Tuesday 24th 7.45pm
Athlone V Waterford
Wexford V Cobh Ramblers
Saturday 28th
Waterford V Athlone-3pm
Cobh Ramblers V Wexford-5pm
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Tuesday 24th 7.45pm
Athlone V Waterford
Wexford V Cobh Ramblers
Saturday 28th
Waterford V Athlone-3pm
Cobh Ramblers V Wexford-5pm
Potential attendances for the Play-Off games.
Athlone would be hoping for well over 1,000+ with Waterford bringing a few hundred away support.
Waterford can expect 2/3,000 in the return on Saturday.
Wexford will hopefully get 7/800 at home, while Cobh have a supporters bus full, so a 100+ will travel at least.
Cobh can get 1,500+ for their home game on Saturday if they get a good first leg result!
Virgin Media will be broadcasting the promotion/relegation playoff final on 10th November.
Great to see!Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Weather might have a lot to say on the attendances, brutal stuff down here!
A grand welcome home for me, pishing down rain! love it.
What's everyone's predictions for these ties?
It would be some upset if any of Cobh/Wexford/Athlone make it through all of these ties to secure promotion
I'll be going with Waterford and Wexford to go through these two-leg ties with Waterford to go over Wexford in the next First Division one-off final. I think despite Waterford's patchy end of season form being full-time with players rested/rotated in final few games will get them to that Cork play-off final.
One off play-off final between (most likely) Cork and Waterford at a neutral venue more difficult to call Cork probably would be marginal favourites but these one-off finals have had upsets in the past 3 seasons with Longford beating Shels and UCD twice winning over Waterford
Athlone slaughtered our defence the last two times, I am not too confident, but it'll be my first LOI game in 3 years.. so I am excited no matter what happens.
A Waterford v Cork final would be preferable of course in Dublin, just... no UCD this time around does me grand, although Cork taught Waterford how to play not too long ago >.>
I'd fancy Waterford and Cobh to make it through,Athlone have been awful for a while now and Cobh seem to be a better side than Wexford from what I've seen this season, of course if a Pierrot or a Oluwa have a big night anything is possible.....Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
Whoever makes it through to the final I'd expect Cork to care off though...
I expect Waterford and Cobh to progress as well - with Waterford winning, and then losing to Cork in the final.
Surely Waterford aren't going to find a way to do it again.
Was an enjoyable enough game in Athlone,Pierrot missed an absolute sitter in the first half but overall Waterford were the better team and should have won really,they’ll be big favourites to win on Saturday.
3pm on a Saturday is a rubbish time for a playoff game though,not a fan of that…..
I'm a big fan of football at 3 on a Saturday!! Although when people are used to Friday football I see your pointQuote:
Originally Posted by joey B
It’s just Playoffs specifically,meant to be played under floodlights for me!
I assume these 2nd leg games are being played on the Saturday afternoon due to the Rugby World Cup final at 8pm
But then that raises another question why were these 2nd leg fixtures not scheduled for the usual Friday night in the first place? The FAI published fixture list from December does confirm these 2nd leg matches were always scheduled for Saturday 28th October and the Rugby World Cup final was always scheduled for the Saturday night, you just know a google search of upcoming major sporting events during the next calendar year may be too much effort for the FAI
Shane Keegan mentioned that since they locked up third place, Cobh have been planning a big day in the club bar on Saturday, to include the rugby. Obviously not quite the same draw now that Ireland have been eliminated
I’d say the RWC Final has nothing to do with these fixtures. Both Waterford and Cobh have enough local following to attract big crowds. Any floating rugby supporters would obviously watch the final, but it’s SA v NZ and the general interest here in the competition ended two weeks ago with our defeat to NZ. The RWC doesn’t hold the audience like the soccer WC as it represents more people in the world too.Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
Just my opinion. ?
Presumably because the first legs were midweek it would give an extra 24 hours rest time to the teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
I would imagine the afternoon kick-off times are to avoid the clash with the rugby as you suggest.
Shame there is only two legs to the first playoff and not the rest of the games as 1st division teams could do with the money, if Cobh get past Wexford the potential of another €20k in gate revenue would help the club greatly. The flip side is the season would never end....
Agreed. Clubs could press for that change though. The playoffs semi-finals could have been last Monday and tonight, Friday. The playoff final next Monday and Friday. The promotion/relegation playoff then on the following Monday and Friday.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartyRambler
Losing semi-finalists with one extra home game, losing finalist with two extra home games and the winning finalist with three extra home games. The First Division clubs aren't pushing for that change though and seem ok with the status quo, for now.
Well the shift to afternoon kick-off time is less than 24 hours rest time now. FAI should have played the 1st legs on Monday and 2nd legs on Friday it's dumb schedulingQuote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
Also El Clasico kicking off at 3.15pm while Waterford/Athlone kicks off at 3pm. I know which game I'm watching it's not the match without international footballing superstars
Maybe next year. Also final in Inchicore is madness, if Athlone, Cobh or Wexford make it through against Cork then you wouldn't expect more than 300 to go and thats a big stretch. Imagine Cobh or Waterford v Cork over two legs, 6-8k between the games.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
1 each at half time on aggregate ....nil all on the day. Waterford v athlone.
What's the story with away goals?
Don't think they've ever applied?
Waterford have been Athlone 3-1, 4-2 on aggregate. They took their second and third goals well. On track for their expected promotion/relegation playoff v Cork.
Job done by Waterford after a little scare from Athlone…
Could see a couple of Athlone’s players picked up by Premier Division teams in the offseason,namely VanGeenan and Pierrot…..
Pierott definitely could be at a PD club next season.
The owners would probably rather he got picked up by a higher-profile league I guess? I don't know are they speculating with players to try make a few quid; seems to be the way the squad is set up.
Hard to make a name for yourself in the LoI First Division, but he's certainly given it a shot.
Van Geenan not good enough for that level, gives up way too many chances just not punished often enough in FD,.Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Seemingly they turned down an offer from a league one club during transfer window as offer was too small.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Although he scores plenty it depends on the style of football the team play. Heard from coaches that he is too heavy / muscular to play a pressing game and is more suited to being the target man type.
Dylan Gavin is a far better prospect when he gets his fitness 100%.
Cobh 1-1 Wexford, agg 2-1. Waterford v Cobh next Saturday in the final.
I presume the final will be in Turners Cross yeah?
Sligo drew 0-0 with Drogheda today, confirming that it will be Cork City to take on Waterford or Cobh.
I watched Cork vs Waterford in FAI cup and it was ALL Cork … Waterford were very underwhelming … I’m expecting Cork to stay upQuote:
Originally Posted by legendz
https://leagueofireland.ie/news/wate...-final/id-5217Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
"Airtricity Men’s First Division Play-Off Final on Saturday, November 4.
A draw took place after today’s Play-Offs and Waterford have been drawn as the designated home team and Cobh Ramblers the away team. Turner’s Cross has been scheduled as the venue for the fixture. However, the venue remains TBC due to projected weather forecasts from Met Eireann over the next seven days. The venue, kick off time and ticket details for the fixture will be confirmed in due course depending on weather developments."
Surely Waterford should have home advantage for the playoff final. I have no problem with the playoffs going down to 5th but there has to be more of an advantage for the higher up you finish
It would be fair and a carrot for finishing higher in the league. If the promotion-relegation playoff is to remain a one off game as well, the First Division team should be given the high profile home game. The Premier Division team only have to play one game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunny Kelly
Whatever about the promotion/relegation match, I do think the higher placed team should have home advantage throughout the first division playoffs. One legged semi finals at the higher placed teams home ground and of the 2 teams who qualify for the final, the team who finished highest in the league gets home advantage. That's objectively based on gaining the advantage through your league position in the same competition/division.Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
That's a fair shout too. First Division clubs have already played each other 4 times over the course of the regular season. 2nd at home to 5th and 3rd at home to 4th in one legged semi-finals seems fair. Rewarding the higher placed finalist with home advantage is also fair.Quote:
Originally Posted by bohsmug
If the semi-finals and final were one leg, the promotion-relegation playoff being two legs then seems fair as those sides haven't played each other in the league.
Blair McNally was at Cobh v Wexford.
https://youtu.be/LP7n_yr7xA0?si=n3IGZQ0QpOCw7Ai5
Game confirmed for Turners Cross at 5pm on Saturday.