Ireland. First Division: tournament table
№
MP
W
D
L
G
Pts
1
Cork City
15
10
3
2
26:11
33
2
UCD
16
8
3
5
26:16
27
3
Bray
16
6
5
5
26:22
23
4
Wexford
16
6
4
6
21:20
22
5
Athlone Town
16
6
4
6
16:18
22
6
Cobh Ramblers
16
6
4
6
17:23
22
7
Longford Town
16
4
6
6
11:15
18
8
Finn Harps
16
4
5
7
15:22
17
9
Kerry
16
3
6
7
15:20
15
10
Treaty United
15
3
6
6
15:21
15
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.