Just on the cup final, and I'll balance it out before any digs (Dundalk absolutely deserved to be relegated), Drogs had easiest ever route to a cup final.
Dundalk - FD bound - and at home
Weakest NL - home again
Athlone -FD- -QF - away
Wexford - FD - Semi - Home again
Couldn't make it up for an easier route, esp in bold.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Good effort but that result ensured nothing bar progression to the next round of the cup! Dundalk FC ensured that you wouldnt come last in the league all on our own.
Never understood people going on about who clubs do and don't play when progressing through a cup competition.
It's an open draw, you can only play what's in front of you. Wexford got similar grief, as did Treaty in 2022 despite the fact it was only the second time since '91 that a side from the City got to the last four.
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Yes which will also relate to the anticipated attendance, the participating teams and location of the teams. Last season's play-off final held in Tallaght between Cork and Waterford only attracted an attendance of 4032 which you would expect was a good bit less than what was anticipated due to Tallaght being selected so you would not expect Drogheda versus any of the current four First Division participants to exceed 4000 attendance making Richmond a sensible choice
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
I reckon we'd have brought a bigger crowd to tallaght than inchicore.
Just like all other teams in FAI Cup finals, majority of supporters on Cup final day will be there for the one off event. Inchicore doesn't really have the feel of an "event", whereby tallaght woukd be much more appealing to some supporters who'll show up for the FAI Cup
DAN CONNOR HATES CITY, HE HATES LANGERS
My heart sank when I saw the play-off was going to be in Inchicore. I'm not even a Rovers fan, but I often go to see them play (and cheer them on) in Europe. Always a pleasure to go to a 'proper' stadium.
Richmond Park, by comparison is like something from the 1950s. Very quaint and all that, and not without a certain charm - but it's in the stone age compared to Tallaght. Havig the game there will definitely have a negative effect on the attendance.
Can definitely see the argument for having the final in Inchicore. Given it'll be either Athlone or Bray against Drogheda, I'm not convinced Richmond Park will come close to a sell out for it.
Tallaght would have been a nicer ground for it, but 3,000 people in a 10,500 capacity stadium would have looked dreadful, as it did for the womens FAI Cup final.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Inchicore will be much better for atmosphere.
I get the charms of Tallaght etc excellent facilities but as an away fan, I don't look forward to it anymore
No atmosphere for 90% of games (not that we will have to worry about it for a while)
Give me Bohs, Pats, Shels away any day of the week.
Maybe I'm old school and like standing on a terrace to watch football. Bohs new stadium plans with terracing is a far better idea than an all seater stadium
From a selfish point of view I prefer terracing, good away section for atmosphere, etc
But since I’ve starting bringing my kids, there are some away grounds I won’t bring the 2 youngest to. The 2 youngest (10 and 8) are girls so the state of toilets are a factor - aswel as being able to get a covered seat. I bring the oldest fella anywhere though.
Tbh inchicore is one I’ve brought the girls to and they had zero complaints.
But if we want the league to grow, we need to make it attractive to families. Even for league of Ireland matches, you feel like you are going to a “big match” outside the ground before a rovers match. It’s definitely more appealing than inchicore for bigger matches
DAN CONNOR HATES CITY, HE HATES LANGERS
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