Friday's League of Ireland Premier predictions including Dundalk vs. Shamrock Rovers

Cork City vs. Drogheda (Friday, 7.45pm)

Two out-of-form teams will lock horns in the League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday evening, with Cork City welcoming Drogheda United to Turner's Cross.

Cork, who sit ninth in the table, have lost their last two league games, while Drogheda have been beaten in three of their last four domestic matches, with the visitors currently occupying seventh position.

We say: Cork City 1-0 Drogheda United

Draper's absence for the visitors is a huge advantage for Cork, and the home side's recent record against Drogheda cannot be overlooked. Cork were 1-0 winners when the pair locked horns at the start of June, and we are backing the same scoreline to occur in Friday evening's contest.

Dundalk vs. Shamrock (Friday, 7.45pm)

Shamrock Rovers will be bidding to strengthen their grip on first position in the League of Ireland Premier Division table when they travel to Dundalk on Friday night.

The visitors are currently first in the division, seven points clear of second-placed Derry City, while Dundalk occupy fourth position, 10 points behind their opponents in this particular contest.

We say: Dundalk 1-2 Shamrock Rovers

This has all the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting a close contest. Dundalk are more than capable of picking up a positive result, but we are backing Shamrock to strengthen their grip on first position in the table by securing a narrow win.

Shelbourne vs. Derry (Friday, 7.45pm)

Shelbourne can move six points behind Derry City with two games in hand by beating them on Friday.

The visitors are second in the Irish Premier Division table ahead of their trip to Dublin.

We say: Shelbourne 1-0 Derry City

Shelbourne should be the fresher team having not featured since last Friday, whereas Derry could be demoralised and fatigued after their 1-0 defeat to Shamrock on Monday allowed the reigning champions to extend their gap at the top of the table.

As such, we can envisage Duff's side returning to winning ways at Tolka Park, with this unlikely to be a high-scoring classic given the hosts' paucity of goals at either end of the pitch so far this season.

St Patrick's vs. UCD (Friday, 7.45pm)

After losing just one of their last seven matches, St Patrick's Athletic will attempt to continue their fine run of form when they play host to University College Dublin on Friday.

The visitors, meanwhile, have been cut adrift at the bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division table, but they have the chance to claim consecutive victories after beating Sligo Rovers last time out.

We say: St Patrick's Athletic 3-0 University College Dublin

St Patrick's have won their last six meetings with UCD, including a 3-1 victory when the two sides faced off earlier this month.

Although the visitors would have taken confidence from their win over Sligo, we think they will fall to another away defeat after losing 10 of their 11 away league matches this season.

Sligo vs. Bohemians (Friday, 7.45pm)

Sligo Rovers will be aiming to remain outside of the Irish Premier Division's relegation places with a positive result against Bohemians on Friday.

The visitors, meanwhile, travel to Sligo sitting four points behind second-placed Derry City with two matches in hand on them.

We say: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Bohemians

Although Sligo's form has been drifting for some time now, very few people could have foreseen them falling to a defeat against the division's whipping boys UCD last weekend, and Bohemians will surely smell blood as a result.

With Devine's side having two games in hand on all of the sides above them in the table, they cannot be ruled out of the title picture just yet, especially having prevented Shamrock from beating them last time out. We predict a narrow away victory.