Massive odds, massive heart! The second Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-final today serves up an absolute David vs. Goliath clash as Kerry FC travel to Tallaght Stadium to face the titans of Irish football, Shamrock Rovers.
Following Friday’s shock result that saw Cork City knock out St Pat’s, can the League of Ireland’s newest club cause the ultimate upset against the most successful club in the country?
Shamrock Rovers vs. Kerry FC: The Tale of the Tape
The contrast couldn’t be starker. Rovers are the full-time champions-elect of the Premier Division, a team looking to secure a first league and cup double since 1987. Kerry FC, on the other hand, are a part-time First Division outfit, with players like top scorer Sean McGrath balancing heavy lifting on a building site with five days a week of training.
- The Hoops are coming off a deflating 4-1 European defeat against Sparta Prague, but manager Stephen Bradley actually pointed to this FAI Cup semi-final as a reason for rotating his squad in Czechia. That tells you everything you need to know about how seriously they’re taking the cup. Expect them to be all business and looking to flush the European disappointment out of their system quickly.
- The Kingdom are embracing the label of unbackable outsiders. This is their biggest-ever game and a massive step up even from the quarter-final heroics that saw them sensationally come back to beat top-flight side Sligo Rovers. As McGrath put it, they are eager to “test ourselves to see how far off it you are, or whether you can equal them on the day.” With former FAI Cup winner Colin Healy in the dugout, anything is possible in a one-off game.
The Bet: Where’s the Value?
The bookies have set the price, but FAI Cup history is full of famous shocks.
| Match Result | Odds (Indicative) | Analysis |
| Shamrock Rovers Win | 1.05 | The logical bet. Rovers are head and shoulders above everyone in Ireland and will be focused after Europe. |
| Draw (90 Mins) | 9.00 | A highly unlikely outcome, but would be a monumental achievement for Kerry and force extra-time. |
| Kerry FC Win | 25.00+ | The outside shot. If you believe in the magic of the cup and that the part-timers can somehow weather the storm and grab a winner, the value is here. |
Our Tip
If you’re looking for an alternative bet with slightly better value than a simple Rovers win, consider a Shamrock Rovers Win & Both Teams To Score (BTTS). Kerry have shown they can get goals against top-tier opposition, and Rovers, while dominant, have shown some vulnerability (especially defensively in Europe).
Rovers’ class should ultimately shine through, but don’t count out a spirited Kerry goal!
Catch the action: Watch Shamrock Rovers v Kerry live from 5.30pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.
