League of Ireland in Europe 2015

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Bold call picking the top three in the league as the stand outs

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It was a hard call alright! It'll be interesting to see how their form transfers into the European stage. Derry, Dundalk and Sligo all did well in Q1 last year. Hopefully Cork, Shamrock and Pat's will have similar success in Q1 this year. I would hope their form and a favourable enough draw will see at least 2 make Q3 at least.

It's really harsh on league champions from leagues like ours that if they lose out in Q2, there's no backdoor into the Europa League. Looking at most of the seeded teams there in the CL Q2, hard to see Dundalk getting through.

I don't know how well we'll do. The list of potential opponents look quite daunting to me. Only a handful of teams I'd say are beatable.

When you are not seeded it's very difficult, but not impossible, so keep hoping

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Originally Posted by Dodge

I think the opposite. As there may be big groups and they can't play a team from their own country, they're less likely to be moved as it's just easier. Cork and UCD have to be in different groups to Pats and Rovers so if there were only 3 Northern groups, one of them would be moved. Likely to be more than that though

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Can you remember from last seasons champs league draw at what stage the groupings were revealed?? It says the draw is at 12 CET

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Originally Posted by shep

Can you remember from last seasons champs league draw at what stage the groupings were revealed?? It says the draw is at 12 CET

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We found out the night before.

Yeh I remember seeing the groups on the Sunday night, late enough though.

Couple of dodgy teams in the draw tomorrow I wouldnt want the Norwegian side, Faroes or any team from the North.Hopefully a Baltic side or the Luxembourg side even Wales would do. Id like the balance of a winnable game with the bonus of a decent away trip.

Which clubs have released tickets early? Is it just Cork?

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Originally Posted by D24Saint

Id like the balance of a winnable game with the bonus of a decent away trip.

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That's the dream for all of us!

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Originally Posted by Nugget

Which clubs have released tickets early? Is it just Cork?

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Also wouldn't mind knowing this. Might take a trip up to Dublin to one of the games there.

There would be little point in us pre selling tickets as if the cops decide to move us to the wind tunnel we can't do much about it.I don't see many teams that would create a buzz and sell out in the first round anyway.

Ucd haven't anyway; don't know what ground we'll be playing in yet

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Ucd haven't anyway; don't know what ground we'll be playing in yet

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It's either Richmond or Tallaght. Depends on the draw apparently

No, we're aiming to host in the Bowl. Tallaght for a game like West Ham alright

Dundalk's potential opponents:

Celtic FC (SCO)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
Malmö FF (SWE)
HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Molde FK (NOR)
FC Midtjylland (DEN)

That's tough. HJK maybe the only realistic target there?

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Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

Dundalk's potential opponents:

Celtic FC (SCO)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
Malmö FF (SWE)
HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Molde FK (NOR)
FC Midtjylland (DEN)

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Don't like it. Can we please redraw?

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

That's tough. HJK maybe the only realistic target there?

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I'd give us a chance against Molde FK or FC Midtjylland.

I think Dundalk would give Bate Borisov a game , Danish teams tend to be strong enough at this level in Europe.

Hard to know on BATE - they've qualified for CL group stages don't forget. But I don't know if they've dropped away since then.

Edit - in fact, they were in the groups last year. Got about the worst record ever in the groups, bar a win against Porto. Still, lots of money there. That was their fourth CL group stage in five seasons. To be avoided I think.