in that market falls upon UCD, who couldn’t face a more tricky opening with an away trip to defending champions Shamrock Rovers first up on their fixture list following last season’s promotion via the play-offs.

MATCH BETTING
13/5 Shelbourne
2/1 Draw
23/20 St Patrick’s Athletic

BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
20/21 Yes
3/4 No

TO WIN TO NIL
9/2 Shelbourne
11/5 St Pat’s

PREMIER DIVISION OUTRIGHTS
4/6 Shamrock Rovers
9/2 Derry City
11/2 St. Pat’s Athletic
13/2 Dundalk
16/1 Bohemians
20/1 Sligo Rovers
50/1 Shelbourne
250/1 Finn Harps
250/1 Drogheda United
350/1 UCD

TO FINISH BOTTOM
EVS UCD
5/2 Drogheda Utd
11/4 Finn Harps
14/1 Shelbourne
25/1 Sligo Rovers
33/1 Bohemians
50/1 Dundalk
66/1 St Pat’s Athletic
100/1 Derry City
250/1 Shamrock Rovers

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* Prices correct at the time of publication

WHAT TIME DOES THE GAME START?

The match is all set for a 7.45pm kick-off.

WHAT TV CHANNEL IS THE GAME ON?

The match is live on RTE2.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lawrence Lyons is a keen writer and qualified journalist who works as a PR Executive for BoyleSports.

Starting in the newsrooms of Belfast, he continues to stay on the ball with all things sports related with a particular passion for football. He enjoys a rant on any of the day’s big talking points from the back pages and has previously penned a weekly tipping column in the Irish Daily Star.

Keep up to date with all the latest sports and betting news by following Lawrence on Twitter now @BoyleSportsLL.