FAI Cup Final Odds: Bohemians Slight Favourites For Cup Success
FAI Cup Final Predictions:
- Bohemians to win – 13/10 with SpreadEx
- Either team to win on penalties – 9/2 with William Hill
- St Patrick’s Athletic to win 1-0 – 8/1 with Bet365
It is the biggest day in the domestic calendar for Irish soccer and with the two teams involved meeting for the second time in just three years, betting sites are giving their considered takes on how this Sunday’s FAI Cup final will pan out.
Back in the Aviva Stadium on November 28, 2021 – in front of 37,126 spectators – it took penalties to ultimately determine who came out on top of a FAI Cup showpiece between Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians.
Following a scoreless 90 minutes, Chris Forrester put Pat’s ahead in extra-time, only for one of their former players – Rory Feely – to subsequently level matters for their opponents.
Both sides had missed opportunities in the ensuing battle from 12 yards, but Pat’s ultimately secured the silverware with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory to claim their fourth FAI Cup success.
Like Bohemians, the Saints had a change in management in 2022 and return to this weekend’s showdown with another new boss in the form of ex-Rangers striker Jon Daly.
A winner with his hometown club of Derry City in 2012, Declan Devine is currently at the helm of Bohs having replaced Keith Long in the latter stages of the 2022 season.
Bohs In The Hunt For European Football This Weekend
One point worth noting, however, is that Bohemians need to win on Sunday to ensure European football in 2024.
Otherwise, the third UEFA Europa Conference League spot for next year will go to Shelbourne – who finished fourth in the Premier Division.
Additionally, Bohemians haven’t won a major national trophy since the Setanta Sports Cup in 2010 – there have been a couple of Leinster Senior Cup titles in the intervening years – and this could be another key motivator for the Gypsies on the day.
Tip: Bohemians to win – 13/10 with SpreadEx
Could Be Another FAI Cup Shootout
Given how their 2021 final meeting was decided, the prospect of Sunday’s game once again going to penalties shouldn’t be dismissed lightly.
Indeed with the 2017 (Cork City v Dundalk) and 2019 (Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk) games also going to a shootout, it would be maintaining the recent trend of every second showpiece coming down to a battle of wits from 12 yards out.
At the time of writing, betting apps were offering 9/2 on either side winning the game on penalties.
Tip: Either team to win on penalties – 9/2 with William Hill
An Arm Wrestle Could Be On The Cards in Cup Showpiece
While the two sides will be capable of turning on the style in attack, there is every chance that Sunday’s encounter could prove to be a tentative affair with goal chances coming at a premium.
In the eyes of some football betting sites, the odds on Bohemians edging home with a 1-0 victory is 13/2.
However, of equal intrigue is the 8/1 that bet365 are offering on St Pat’s to win on the same scoreline and with cup finals often being decided by a single moment, this could be as likely a scenario as Bohs triumphing by a single goal.