Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Damien Duff's Shelbourne took four points off Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park last season and, after making a flying start to their 2025 campaign, they will be confident of beating their rivals at home on Friday.

Shelbourne are top of the table after two rounds of games but will be wary of a Rovers' side whose European adventures ended in heartache and will be desperate to pick up in the league.

Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers betting tips and predictions

Shelbourne to win - 9/5

The roles have reversed in the Republic of Ireland with a different feel about the derby clash between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers.

As champions for four seasons in a row, it was always Rovers who were the hunted in Ireland's Premier Division but that changed last season when Shels ended an 18-year title drought when pipping Shamrock by two points for the championship.

So now it's Duff's men who have the target on their back, though they are shrugging off the pressure.

They kicked off the 2025 campaign by winning the President's Cup for the first time earlier this month, beating Drogheda 2-0 with new signing Mipo Odubeko on target for the first time in a competitive game.

Shels then, Shelbourne began the defence of their league title with a 3-1 win over Derry City with Sean Boyd scoring two and creating the third.

And it was former West Ham academy starlet Odubeko who was grabbing the headlines with the only goal of a 1-0 triumph at Waterford.

Odubeko, playing for Fleetwood until November, has settled in nicely alongside Boyd for the champions and they are going to be a handful all season.

The Reds will have to be at it against Shamrock Rovers, who are itching to get back on to the pitch after last week's game against Cork City was rained off.

They have put the League of Ireland on the map by qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Conference League, after a group-stage campaign which featured wins over Larne, The New Saints and Borac Banja Luka.

Even a 5-1 defeat at Chelsea couldn't wipe the smiles from the faces of everyone connected at Tallaght as they prepared for a two-legged tie with Norwegian big-hitters Molde.

They did brilliantly to win 1-0 at Molde in the first leg thanks to teenager Michael Noonan's winner against a team admittedly down to 10 men.

But they suffered heartache in the return, losing 1-0 in 90 minutes and then just falling short in a penalty shootout.

In between those two games against Molde they lost 1-0 at Bohemians in the league, though manager Michael Bradley had nothing but praise for the efforts of a team who only performed patchily last year.

Bradley can't call upon Danny Mandriou or Darragh Nugent for a game which is top of the billing this weekend, and one that an on-fire Shelbourne can win.

Ademipo Odubeko Anytime Scorer - 11/4

Shelbourne boss Duff wanted to add some X-factor to his front line and he may well have struck gold with Odubeko.

The Dublin-born 22-year-old, who tried to find fame and fortune in England with Manchester United, West Ham and a couple of other clubs, has settled back sublimely in his homeland.

Bought by Duff in December, Odubeko, a prolific goalscorer at youth level, has proved he can cut it in the seniors with two goals in three appearances while earning plaudits galore.

The one game in which he didn't find the net - the 3-1 win over Waterford - he had nine shots and was a constant threat.

Odubeko, who made 11 appearances for League Two side Fleetwood before heading back to Ireland, will flourish in this league, especially if his Reds' team-mates can give him the service.

Shamrock's rearguard will be the toughest he'll have to break down all season but back him to do it, and find the net, at 11/4.

Goal Before 36:00 - 5/6

There will be plenty of mutual respect between last year's champions and runners-up.

To that end, it may well be a tight affair at Tolka Park.

However, the first goal time has been set at 36:00 and that looks late enough to think the bet is to go before.

As an illustration, Shamrock's eight UEFA Conference League matches produced 23 goals, 11 of which were scored before the 36th minute.

In their only league game so far they were beaten by a 25th minute effort at Bohemians.

Shelbourne's three league and cup matches so far have yielded seven goals, with goals prior to the 36th minute in all three.

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Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers odds

Shelbourne - 9/5
Draw - 21/10
Shamrock Rovers - 8/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.