As we approach the end of the 2025 League of Ireland campaign, fans and betting enthusiasts are wondering which clubs have the best chance of lifting the trophy, and perhaps equally importantly, securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round for next season.
Teams finishing second and third will also secure a route to Europe, as they gain entry to the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round. Therefore, there is still much to play for, aside from the title itself.
There are several huge clubs in the League of Ireland jockeying for position. According to the odds from Irish bookmaker Betfree, this is how the top four will end up shaping up in the League of Ireland for 2025.
Shamrock Rovers (1/16 favourites)
Runaway favourites to win the title are 21-time winners Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops have won more League of Ireland titles than any other club, and after missing out on the crown in 2024, finishing 2nd and two points behind current champs Shelbourne, Stephen Bradley's side are desperate to get back to the summit.
Victory this season would earn the Tallaght side their fifth title in six seasons and resume their dominance of the competition this decade. That looks almost certain to be the case, with the bookies heavily favouring them at 1/16.
Seven points clear, with a game in hand on second-placed Bohemians, with 8 gameweeks to go, Shamrock Rovers are certainly in the driver's seat. However, it must be said that their lead is by no means unassailable. Ajax gave up a 9-point cushion at the top of the Eredivisie last season with just five games to go to capitulate and hand their title to PSV. Were Shamrock to be caught by Bohemians this season, it wouldn't even be the worst "bottle job" to happen in Western Europe in the last six months.
Nonetheless, Shamrock Rovers are, of course, clear favourites to return to the summit. They have enjoyed a fantastic season so far, thanks in large part to the work of strike partnership Rory Gaffney and Graham Burke, who have scored a combined 15 goals so far this season. The Hoops also have the best defensive record in the league. A combination of the two sees Shamrock Rovers on the edge of glory.
Bohemians (12/1)
7 points behind the league leaders, Bohemians are the side most likely to capitalise on any late-season dip in form, according to bookies. The Dublin club haven't won the league since 2009, and at 12/1, probably won't do so this season, but they are sticking in the fight with the hopes of an opportunity.
Bohemians' Polish goalkeeper Kacper Chorążka has been a large part of what has been a great season so far for The Gypsies. His 9 clean sheets have been invaluable for the team.
Derry City (25/1)
Next up at 25/1, it's two-time champions Derry City. Northern Ireland's representative, out of Belfast, Derry City, are themselves just eight points back in the title race, and still in with an outside chance of pulling off a shock. Eight points down with eight games to go does not seem so unlikely as to deserve 25/1 odds, which makes them a worthwhile outside shout.
Since arriving after five successful years in the Scottish Premiership at Heart of Midlothian, Northern Ireland international Liam Boyce has bagged 8 goals so far this season, more than any of the players from the other four teams on this list. His goals will be crucial if Derry are to pull off a miracle.
Shelbourne (150/1)
So respected are current champions Shelbourne for their legacy (7 time champions, 3rd most titles of any team in the league), the quality in their squad (featuring the likes of Liverpool defender James Norris on loan) and the potential of young manager and former West Ham United star Joey O'Brien, that Shelbourne are fourth favourites for the title, despite being lower in the table than Drogheda and St. Patrick's Athletic, who don't make this list.
The 150/1 odds make sense given that O'Brien's side are 14 points back in sixth place, and unfortunately for fans of the Drumcondra side, they will be giving up their title as League of Ireland champions in a couple of months, barring an absolute miracle.
