- In all competitions, Saints have six wins, three draws and just one defeat in their last ten. The Blues have matched this overall run with a similarly solid sequence of six wins, three draws and a defeat in ten. Tom Lonergan has scored 14 goals in 26 Premier Division 2026 games this season, making him the Blues' sharpest knife.
Saints set the pace with Kenny’s pressing game
St Patrick's Athletic host Waterford FC on Friday in a contest that could have some twists and turns at Richmond Park, Ireland. Saints are clear favourites at 8/25 with the visitors coming in at 37/5 and the draw at 21/5, but the market has a tendency to lean to the goals in this one with Over 2.5 at 53/100 and Both Teams to Score - No at 17/20 being the sharper bets.
Saints are on a roll with three straight wins and a 3-0-2 record from their last five. The Saints are solid at home with four wins and two draws from six and have scored 2.00 and conceded just 0.83 goals per game on average. Stephen Kenny's men are a possession-first, high-press side, with the ball often being played from the back, but they have the sharpness to snap into a fast-paced game.
The hosts' last two results have seen them win 2-0 after extra time over Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup and a 2-0 away win at Drogheda United in the Premier Division 2026. Waterford have also hit top form with five unbeaten (Won 3, Drawn 2) in all competitions, with their away form in the Premier Division 2026 seeing them go three unbeaten (Won 2, Drawn 1), averaging 2.33 goals per match and conceding 1.33.
Blues’ directness is a threat to Saints
Graham Coughlan's Waterford have a pragmatic edge, with the Cork native having taught his team to transition quickly and use hard-running press to win territory. Padraig Amond has scored three goals in Waterford's last five games, which is a major reason that Waterford have scored six times in this run.
This looks like a game of tactical chess with Saints' control and press to test Waterford's bursts and runs out wide. Kenny's side should edge it, but the visitors' away form, particularly their ability to resist being overwhelmed, makes this a live contest rather than a free hit.
