Bohemian FC
- Alan Reynolds’ Bohs have become more of a pressing and high-tempo team, but he has tweaked the system to make them more aggressive and vertical this season.
- Bohemians finished 2025 in mixed form, losing three of their last five competitive games but ending on a high with a 4-1 away win at Drogheda that demonstrated their attacking firepower.
- They will press from the off and look to get at St Pat’s in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system with new signings like Lys Mousset, with a solid Premier League pedigree, expected to spearhead their attack.
- Colm Whelan remains a proven goal threat for Bohemians when fit and new signings such as Alex Lacey and Niall Morahan could soon make a big difference in the balance of Reynolds’ midfield and defense.
St Patrick’s Athletic
- Stephen Kenny’s trademark 4-3-3 is a flexible system that can overload midfield areas and pick off teams who press too high, and it looks set to dominate again in the season ahead.
- St Patrick’s also finished the 2025 season in mixed fashion with a heavy FAI Cup semi-final defeat at Cork City followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Shelbourne in their last game.
- Chris Forrester and Joe Redmond, who are now the experienced spine of Kenny’s midfield and defence, are still around to provide leadership and stability, but the loss of Mason Melia to Tottenham is a big hit for the club.
- Aidan Keena will need to step up to spearhead the attack and the likes of Jason McClelland’s mobility and Max Mata’s finishing will be key for Kenny’s system.
Head-to-Head
- The home team and the away team each won one of the five meetings between these Dublin rivals in the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division.
- Recent derbies between these two sides have been fiercely contested but low-scoring with two 0-0 draws in 2025.
Key Players
- They will press from the off and look to get at St Pat’s in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system with new signings like Lys Mousset, with a solid Premier League pedigree, expected to spearhead their attack.
- Chris Forrester and Joe Redmond, who are now the experienced spine of Kenny’s midfield and defence, are still around to provide leadership and stability.
- Aidan Keena will need to step up to spearhead the attack and the likes of Jason McClelland’s mobility and Max Mata’s finishing will be key for Kenny’s system.
- Colm Whelan remains a proven goal threat for Bohemians when fit.
Betting Insights
- The bookies have made Bohs the favorites at 2.5 with St Pats at 2.85 and the draw 3.15.
- Recent meetings have been tense and low-scoring, so the Under 2.5 Goals option at 1.77 looks a strong alternative to a home win at slightly better than even odds.
Prediction
- This could go to either side on a given day, but the recent results suggest a tight, possibly scoreless, draw is the most likely result in this early-season curtain-raiser.
- The Dublin weather is cool and damp, so it could come down to a set piece or second-ball battle in what should be a very physical game.
