Ireland. First Division: tournament table
№
MP
W
D
L
G
Pts
1
Cork City
5
4
1
0
9:3
13
2
Athlone Town
5
3
1
1
8:5
10
3
Bray
5
3
1
1
6:4
10
4
UCD
5
2
1
2
6:5
7
5
Wexford
5
1
3
1
8:8
6
6
Finn Harps
5
1
3
1
7:7
6
7
Cobh Ramblers
5
1
2
2
4:8
5
8
Kerry
5
0
3
2
5:7
3
9
Longford Town
5
0
3
2
4:6
3
10
Treaty United
5
0
2
3
4:8
2
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.