Play-offs 2023.

[D24Saint]

4,032 attendance is disappointing indeed.

Thoroughly enjoyable game though. Congrats to Waterford and commiserations to Cork

The tighter ground ie Richmond for the playoff proves to be right. The people didn’t travel.

[legendz]

4,032 attendance is disappointing indeed.

Thoroughly enjoyable game though. Congrats to Waterford and commiserations to Cork


The tighter ground ie Richmond for the playoff proves to be right. The people didn’t travel.
After 36 games in the First Division and playing each team 4 times, 2nd should be at home versus 5th and 3rd at home versus 4th in one legged semi-finals. Whichever playoff finalist has finished higher in the league should have home advantage in the playoff final. Reward for finishing higher in the First Division.
The promotion-relegation playoff then should be over two legs as the First Division playoff winner and 9th in the Premier Division haven't played in the regular season.

Example from this year:
FIRST DIVISION PLAYOFF SEMI-FINALS
Waterford v Athlone, Waterford with home advantage.
Cobh v Wexford, Cobh with home advantage.

FIRST DIVISION PLAYOFF FINAL
Waterford v Cobh, Waterford with home advantage.

PROMOTION-RELEGATION PLAYOFF
First leg: Waterford v Cork
Second leg: Cork v Waterford

The Premier Division club have previously earned the higher league ranking, seems fair to give them home advantage in the second leg or else have a draw to determine home team for the second leg.

[SPXcyan]

We've finally managed to win this fixture after so many defeats, great to be back in the Premier League next season!

People being disappointed with the attendance is strange to me, it was a Friday night fixture lads! I'd of been there if it was on today!

[Pablo Escobar]

We've finally managed to win this fixture after so many defeats, great to be back in the Premier League next season!

People being disappointed with the attendance is strange to me, it was a Friday night fixture lads! I'd of been there if it was on today!
People within an earshot of Dublin don’t seem to be able to grasp this. I’m aware that empty vessels make the most noise, so apologies to those of you that do understand. You need to plan away games if they are few hours away. Time off is usually required.

[nigel-harps1954]

People within an earshot of Dublin don’t seem to be able to grasp this. I’m aware that empty vessels make the most noise, so apologies to those of you that do understand. You need to plan away games if they are few hours away. Time off is usually required.

Definitely the people within an earshot of Dublin..

I just expected the attendance above 5k, pushing 6k. It's not like waterford and cork are a million miles from Dublin requiring a full day off work. They're both pretty handy connected on motorways.

[pineapple stu]

Plenty of exiles in Dublin to help with the crowd let's not forget. Not all Cork/Waterford fans live in Cork/Waterford.

[Dermobohs]

Waterford away for me on a Friday would be a car journey straight after work, making ko handy enough.
Cork I’d usually take a half day, leave at about 230.

[LOI101]

It being on telly probably didn't help the attendance. Also the same weekend as the cup final will deter neutrals who are going to the final. I might have gone along as a neutral a different weekend.

[legendz]

It being on telly probably didn't help the attendance. Also the same weekend as the cup final will deter neutrals who are going to the final. I might have gone along as a neutral a different weekend.
If the game last night was in Waterford with a second leg in Cork on Monday night, I don't think being the weekend of the cup final or being on tv would be hindering big crowds, if not two sell outs.

[Nesta99]

Cork manager making sure there's no need for a guard of honour next season anyway.
Well done wahhherfudd, a decent addition to the next season's Premier division.

Nothing new for Cork, we played in Turners Cross after being crowned champions and there was no guard of honour, I thought then it was JC being petty and lacked class and I felt the same v Rovers this season. It was mentioned on commentary that its a recent thing but I certainly remember Dundalk applauding champions on to the pitch pre game and being applauded on by opponents in the 80's. Its not a huge thing, its informal, but in an era where respect and sportmanship is often lacking I just thing its the right thing to do and more so when it involves old rivals and those in a tight title race. It sets an example for certain kind of fans.


It wasn't a penalty end of Coughlan won that and the ref fell hook line sinker pathetic decision

I think I was a penalty, it was soft and was 'won'. I dislike this growing trend of people talking about winning penalties, they are awarded or given and should not be won by checking a run or manufacturing contact. Its an evolution of diving, started pre VAR and when VAR is available there is no poit in diving - in an ideal world 'winning' penalties should stop irrespective of contact. I think it was a penalty more for the attemt to get an arm over the shoulder and pull back than from the nudge caused by checking the run. I suppose Cork did win a league title with significant contribution for Seanie Maguires ability to win penalties. It was debated here at the time and Cork fans felt it was a fair part of the game, a type of player skillset. Alls fair in war and football.

A lot can happen in a close season but Cork currently are not necessarily equiped to make an immediate return to the top flight. Play-off for sure but top spot? There will be sides that have that bit more guile and UCD as promotion specialists! Cork are a club that should not be in this position but it dates back to one boards decision to capitulate to Caulfields budgetary demands and its been a struggle since. Revisionist history of CCFC will show that he did as much harm as good to his club.

Next season Premier Division will be a nailbiter outside a top 3 or 4 with a number of clubs potentially at risk of a relegation battle with no club looking like obvious basement dwellers to save any mediocrity above.

[legendz]

Next season Premier Division will be a nailbiter outside a top 3 or 4 with a number of clubs potentially at risk of a relegation battle with no club looking like obvious basement dwellers to save any mediocrity above.Since Shelbourne were promoted in 2021, the top 8 have been unchanged for the last two seasons. 5th and 6th weren't far off 4th this year.
Galway and Waterford have a huge challenge ahead of them to get into the top 8 first. Drogheda and Sligo have a huge challenge to try and get into the top 6 and now will have Galway and Waterford to contend with.
It could be the same 6 clubs again battling for the top 4 next year. 4 clubs then battling for the top 8. Waterford couldn't keep up with Galway this year. They can't afford a slow start next year or it'll be a long season trying to qualify for another promotion-relegation playoff.

[Nesta99]

Outside of Rovers, Derry, Pats and maybe Shels if they keep improving then its dog eat dog imo. We dont know what shape Dundalk will be in. Bohs will most likely be fine but as mentioned before Devine's teams tend to regress after early progress but can strengthen the squad sufficiently to overcome any limitations of coaching. We will have to wait and see how Drogheda's new owners wll do business but there are no rumblings of much change on going FT yet. Sligo have an awful lot to do and keeping Russell in place is a gamble, sticking could work if he is genuinely building but I think they should have been better this season, Cork got within spitting distance but didnt kick on when it looked like Sligo were in freefall. That said I dont think Sligo would have lost the play-off to Waterford. Then we have the 2 promoted sides, Galway are well backed financially, Horgan is an old warhorse if the going gets rough. Waterford will know what is needed under Long who I rate highly as a manager especially when working on a limited budget and building a solid if unspectacular side.

Currently i'd be very worried for Dundalk but of course that could change - tbh in LoI over the years ive been a supporter a lot can change one season to the next. There has been some consistency the last couple of season for sure but I dont think its a reliable indicator of things especially in a 10 team league. Its been a while since there hasnt been stand out 10/9th level sides that were the safety nets for other not being particularly good. Time will tell but I think the 2 promoted sides are better equipped for the premier division than others in recent seasons. The dreaded rut and a run of losses and any side will be looking over their shoulder in 2024.

[trevy]

Great to finally win a play-off final and be looking forward to Premier division football next season. It would have been tough to take another playoff defeat. Waterford were the better team on the night. We got a couple of breaks with the ball hitting a divot when a Cork player seemed certain to score with 10 minutes to go in normal time but overall deserved win.
I thought the crowd of over 4000 was decent with Waterford having a bigger support there. I know some Cork fans weren't happy with it being in Dublin on a Friday night. Saw a few neutrals wearing their club colours too.

[DCSIL]

Comerisations to Cork but Waterford back up is great, a good night out after the game.