Competition: Irish First Division
Market: UC Dublin win
Odds: 4/9 @ Pribet
Two sides who find themselves scrapping it out at opposite ends of the First Division standings, UC Dublin will welcome Athlone to the capital on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last time out as they opened October with a routine 3-0 romp away at Wexford, UC Dublin will be dreaming of a repeat performance here. Although William O’Connor’s men might have eventually fallen short in the race to book an immediate Premier Division return last season, the Sky Blues are desperate to go one-step further this time around. Skyrocketing their way into the play-off places, the Students should be smelling the chance to secure consecutive victories on Friday night. Despite eventually falling to a frantic 3-2 loss at the hands of runaway leaders Dundalk on September 26th, O’Connor’s camp have won three of their previous four First Division appearances. Heading into their penultimate showdown of the season, UC Dublin will also be excited by their extended dominance on home soil. Last seen in front of their own supporters landing a 2-1 win against Kerry, Friday’s hosts have won all of their previous four straight showdowns at the UCD Bowl by an aggregate score of 8-4.
As for the visitors, enduring what has been a public First Division nightmare this season, Athlone have already been stuck with the wooden spoon with plenty of time to spare. Sat rock-bottom of the table, Ian Ryan’s men are simply desperate to see the end of the 2025 campaign. Signing off September with a 2-1 defeat at home against Wexford, the Town have collected just two points from any of their previous 10 straight outings – a rut that stems all the way back to a 2-2 draw against Treaty United on July 25th. Likewise, watching their FAI Cup adventure come to an end away at Kerry three months ago, Athlone have astonishingly failed to win any of their previous 21 straight outings. Putting just a single First Division victory on the board so far this season, Ryan’s side will be bracing themselves for a stern challenge this weekend. Two sides who find the moods in their respective camps at a polar opposite, we are backing a home victory here.
Bet: UC Dublin 4/9 to beat Athlone Town in Friday’s Irish First Division contest @ Pribet
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