Ireland. First Division: tournament table
№
MP
W
D
L
G
Pts
1
Cork City
3
3
0
0
6:1
9
2
Athlone Town
3
2
1
0
5:3
7
3
UCD
3
2
0
1
5:3
6
4
Wexford
3
1
1
1
6:6
4
5
Finn Harps
3
1
1
1
4:4
4
6
Bray
3
1
1
1
2:2
4
7
Cobh Ramblers
3
1
1
1
3:5
4
8
Longford Town
3
0
2
1
3:4
2
9
Kerry
3
0
1
2
2:4
1
10
Treaty United
3
0
0
3
0:4
0
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.