There have been plenty of bad days since this blog began so I may as well savour one of the better moments, with my €50 stake becoming €196.34 courtesy of St Pat’s beating Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians defeating UCD. All in all, the start of the League of Ireland seems to have arrested what was beginning to look like a terminal decline. I’ve gotten back €372.14 on the €200 I’ve staked since the season began.Read the rest of this entry »

It was no secret that Shamrock Rovers were reliant on Gary Twigg last season, we are about to find out to what extent they need him with the striker sidelined for up to two months. Twigg’s exploits in 2009 were phenomenal. His 24 goals were just one short of Glen Crowe’s Premier Division record set in the 2000/01 campaign. That it was done in his first season in Ireland and after he had already played a half-season with Brechin City made it all the more impressive.

Take Twigg’s goals away from Rovers and it is reasonable to pose the question whether a side which challenged for the title becomes rather less formidable. The figures suggest that is the case. Twigg’s haul accounted for 47 per cent of Rovers’ league goals last season. Champions Bohemians’ top scorer Jason Byrne’s 22 goals represented 35 per cent of his side’s goals. It is also worth pointing out five of Byrne’s were penalties while just one of Twigg’s was a spot-kick. Again, that makes the Scot’s exploits all the more impressive but also suggests they will find it more difficult to cope without him.

The problem is compounded by the fact that his regular strike partner Dessie Baker will be crocked for a similar period of time, leaving Graham Barrett as the club’s only fit senior striker. You wonder if Michael O’Neill might regret letting Pádraig Amond go during the close-season. He has scored twice in his first three competitive games for Sligo Rovers. The one game he didn’t score in was Sligo’s 1-1 draw with the Hoops on the opening weekend of the season. Interestingly, the Hoops’ goal in that game came from the penalty spot, converted by James Chambers.

In fairness, O’Neill is not oblivious to the difficulties and has made public his intention to bring in at least one replacement but they won’t have anyone in time for Tuesday night’s Dublin derby against St Pat’s. Considering Rovers’ difficulties – they are also missing Aidan Price and Pat Sullivan through suspension - St Pat’s seem overpriced at 4/1 to win. I’m putting €20 on that and also €30 on a double of a double chance of a St Pat’s win and a draw along with a win for Bohemians away to UCD. It would pay out €96.34.