Pick from Ireland and ice hockey picks will have (as usual) extensive analysis given, i will try to write analysis for all others as well if i will have enough time...

Take care,
Scythe

Ex-Eircom side, Waterford, has one goal this season. To reach the promotion and come back up. It will be extremely hard as they have many rivals, strong teams, like another relegated side - Longford, newly formed Sporting Fingal, well-known Shelbourne, and most important - Dundalk, team that is aiming for promotion for 3rd consecutive season, being very unlucky not to promote earlier... Dundalk again entered season strong, and are now six points above Waterford and five above Shels. To keep track of them Waterford are obligated to win against "weak" teams, especially at home. So far they are best home side, with W4-D1-L0 14:4 record, and in great form. In last round they easily beaten Monaghan with 5:0 and team spirit is high. Playing at home they are big favorites to win...

Wexford will struggle again this season. They are slowly becoming mid table team, but this season they will still be near to bottom. With two wins, three draws and four loses they are above teams like Kildare and Athlone, but still aren't big challenge to top teams in league. They are in a bit downtrend, and i think they will continue to drop points now as their schedule is becoming harder. In last game versus Sporting they were defending most of the time, without any actions in front of hosts goal. Then they had League Cup game in mid-week, beating lower league side Kerry League with 2:0, but without creating many chances, scoring goals from penalty and free-kick. IMO they aren't real threat to Waterford, especially away where they managed to score only three goals, with two of them coming against Monaghan. For this match they will miss important attacker P. Murphy.

Conclusion: Waterford has more quality among their ranks, they are playing at home and are fresh and ready. Wexford had mid-week match which is always hard for amateur and semi-professional teams, they had some players rested, but more then half of the first team played there. They aren't dangerous offensive and i don't see them creating chances. Waterford should be able to deliver one or two and it should be enough for comfortable win.

Predicted score: 2:0

Two in form teams will meet this Friday in Ireland Eircom league. While it was very expected from Drogheda, Bray is total refreshment of the league, their record of four wins and a draw in last five was everything but expected. Still, if you look a bit better, they've faced mostly weak teams (still it's a good result as Bray hasn't got much quality themselves). Especially draw at Dublin and win versus Derry were surprises. I think they won't keep that form for long as they lack squad depth and their opponents are now much stronger team, and in form as well.

Drogheda oscilated a lot in first few rounds, but in last five they've recorded four wins and a loss (Bohs). Although they played against weak opposition their performances were even better then results and i think they will now enter winning streak.

Both teams in mid week played League Cup games. Both won. Drogheda played against Shelbourne away. Drogs put almost "B" team, with only three first team players, and easily won 2:0 against Shels top selection. Bray putted almost the best squad, with only few subs, and won in hard fought fight against out-of-form Shamrock, that played with mixed squad. It was 1:0.

I think Bray team doesn't have good chances in clash with Drogs. Their results are bit over their performances and this mid-week game made them tired. They will probably miss Foran and McInerney but their team news are still unknown. Drogheda finally doesn't have any bigger injury issues and can be fully focused on this game. They rested all key players in mid week and should have more quality and be better rested in this clash. Tradition is also on their side...

Predicted score: 0:2

Last round of group stage brings to us clash between Russia and Denmark. In normal circumstances i wouldn't bet on over in such game as Russians are one foot in the next stage, while Danes already completed their goal of staying in Elite flight beating Italians. But this is "special" occasion.

Russians, so far, had rain of goals in both games, blowing out Italy 7:1, and winning Czechs in OT 5:4. In last match vs Czechs their first goalie Eremenko got injured, leaving Russians with only one healthy and registered goalie - Biryukov. So Russians had to act fast and had to invite a goalkeeper of Quebec Ramparts (local team, junior league) Kevin Defosse to be substitute to Biryukov for todays match.

To make things even more interesting, Denmark will give chance to young backup goalie Patrick Galbraith, and will rest their first goalie Hirsch. So, we have two teams that will play with backup goalies, in case Biryukov gots injured, young Defosse will enter and i think we might see quite a few goals today.

Russians are certainly better team, i expect them to win with four-five difference, but i expect Denmark to score few. Danes result, 2:5 loss vs Czechs and 6:2 win over Italy show that they are capable of scoring.

I think Russians will score six or seven (remember Hirsch isn't on goal for Denmark), and Danish team won't give up, scoring at least two, but probably more. Odds about evens on this one is nonsense, and only Expekt has such offer. Medium stake recommended

Irish Cup tonight, we have clash between in-form side Bray, and out-of-form side - Shamrock.

With four wins and a draw in last five, Bray is one of the teams in best form. They won Derry in eg. and draw only with Bohemians. They've improved a lot since beginning of the championship and they are looking to repeat their good performances in Cup, like they did in first round, beating First Division side, Athlone 3:0.

Shamrock is in total contrast to them. Great opening of the season, beating Drogheda, drawing with Cork...picking 10 points in first four rounds. In next five they've picked only a point and now are five points above drop zone. They need a win to raise their team spirit, but with an injury problems and current form i doubt they will archive it. In last round vs Sligo they've played without Mulhall, Stapleton and J. Martin, who were injured, and they shouldn't show up today either. In that loss, they also lost services of Creevy who also got injured. Team atmosphere isn't the best at the time and i'm not sure how will they look like today.

Conclusion: Bray is in great shape, even when they are playing bad they are winning and that is good for team spirit. Home coach said they will go for a win, and i think it will be that way. Today also former Bray Wanderers goalkeeping coach Austin Mullen passed away in his 79 year. I don't know will players give more because of it, but it's good to know. Shamrock is in bad form, they could also have problem in league and seems like their coach will mix team a bit (and i still remember last season when they've played one round with junior players). Shamrock is going through "2nd season in PL syndrome" and will have hard season. I predict them middle of the table, but in Cup they should get eliminated fast. Could be today, odds are good...

IHWC, Elite Division, Group C

Another "surprising" result that i predict is Germany over Slovakia... Germans are widely considered as black horse in this group and that's maybe why i fear to bet higher on them. In contrast, Slovakians are considered as "Slovakia B" which isn't very surprising as they miss more then 10 players that could easily have place in this roster.

First round results weren't surprising, Germany lost to Finland, 1:5, but they were competitive most of the match, and Finland played exceptional (that's why i have them to win the group ;)). Germans had great pre-tournament results, won vs Denamark and Belarus, losing once against Belarus in OT...

Slovakians, as i already said, are pale shade of team that was always near the top teams. This year they seem to be weaker then ever, and even their 5:1 win over Norway can't erase that. They lack depth, and any 3rd seeded team could cause them troubles, so can Germany. They had only two preparational games, losing to Latvia 0:2, and winning to Slovenia 3:1. My impression is that their attack is weak part of the team, while defense and goalies are fairly good. They could become nervous if they don't score early vs Germany and i don't think that they are as high favorites as bookies suggest. Small stake

IHWC, Elite division

After first round everything is still open in Group A. Two days ago Belarus almost made a bit upset, losing to Sweden "only" 5:6, taking lead in three occasions. What we could see there was good Belarus team, but with bad goaltending and if they manage to improve a bit in defensive part they should be a real challange to Swiss team.

Switzerland won 4:1 against France. Nothing surprising about that, French goalie Huet was in great shape, saving 44 of 48 shots and was French MoM. Still, Belarus has more quality then France, and especially if they score first, Swiss might find themselves in a real trouble.

For this match, with Colorado and Montreal out of playoffs, Belarus will be reinforced with three NHL players. They also played a match before Swiss and had a few hours more to rest, but it shouldn't matter this early into tournament. I think both teams are aware of importance of this match and for me both teams have same chance of winning here. True is that Swiss has much better tradition in games against Belarus, but now Belarus looks much stronger then years before, and if i can remember correct, they managed to beat them 2:1 back in 2006 (one of their last meetings, i remember odds on Belarus were better then now). Anyway, to conclude, i give same chance of winning in this one to both teams, and this odds represent value in my eyes, Belarus looks as strong as they can be, while Swiss team stagnated over years and quality gap between this two is really small now...