Ireland. First Division: tournament table
№
MP
W
D
L
G
Pts
1
Cork City
11
8
3
0
21:8
27
2
UCD
12
6
3
3
18:8
21
3
Wexford
12
5
4
3
17:15
19
4
Athlone Town
12
6
1
5
15:16
19
5
Bray
12
4
4
4
14:14
16
6
Cobh Ramblers
12
4
4
4
13:16
16
7
Longford Town
12
3
5
4
8:9
14
8
Finn Harps
12
2
5
5
12:16
11
9
Kerry
12
1
5
6
12:18
8
10
Treaty United
11
1
4
6
9:19
7
We're off to the Republic of Ireland, because Shelbourne are in action against Drogheda United. Both sides have made a fine start to the First Division season. Third-placed Shels are only six points off top spot, while Drogheda are just two points adrift of the leaders UCD.
This is a clash between two of the best defences in the league. Shelbourne have leaked just 11 goals in 15 games (no-one in the league has a better record), while Drogheda have let in just 12 goals.
To underline that defensive excellence, Drogheda are on a run of four wins to nil in the league, and they haven't conceded a league goal since the first week of May. Shelbourne are looking for a third straight victory, and have only leaked two goals in their last four league outings.
With both teams defending well, I'm a little surprised to see Under 2.5 Goals trading at 1.94. The last four league meetings between the two have featured fewer than three goals, and we can perhaps dismiss Shels' 7-2 League Cup win over Drogheda as a bizarre outlier.