League of Ireland weekend match predictions and free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for this weekend's League of Ireland matches.

Best bets

Derry City +1.25 on handicap
3pts 17-20 Bet365

St Patrick's
1pt Evs Hills

Bohemians
3pts 7-10 general

Bohemians -2 on handicap
1pt 9-2 Hills

Bray
2pts 13-20 Betway

UCD
3pts 11-10 general

Treaty draw-no-bet
1pt 5-4 general

Match preview

Derry City can cause some problems for Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday.

Rovers are widely expected to win the league and many consider it a formality, which might be the case, but there are encouraging signs for those who like Derry on the handicap.

Apart from a mismatch against a poor Waterford team recently, the Hoops have found it tough to break down opponents. They took a long time to master Finn Harps, Drogheda and Longford, for example.

Derry should be better than those three sides and they have already won at Sligo and Bohemians since Ruaidhri Higgins took over. They are well capable of getting a positive result in Dublin.

St Patrick's were unlucky to lose to Rovers on Saturday and they can go to Drogheda and win. Drogs make life difficult for teams but Saints have had an excellent season and look the likely winners.

Longford have not won a game since beating an insipid Derry on week one. Bohemians blew a two-goal lead against Town in the meantime and will be intent on revenge in the Midlands, while Town have conceded seven goals in four home games since Derry's visit. Bohs' confidence will have been greatly boosted by their hammering of Finn Harps. They should be comfortable.

In the second tier, Bray finally won a game in Galway last weekend, with Gary Shaw marking his return with a goal, and they look a far better team on paper than Cabinteely. Take the Seagulls to win this derby game and move up the table in the next few weeks.

UCD should be too strong for Cork, while Treaty look long at home to Athlone Town, who've lost their last two.

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