League of Ireland in Europe 2016

One of the things I love about following a League of Ireland club is the travel. I've had brilliant nights in Longford, Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Derry, Belfast, and I've been to almost every corner of the Island following City (still missing Carlow and Cavan). The European trips are an extension of that. Travelling to Belfast to play Linfield was great but I would have loved a more exotic location. I'm excited to go to Gothenburg, and I'd have been possibly more excited to go to Minsk, when are you gonna have an excuse to go to Minsk, or Riga or Tallinn. These trips can be expensive, but they are a lot of fun, and you never know, the team might win and then you get to say you were there on the night... plus the stories and memories last forever, or until alzheimers set in at least.

Best of luck to Pats, hopefully one of our clubs can win the tie, or at least pick up a a win or a draw or two to add to the leagues coefficient.

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Originally Posted by El-Pietro

One of the things I love about following a League of Ireland club is the travel. I've had brilliant nights in Longford, Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Derry, Belfast, and I've been to almost every corner of the Island following City (still missing Carlow and Cavan). The European trips are an extension of that.

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Following your club into Europe is fantastic and is one of the few aspects of Irish football that trumps other sports in Ireland.

Yeah I've had some great European nights with Limerick. Fantastic memories.

I'd love to say I know exactly what you mean...

To be fair, 11 current LOI clubs, plus Fingal have played in Europe since 2005, and you can add Bray who last played in 1999. The LOI is cyclical and most teams get their chance at the top. Looks like Cobh, Wexford and Cabinteely are the only current clubs without European football in their history, and Harps have the longest wait, since 1978, Athlone and Limerick 1982, Waterford 1986 and Galway 1991.

Drogheda are a great example, forgetting the money years, they qualified again for the 2013/14 season after finishing 2nd in 2012. If they can do it anyone can in theory.

I was too young for our euro adventures and I can't even use the Derry is in Europe joke anymore.

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Originally Posted by White Horse

Dundalk organised a charter flight to Minsk last year, a two night stay in a good hotel, transport, and match ticket for €650.

Meals and drink were cheap as chips. I think I only spend €40 when I was there.

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That was a great trip, only a one night though with the return flight straight after the match.
I'd recommend any Pats fans going, even though it's very short notice. Very friendly people and as already said, very cheap.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Yeah I've had some great European nights with Limerick. Fantastic memories.

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We'll never forget.

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Originally Posted by sadloserkid

We'll never forget.

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You could always switch allegiance!

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Originally Posted by outspoken

I was too young for our euro adventures and I can't even use the Derry is in Europe joke anymore.

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It's not over yet....you can use it for about 2 more years.

maybe I missed it in the thread but I dont have time to go back thro it. tell me this who are Cork playing in the next round?

BK Hacken, Swedish side from Gothenburg. Finished 7th last year and won the Cup to get into the Europa League. They have a player called Paulinho who everyone on here seems to be excited about. We're playing in Sweden next Thursday and at home the Thursday after.

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

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****ing Wales. (This applys to Bohs as well)

Wales are a massive force in European football

Hope we bring something to cling on to back from Minsk even a two down would give a bit of hope.

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Originally Posted by El-Pietro

You could always switch allegiance!

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I am semi-regular in Turners X these days given my location but I'll stick with "conceding one a game" Limerick. ;)

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Originally Posted by El-Pietro

To be fair, 11 current LOI clubs, plus Fingal have played in Europe since 2005, and you can add Bray who last played in 1999. The LOI is cyclical and most teams get their chance at the top. Looks like Cobh, Wexford and Cabinteely are the only current clubs without European football in their history, and Harps have the longest wait, since 1978, Athlone and Limerick 1982, Waterford 1986 and Galway 1991.

Drogheda are a great example, forgetting the money years, they qualified again for the 2013/14 season after finishing 2nd in 2012. If they can do it anyone can in theory.

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Good point on Drogs, they did very well that season v Malmo drew at home and were in the game a long time I think away eventually losing 2-0.

We had the list previously on here, loads of LOI clubs that played Euro matches not in their home ground, I wonder what ground has hosted the most 'neutral - home' games, probably Dalymount, I know Dundalk played a few there pre floodlights in oriel park (1967)

It will be a good bit of football trivia one day, Malmo played Drogs in 2012 but not in Drogs ground, and also played another European game IN Drogs in 1995, but not against Drogs!

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

You may consider yourself lucky if you were too young to recall Longford's ventures in Europe ;)

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Bloody Carmarthen, every time I hear that name it depresses me. At least the trip to Liechtenstein was good craic apart from the game.

FH conceded a 90th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to ten man Vikingur Reyjavik in the league today ahead of their CL game against Dundalk. They're still 2 points clear, albeit with a game extra played over Fjolnir in the Icelandic league, still though only one loss in 10 games. Should provide stiff competition against Dundalk.