- Blog
- Irish Premier Division 2023 – Who the Bookies Favour
Irish Premier Division 2023 – Who the Bookies Favour
Published: 2023-02-15 By: The Guru
As the League of Ireland Premier Division approaches, excitement and anticipation continue to build. Fans across the country are eagerly waiting to see which team will come out on top in what is expected to be a highly competitive season. The Irish football bookmakers have already started offering odds for each team, with Shamrock Rovers being the favourites to win the league for the second consecutive year.
Shamrock Rovers, managed by Stephen Bradley, have been priced at 5/6 by the bookies to win the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division. After securing their 20th league title last season, the Dublin-based team will be eager to build on that success and continue their dominance. With such a strong squad, it's not hard to see why Shamrock Rovers are the bookies' favourites.
Following Shamrock Rovers closely in the odds are Derry City, with a price of 6/4 to win the league. Managed by Ruaidhrí Higgins, Derry City finished as runners-up last season and secured qualification to the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. Derry City will be looking to go one better this season and claim their first league title since 1997.
Dundalk, who finished third in the league last season, are priced at 14/1 to win the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division. After a disappointing 2019 season, where they finished eighth, Dundalk made significant progress under the management of Stephen O'Donnell. The team finished the season strongly and will hope to have a successful 2023 campaign.
St Patricks Athletic are also priced at 14/1 to win the league. St Patricks Athletic, managed by Tim Clancy, finished fourth last season. The team has a young squad that has shown promise and will be looking to challenge for the league title.
Bohemians, managed by Declan Devine, are priced at 33/1 to win the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division. The team finished sixth last season, and with some new signings, they will be hoping to improve on that position. Cork City, who were promoted from the First Division, are priced at 66/1 to win the league. The team, managed by Colin Healy, will be looking to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top tier of Irish football.
Sligo Rovers finished fifth in the league last season, and they will be looking to improve on that position this year. The team is managed by John Russell, who has been in charge since 2018. Sligo Rovers have a strong fanbase and a good record in the league, but the odds of them winning the title are 40/1.
Shelbourne finished seventh in the league last season, and they will be looking to perform better this year. The team is managed by Damien Duff, who was a successful player at both the domestic and international level. However, the odds of them winning the league are 40/1, which suggests that the bookies don't expect them to be in contention for the title.
UC Dublin FC finished last season in the relegation play-offs but managed to avoid relegation. Andrew Myler is still at the helm of the club, and will undoubtedly be looking to steer his team to safety with a stronger performance this season. However, the odds of them winning the league are understandably long at 275/1.
Drogheda United finished eighth in the league last season, narrowly avoiding the relegation play-offs. Although they managed to avoid relegation last season, they will have to perform far better if they want to improve their position this season. The odds of them winning the league are 225/1.
Cork City, who were promoted from the First Division last season, are now managed by Colin Healy. Healy is a former Cork City player who played for the team for over a decade, and he will be looking to build a competitive team this season. However, the odds of them winning the league are 66/1, which indicates that the bookies don't expect them to be in contention for the title.
The 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division promises to be an exciting season with multiple contenders vying for the top spot. Shamrock Rovers are understandably the favourites to win the title for the third time in a row, but Derry City and Dundalk are close on their heels with competitive squads and experienced managers.
The likes of St Patricks Athletic, Sligo Rovers, and Bohemians cannot be discounted either, as they have the potential to cause upsets and make a push for the top spot. Cork City and Drogheda United, on the other hand, might struggle to compete with the stronger sides, especially given that they are newly promoted and will have to adapt quickly to the higher level of competition.
It will be interesting to see how the league unfolds and whether the odds-on favourites Shamrock Rovers can successfully defend their title or if a new team can dethrone them. As the season progresses, it is possible that the odds may shift and the underdogs may rise up to the occasion, proving the bookies wrong. Regardless of the results, Irish football fans can look forward to an exciting season filled with high-quality football, competitive games, and nail-biting finishes.
(Odds from Paddypower)
