Shelbourne finds their stride while Bohemians risk falling out of the European race: prediction for Shelbourne vs Bohemians - 22.06.2026
One of the headline fixtures of Matchday 25 in the Irish Premier Division unfolds Monday at Tolka Park, where local side Shelbourne will host Bohemians. The stakes are high in the battle for European qualification: the home team aims to extend their unbeaten run to ten games, while the visitors are desperate to avoid a third consecutive defeat and stop their slide down the table.
Shelbourne: O’Brien’s men have turned their season around
Back in late April, Shelbourne’s situation looked precarious. After a 3-4 defeat to Drogheda United, Joey O’Brien’s side sat seventh, just two points clear of the relegation playoff zone, and that loss marked their fourth in a row.
But a 2-1 victory over Dundalk on May 1 marked a turning point. Since then, Shelbourne have gone nine games unbeaten, surged to fifth in the standings, and now sit only five points off the European spots.
Key to this run were wins over strong opponents: a 1-0 triumph against St Patrick’s Athletic and a 2-1 victory over league leaders Shamrock Rovers. However, their latest outing ended in a 2-2 draw against Drogheda, and Shelbourne now have three draws in their last four matches - so it’s crucial for the hosts to maintain their momentum and not let progress stall.
Bohemians: Form dips at the worst possible moment
Bohemians approach this clash with growing concerns. Alan Reynolds’ men recently fell 1-2 to Dundalk in a direct battle for the upper table, dropping them to fourth place.
That defeat was Bohemians’ third in their last four games. They now trail Dundalk by a single point and St Patrick’s Athletic by four, having played one more match than both rivals - a situation that adds to the pressure.
There is, however, a silver lining for the visitors: their away form. Bohemians have won three of their last four on the road, netting 11 goals in those fixtures. Still, it’s been a full month since they last beat a team positioned above the relegation battle.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Shelbourne are unbeaten in their last nine matches.
- Bohemians have lost three of their last four games.
- Shelbourne have drawn three of their last four fixtures.
The hosts have the momentum, but a draw seems likely: prediction for Shelbourne vs Bohemians
Shelbourne look like the steadier side at the moment. The hosts have tightened up, learned how to take points from top-half rivals, and on the back of a nine-match unbeaten streak, will hardly be willing to cede the initiative at home.
Bohemians, on the other hand, are struggling, but it would be a mistake to write them off. They remain a threat away from home, know how to find the net, and will be highly motivated - another defeat could seriously dent their European ambitions. Still, with Shelbourne’s penchant for draws and Bohemians’ inconsistency, a cautious, balanced encounter is on the cards.
