St Patrick's Athletic welcome Sligo Rovers to Richmond Park on Friday evening as they aim to keep pace with Shamrock Rovers at the top of the League of Ireland table.
Despite winning only 10 of their opening 20 league matches this season, St Pat's are in contention to win their first league title since 2013.
Rovers, on the other hand, are enduring a poor season thus far. Five wins from their opening 20 matches sees them occupying ninth place in the League of Ireland table.
Should John Russell's men continue this poor form, there is a real possibility that Rovers will be playing in the second tier for the first time since 2005 next season.
St Patrick's Athletic v Sligo Rovers Tips Summary
Best Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 7/10
Alternative Bet - Aidan Keena to score anytime @ 10/11
Bet Builder - St Patrick's to score in both halves & Kian Leavy to score anytime @ 16/5
St Patrick's Athletic v Sligo Rovers Prediction
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 7/10
Rovers have struggled defensively this season, conceding 31 goals across their opening 20 matches and that tally is the third-worst record in the league.
St Pat's have the best attacking record in the League of Ireland, scoring 33 goals so far this term, suggesting that there could be plenty of goals in this clash.
Three or more goals have been scored in Sligo's previous four games and, while goals haven's quite been as free-flowing in the hosts' recent matches, that could all change on Friday evening.
Only a win will allow them to maintain pace with Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table and this could mean a goal fest at Richmond Park.
Alternative Bet: Aidan Keena to score anytime @ 10/11
Aidan Keena might not have scored in either of his previous five league matches, but that run can come to an end on Friday evening against Sligo.
The striker has scored eight domestic goals so far this term, despite missing several games because of a torn thigh muscle.
Furthermore, across five matches against Sligo in his career for St Patrick's, Keena has scored five times, including four matches in a row between August 2024 and May 2025.
Given those stats, and the fact he has recovered from his recent injury, Keena will get on the scoresheet on Friday night for the first time since April 17th.
St Patrick's Athletic v Sligo Rovers Bet Builder Tip
St Patrick's Athletic to score in both halves
Kian Leavy to score anytime
Pays 16/5
Last time out against Drogheda United, St Pat's scored in both halves and secured a 2-0 victory.
That was the third league match since the start of May that they found the back of the net in both halves and considering how poor Sligo have been lately, don't be surprised to see them concede in both halves.
Indeed, the away side have conceded goals in both halves across three of their previous four league defeats and that won't change on Friday evening.
Leg two of the bet builder focuses on another player who could be a handful for Sligo in this match-up - Kian Leavy.
The attacking midfielder scored in the 2-0 victory over Drogheda and that was his fifth league goal of the season.
In the previous clash against Sligo back in April, Leavy provided an assist and he has scored twice in 11 previous meetings with Rovers.
Given his good form of late, don't be surprised to see Leavy grab another goal this time around.
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Key Match Stats
St Patrick's Athletic haven't won the League of Ireland title since 2013
Sligo Rovers last played in the second tier 21 years ago
Aidan Keena has scored eight goals this season for St Patrick's
Sligo Rovers have lost 11 league matches this term, the most in the division
St Pat's boast the best attacking record in the League of Ireland with 33 goals
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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.
