2026 LOI Season Start Date

[wonder88]

that was a very poor idea from the LoI, I am glad it was rejected by the 2 clubs (where Cobh asked to change).
I would suggest that one of the Dublin clubs, really UCD should move to either Thursday night or Sunday evening for a lot of their home games.

[redobit]

Apart from Sat being the night that works best for crowds in the Showgrounds. There is a very practical reason too. Our match nights have a large number of volunteers at each game (as do most clubs tbf). But volunteers don't arrive at 7:45. They could be setting up or getting ready from early on a Saturday. A move to Friday makes it a lot more difficult for volunteers who work Mon to Fri to help out.

[legendz]

The majority of First Division clubs are content to play through the international windows. It is a club decision. First Division goes about it's business with regular Friday night games. The FAI disagree with it.

[joey B]

Bohs v Pats to be confirmed tomorrow as opening weekend game at the Aviva on February 8th…

[ger121]

Bohs v Pats to be confirmed tomorrow as opening weekend game at the Aviva on February 8th…

I think this one also sells well. Pat’s will buy in numbers. The Bohs are back again…

[Roones26]

Rovers v Derry in the Presidents Cup so

[Inchicore]

I think this one also sells well. Pat’s will buy in numbers. The Bohs are back again…

Hopefully it's boycotted

[Martinho II]

Hopefully it's boycotted

Saw on Virgin news earlier that there will be a reduced capacity of 30 k for bohs pats game as upper tier is closed. WTF?

[Inchicore]

Saw on Virgin news earlier that there will be a reduced capacity of 30 k for bohs pats game as upper tier is closed. WTF?

Meaning they are forcing people to by premium tickets at €37 plus fees and no kids or concession prices.

Yes I can buy the cheaper tickets for €27 plus fees but view is crap for kids.

I won't be going. Hopefully many more follow suit.

[ForeForeToo]

Meaning they are forcing people to by premium tickets at €37 plus fees and no kids or concession prices.

Yes I can buy the cheaper tickets for €27 plus fees but view is crap for kids.

I won't be going. Hopefully many more follow suit.

To go or not is your own personal decision but hoping that other people will not attend a LOI game brcause you are upset is a bit baffling.

I hope it sells out and everybody had a great day out .

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

The price you see on Ticketmaster these days is inclusive of fees. €32 to sit on half way in Lansdowne is great value. €16 for kids. Pats charge away fans €24 into Inchicore.

[Inchicore]

To go or not is your own personal decision but hoping that other people will not attend a LOI game brcause you are upset is a bit baffling.

I hope it sells out and everybody had a great day out .

Well just to explain in more detail as I'm guessing the point being made across all socials today is being missed by you - others have mentioned boycotting the game. Rovers fans saying in hindsight they should have last year based on the prices and other factors.

LOI games should be played on a home and away basis not in a neutral venue.

[BigEars]

A family ticket of €62 (including fees) for 2 adults and 2 children seems very reasonable to me.

The opening fixture being in the Aviva last year was a massive success and attracted a huge amount of neutrals to the game, and I don't think we're at a stage where we can say "the league has grown enough, I'm not bothered about it growing any further"

Some may not want to line Bohs pockets and that's fair enough, however I suspect this will sell out and be quite a success.

[Roones26]

Huge crowd in the Aviva helps build credibility for the league. It’s a trade off I can live with

[Shinkicker]

A family ticket of €62 (including fees) for 2 adults and 2 children seems very reasonable to me.

The opening fixture being in the Aviva last year was a massive success and attracted a huge amount of neutrals to the game, and I don't think we're at a stage where we can say "the league has grown enough, I'm not bothered about it growing any further"

Some may not want to line Bohs pockets and that's fair enough, however I suspect this will sell out and be quite a success.
I think bringing the game to the masses is a great idea. Sunday afternoon, 62 euro for a family ticket, opportunity for supporter ofopportunity to attract neutrals who don't follow the league or a team, opportunity to gain new support for both teams. It's all very positive stuff.

[Shinkicker]

Well just to explain in more detail as I'm guessing the point being made across all socials today is being missed by you - others have mentioned boycotting the game. Rovers fans saying in hindsight they should have last year based on the prices and other factors.

LOI games should be played on a home and away basis not in a neutral venue.
You go ahead and boycott the game, I'm sure someone will buy that seat. Hind sight is a great thing and the main reason some Rover fans should have boycotted the game was the fact they paid a higher price to see Rovers lose. Can you elaborate on "other factors" A great stadium, good weather, great atmosphere and a reasonably good game all played close to Rovers original base in Ringsend. What more could they have wanted?

[ontheotherhand]

You go ahead and boycott the game, I'm sure someone will buy that seat. Hind sight is a great thing and the main reason some Rover fans should have boycotted the game was the fact they paid a higher price to see Rovers lose. Can you elaborate on "other factors" A great stadium, good weather, great atmosphere and a reasonably good game all played close to Rovers original base in Ringsend. What more could they have wanted?

The boycott talk started long before the game was even played TBF.

Tbh I don't really get the opposition to it but I seem to be in the minority of Rovers fans. Means anyone can go who wants to, which isn't true for dalymount obviously. I'm a member and it's hard to get a ticket. You can get a beer. Make it a day out.

But there were a lot of Rovers people who found issues with it and didn't go. Lining bohs pockets was an obvious reason but we got a decent cut out of it. Wasn't able to go myself but most people I know say they wouldn't do it again.

[thebronze14]

Away to our localist rivals first. Happy with that

[placid casual]

You go ahead and boycott the game, I'm sure someone will buy that seat. Hind sight is a great thing and the main reason some Rover fans should have boycotted the game was the fact they paid a higher price to see Rovers lose. Can you elaborate on "other factors" A great stadium, good weather, great atmosphere and a reasonably good game all played close to Rovers original base in Ringsend. What more could they have wanted?

Bloody Rovers fans and their "demands" eh! 😄
Only issue I had was the view from the crappy north stand we were in.
Thankfully I got the opportunity to go again in November,sat in a nicer section and watched Rovers lift yet another trophy.

[Shinkicker]

Bloody Rovers fans and their "demands" eh! 😄
Only issue I had was the view from the crappy north stand we were in.
Thankfully I got the opportunity to go again in November,sat in a nicer section and watched Rovers lift yet another trophy.
If Bohs are the "home team" obviously they get to call which fans go where and maximize the number of Bohs supporters. Re Dalymount, I still can't understand how Bohs can't get 1000 people at the shopping center end for away support for Rovers, Pats and Shells and let 450 Bohs supporters into the Mono. If it's Galway etc then give them the Mono and let 1000 Bohs supporters go behind the goal.
Re Rovers lifting the cup, they thoroughly deserved it.

[D24Saint]

As an away fan I have no problems with the game being played in the Aviva. Having to give up a home game would muddy the waters on the whole idea. I go to the premium end for cup finals and now for these league games. It’s a novelty I don’t to for Ireland games. The tickets to see LOI games in the Aviva are creeping up but what isn’t these days. It’s a one off to launch the campaign.

[outspoken]

BAR 1 Betting the first to offer outright betting, Rovers 5/4, a tad short or fair enough? Full prices: https://bettingnews.baroneracing.com/2025/12/2026-league-of-ireland-outright-odds-shamrock-rovers-early-favourites-with-bar-1-betting

[D24Saint]

BAR 1 Betting the first to offer outright betting, Rovers 5/4, a tad short or fair enough? Full prices: https://bettingnews.baroneracing.com/2025/12/2026-league-of-ireland-outright-odds-shamrock-rovers-early-favourites-with-bar-1-betting

Wouldn't touch us at 6/1. I wont speak for anyone else but id have absolutely no title aspirations this season unlike this point last year. Its all about getting back into European football and build from there.

[Dalymountrower]

Well just to explain in more detail as I'm guessing the point being made across all socials today is being missed by you - others have mentioned boycotting the game. Rovers fans saying in hindsight they should have last year based on the prices and other factors.

LOI games should be played on a home and away basis not in a neutral venue.

My understanding is that Rovers got a % of their ticket sales last year for the opener and presumably Pats agreed a similar deal.
Fair play to Rovers for agreeing to that initiative, it was probably useful experience for the cup final .
This could not have been arranged without Pats' consent.As Pats have a 100% win rwcord against Bohs in the Aviva must have been a no brainer for them to agree.
Yes the north stand in the Aviva is crap , but other than the four corners , every seat in the lower stands has an excellent view.
By the way we cant see the whole of the pitch for 24 euro away to Pats, Dundalk, Drogheda, Sligo and Shels
I see Pats are at home to Bohs for the last game of the season , why not do the same if it looks to be a vital game, and Pats can take the lions share of the gate?

[Neish]

Away to our localist rivals first. Happy with that

Plan to make that one all being well, hopefully I'll get to a handful of away games in 2026. Only been to 4 since that start of 2020 season

[legendz]

Three Munster rivals but it's three games against Leinster opposition to start the season. Do UCD have a rival? Is there a club that would consider UCD a rival? (Just asking!)
Treaty away in March and both Rebel opposition over the Easter weekend the jump out fixtures for the first quarter.

[Martinho II]

Three Munster rivals but it's three games against Leinster opposition to start the season. Do UCD have a rival? Is there a club that would consider UCD a rival? (Just asking!)
Treaty away in March and both Rebel opposition over the Easter weekend the jump out fixtures for the first quarter.

think there has to be a rivalry between Bray and UCD I would safely say!

[El-Pietro]

Do UCD have a rival?

Do Kerry?

[legendz]

Do Kerry?
I would say Treaty. Can't speak for them. They weren't holding back in giving Kerry stick during the summer after a certain social media post.

[sbgawa]

think there has to be a rivalry between Bray and UCD I would safely say!

Definitly Bray

[legendz]

Who would be Waterford's main rival? Cobh and Cork have their local rivalry.

[Buckett]

We're too sh1t to have a rival! Some Utd fans would say it's Sligo but it seems a bit fabricated

[culloty82]

Who would be Waterford's main rival? Cobh and Cork have their local rivalry.

In terms of history and stature, Cork must "inherit" the rivalry from Hibs and Celtic in decades past.

[Shearer]

Who would be Waterford's main rival? Cobh and Cork have their local rivalry.
Waterford's main rival are Cork City. Historically it was Limerick, owing to the fact that Cork Hibs and Celtic were big rivals.

[ger121]

think there has to be a rivalry between Bray and UCD I would safely say!

Yeah there is I think. There was a bit of spice in the PO games.

[EatYerGreens]

I would say Treaty. Can't speak for them. They weren't holding back in giving Kerry stick during the summer after a certain social media post.

The manufacturing of 'rivaries' in football is something that annoys me. Kerry don't have a rival. They haven't been around long enough to credibly develop one, and there isn't anpther club close to them to naturally fulfil the role either.

Why must every football club *have* a rival? It just feels so contrived for a number of clubs.

[legendz]

The manufacturing of 'rivaries' in football is something that annoys me. Kerry don't have a rival. They haven't been around long enough to credibly develop one, and there isn't anpther club close to them to naturally fulfil the role either.

Why must every football club *have* a rival? It just feels so contrived for a number of clubs. Rivalries will happen naturally, if they are to happen. Treaty is an emerging rivalry IMHO. The team most want to beat and frustrated if not, like in September.
Treaty Limerick for an urban area would possibly be expected to challenging more strongly for Premier status and have bigger fish to fry. That's their problem to solve. If they are scrambling for playoff places, want to hunt them down!

[nr637]

Is there a Kerry v Treaty rivalry growing now!

[Martinho II]

Considering the short distance between Wexford and Waterford is there any rivalry between those 2 clubs?

[ForzaForth]

Marty, Both teams (Waterford & Wexford) like to win when they play each other at whatever level, including Women and Underage games. But there are so many links between the two clubs with many players and coaches etc. having turned out for both clubs that I never saw any trace of animosity, particularly at fan level.

[culloty82]

Is there a Kerry v Treaty rivalry growing now!

Probably the strongest rivalry for both at the minute - would take a huge improvement in Kerry's performances for either Cobh or Cork to enter the equation, and Cork would see Waterford as their main rivals, rather than Treaty.