League of Ireland in Europe 2019

[D24Saint]

Flying in and out, or getting on the club's visa, are likely your only options due to time constraints.
Last time, I went via Amsterdam with Belavia. Wasn't too expensive. A cheaper option could be to Tallinn, then Air Baltic via Riga, which worked well once.

Ive seen online that no visa required for short visits ? They don't even seem to have an embassy in Ireland.

[PartySaint]

The cheapest way to Minsk according to Skyscanner at the moment is via Istanbul

[D24Saint]

I don't agree. We won't be favourites against Progres and certainly not Prishtina.

They have no great European pedigree to be fearful of if not favourites then it would be at the very least a 50/50 tie.

[D24Saint]

The cheapest way to Minsk according to Skyscanner at the moment is via Istanbul


I saw that myself but seems very long way round there has to be a handier way.

[El-Pietro]

Ive seen online that no visa required for short visits ? They don't even seem to have an embassy in Ireland.

As far as I know that only applies if you fly directly to Minsk. Think thats what Brendy means when he says "Flying in and out". If you arrive at the border you will need a Visa.

[El-Pietro]

They have no great European pedigree to be fearful of if not favourites then it would be at the very least a 50/50 tie.

But we are really really bad at football.

[Pablo Escobar]

They have no great European pedigree to be fearful of if not favourites then it would be at the very least a 50/50 tie.

They were only admitted to European competitions for the 2017/18 seasons. They had a 6-1 aggregate win last year against Europa. There's a certain unknown quantity about them alright, but there's evidence (check out the highlights of the game against Europa) that they'll be a very strong side.

That, and the fact that we're in a pretty bad place doesn't fill me with confidence.

[D24Saint]

As far as I know that only applies if you fly directly to Minsk. Think thats what Brendy means when he says "Flying in and out". If you arrive at the border you will need a Visa.

Very handy to know !

[bennocelt]

Love days like this, although it used to be more fun when they did the teams one by one.

If Dundalk can avoid the Polish team then they got a good chance, Riga or the team from the Faroe islands would be great.


Shamrock rovers.................I used to go on about how decent Vaduz were on here and that they would beat a LOI team no probs, but that was when they were in the top Swiss division. Now they are in tier two, and even though they looked relatively compact and a decent team when I saw them last season this season they were pure rubbish, and were hanging round the relegation zone for most of the season. So beatable and a great trip for me! Love Vaduz, great spot. Otherwise Vitebsk, but no chance against the other teams, not with Bradley in charge anyway.


Cork.......manageable draw, but with their form at the moment you never know, on their day they should beat all those teams, hoping for the team from the Faroes.


Pats, if they get Riteriai they will be laughing all day, might have a chance against Stjarnan, but otherwise nope.

[PartySaint]

Pats, if they get Riteriai they will be laughing all day, might have a chance against Stjarnan, but otherwise nope.

Haugesund haven't had a great start to their league campaign, 8th at the moment, played 11, won 4, drew 4, lost 3.

Aberdeen, Minsk and Norrhoping would be too strong for us I'd imagine.

[pineapple stu]

Ive seen online that no visa required for short visits ? They don't even seem to have an embassy in Ireland.
True actually. You've to apply via the British Embassy

[bennocelt]

Haugesund haven't had a great start to their league campaign, 8th at the moment, played 11, won 4, drew 4, lost 3.

Aberdeen, Minsk and Norrhoping would be too strong for us I'd imagine.

Yeah maybe, depends on where the second leg is, if its at Richmond then maybe, on a wet night with a full crowd behind them and McCabe on point, yeah..............or maybe Harry going with 5 at the back again? Which team, i dont know?
Will be home around then, might head up and see for myself.............love the euro nights at pats
(was behind the guy that went through the floor that time!!!)

[PartySaint]

Are UEFA streaming the draws?

EDIT: They are

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2020/draws/round=2001136/

[PartySaint]

(was behind the guy that went through the floor that time!!!)

IBV the first time, we're very very luck the guy that fell through was a big Pats fan.

[bennocelt]

IBV the first time, we're very very luck the guy that fell through was a big Pats fan.

Yeah, one minute he was there, the next gone. Just like that. Happened really quick. But I think he didn't mind too much since Pats won the game

[PartySaint]

Linfield vs Rosenborg

[PartySaint]

Dundalk vs Riga

[bennocelt]

Not bad, pity the home leg is first, but thats a better draw than going to Poland for sure

[Buller]

Good draw for them. Avoiding Polish champs was the priority!

[nigel-harps1954]

Shamrock Rovers vs Brann (NOR)
Cork City vs Progres (LUX)/Cardiff Met (WAL)

Two very tough ties.

[EatYerGreens]

Dundalk vs Riga

Dundalk should definitely beat these guys.

[Nesta99]

Cork have been given every chance to progress there regardless of the improvement in Lux football. Mare for St Pats and a mixed bag for Rovers - start exporting those beers for when you arrive.

[nigel-harps1954]

IFK Norrkoping (SWE) for Pats.

[pineapple stu]

Cork have been given every chance to progress there regardless of the improvement in Lux football. Mare for St Pats and a mixed bag for Rovers - start exporting those beers for when you arrive.
Have you factored in how bad Cork are?

Progres are probably slight favourites I'd say. Assuming they win round 1 of course. Don't see a Luxembourg team losing to a college side...

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Unlucky draw for Pats. Rovers and Dundalk could go either way I feel, Riga are a bit of an unknown quantity, but especially Dundalk should fancy their chances to progress. Cork really should progress given the opposition but how they're playing this season who knows.

[Nesta99]

Dundalk should definitely beat these guys.

I think they are too much of an unknown quantity to really be as sure as definitely beat them. As Seand has pointed out on Orielweb they make up a good chunk of the Latvian national side. Skonto was a basket case when they knocked St Pats out and imo this club has picked up the baton from the former top Latvian club - and they had some useful results in Europe.

[Nesta99]

Couldnt agree much more RH!!

[Nesta99]

Have you factored in how bad Cork are?

Progres are probably slight favourites I'd say. Assuming they win round 1 of course. Don't see a Luxembourg team losing to a college side...

No is the honest answer! Who lets a bunch of students represent them in European football!!?

[sbgawa]

So close to drawing lichistein, brann is a tough draw,
Still , we have a shot.

[pineapple stu]

Remember as well Legia easily beat Cork last year but then lost to Dudelange in the next round.

Progres knocked out Rangers two years ago and beat Azeri and Hungarian teams last year, before losing 4-3 to a Russian side (who then couldn't beat 9-man Rangers)

They've improved a lot since Rovers played them four years ago. It's a very tough draw for a seeded team to get.

I think Dundalk should progress, and maybe one Europa League team.

[PartySaint]

It was down to Aberdeen or NorrKoping, so close :cry:

[seand]

There are no guarantees but Dundalk should win. It'll be a poor result if we don't. That would mean a mininum of six successive weeks in Europe and more fixture chaos.
Brann should be too strong for Rovers, Pats would need to improve to have a good shot at Norrkopping and Cork are poor enough this season that Progres are probably favourites. Not a great EL draw.

[nigel-harps1954]

It's all guesswork at this stage. They're all unknown quantities to us really.

The best we can hope for is that the Irish sides don't go out and absolutely sh!te themselves.

[EatYerGreens]

I think they are too much of an unknown quantity to really be as sure as definitely beat them. As Seand has pointed out on Orielweb they make up a good chunk of the Latvian national side. Skonto was a basket case when they knocked St Pats out and imo this club has picked up the baton from the former top Latvian club - and they had some useful results in Europe.

Don't forget that Derry City knocked Skonto out too.

[Nesta99]

I think we all fear being too commital about our own sides in Europe due to past experiences and that the hope and expectations really eats away at you when a draw on paper looks doable. I think that Rovers have a chance especially with the second leg at home (?). Reading Stu's post above Ive now been convinced that Cork will get a battering! Do Pat's fans think that a serious beating will have Kenny's job on the line already? Fans disaffection will be on the boards mind as will the fall off in attendances on top possibly.

Anyway who knows! it would be typical considering the opinions given above that Cork romp through and Dundalk go out with a whimper....at least there is an EL draw to be involved in also!

[PartySaint]

Pats and Rovers down to play at home on the same night so one of them will be moved.

[marinobohs]

Pats and Rovers down to play at home on the same night so one of them will be moved.

usually the team that finished lower (Pats) will be moved if required

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Progress finished 4th by the skin of their teeth last season, are currently 5th and just got a new manager, I know Cork haven't been great this season but they should really fancy their chances against either them or Cardiff Met Uni

[Real ale Madrid]

Second favourites, but we have a fighting chance - 1-0 win at home is doable. They look a class outfit though.

[Briuk]

Cork has to beat Progress, they need it for their budget. We are a better league and moreover, they don't stand a chance to get to europe through the league. So are the more important games they have in the season are this ones until the cup arrives

[micls]

I know Cork haven't been great this season

Well that's the understatement of the year.

[Martinho II]

Antonio Conte's former assistant manager AFAIK

yeah correct he was at chelsea!

[Martinho II]

why are cork playing the winners of that tie? I thought they were in the same round as st pats and shamrock rovers?

[pineapple stu]

They are though?

[The Donie Forde]

Yeah, that's a preliminary tie with the winners facing CCFC.

[D24Saint]

Not the best draw as I don’t give us a chance. It looks handy enough to get to as Stockholm has three airports, one in the city two in the sticks.

[oriel]

Good draw for them. Avoiding Polish champs was the priority!

Absolutely, that was one we wanted to avoid, would have been by far the worst of those in the pot. I wouldn't understimating Riga one bit,I heard they have improved a fair but, but looekd at their league table, joint tip after 15 games, but have lost 4, we should have enough to get through really. That will put us into EL r2, the journey will prob stop there in terms of the CL, as that will be up against likes of Celtic, Copehagen, Zagreb, Maribor etc would be to strong, but that would parachute us into EL r3, and thats only one round away from the play off.

Need to beat Riga first of course.

Tough for the rest, maybe Rovers have the best chance, usually you would always fancy an Irish side over a Lux side (have they ever beaten us ? for DFC we played them twice, 3 wins, 1 draw), this mob that Cork drew beat Rangers recently, will be no mugs.

[pineapple stu]

, usually you would always fancy an Irish side over a Lux side (have they ever beaten us ? for DFC we played them twice, 3 wins, 1 draw), .
Never beaten us. Though they've come close the last two times - 1-0 away defeat and 2-1 home win to lose on away goals - so they'll think they're due!

Were Pats up against 10 men for a while in their game?

[DFCForever]

yeah correct he was at chelsea!
He was Conte's assistant at Siena, Juventus, Italy and Chelsea
Mightn't be too long before he ditches Kilmarnock for Inter

[D24Saint]

Never beaten us. Though they've come close the last two times - 1-0 away defeat and 2-1 home win to lose on away goals - so they'll think they're due!

Were Pats up against 10 men for a while in their game?

In the away match they got a red very late on. I don’t remember much about the incident tbh.