There is the small matter of the FAI Cup final. Just shooting the breeze. FAI Cup final ending a season. European playoff starting a season.Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Some will point to budgeting for the season ahead against it or the league fixtures played early for those in Europe. Valid points as well.
This has been pointed out multiple times on this forum, potentially to you, though I can’t remember for sure. Clubs will never ever ever agree to a European playoff at the start of the season for budgeting reasons, as you’re aware of, so it’s not really a point worth even discussing further
Paaatrick's Agletic
Firstly, maybe I should have written the following "Some will point to budgeting for the season ahead against it " in block capitals...
SOME WILL POINT TO BUDGETING FOR THE SEASON AHEAD AGAINST IT...
Secondly - Pat's didn't care about budgeting reasons when they took Waterford's European spot in April 2019.
Thirdly - if any club, outside of Kerry who were unable to apply due to the 3 year rule, had applied for a European spot last year - I don't think that club would have cared about budgeting reasons if they were next in line to take Drogheda's European spot.
With the National League coming soon, I think it would be a good way of them to have more contact with Premier Division clubs
It would be the start of a new season, where European places are decided off the previous season. Different squads competing for a place the previous squad won is a non-starter for me.
It's a bizarrely daft suggestion. An end-of-season play-off for the last Conference League spot - yeah, whatever. Happens in the North and Wales among other clubs. But before the following season? It makes literally no sense. If nothing else, clubs wouldn't know what to plan for in pre-season in terms of squad strengthening for Europe. It'd do more damage for the league than anything.
I'm sure Pat's would much rather have known in 2019 pre-season that they were going to be in Europe - they could have put a stronger squad together and avoided losing home and away in the first round.
MSC and LSC will provide some opportunity. Connacht and Ulster might consider something similar with more teams to enter.
Absolutely no way.............................would mean we would have to return the trophy last won in 2019, and one pen kick away from a first ever treble too that season.
Would have been only the 4th club to have achieved that.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
Firstly, maybe I should have written the following “as you’re aware of” in block capitals…AS YOU’RE AWARE OF…Secondly, as Stu says, if Pats had earlier confirmation of their European place in 2019 they might’ve been able to better equip the playing squad to help them not get knocked out of Europe at the first hurdle which they did that season
Paaatrick's Agletic
There are some fair counter points on European playoff. Not looking to labour the point. Just shooting the breeze.
Waterford and Bray was a shoot out for Premier football. Very few of those knock out games where both teams have to win without safety nets or insurance prizes from elsewhere.
Maybe instead of a playoff for the last Euro spot, give it to the winners of the new League Cup
I think playoffs proposed here are gimmicky that would accomplish little long term
Interesting to note in Belgium they are scraping their very unique play off system next season and expanding to an 18 team league with a traditional home/away set up. I don't think there's any need for play offs in the premier division
The Belgian playoff of splitting the table in 3 and halving points was unique alright. First Division playoffs are more straightforward thankfully. First Division clubs seem content to carry on with the current format.
While it's probably not right having half the league in a play off, the first division clubs would die a slow painful death without having that carrot at the end of the season
I don't know if they'd die a death without the playoffs - that seems a bit melodramatic - but the crowds those games attract show the potential benefit of a European playoff too
4th and 5th are overly rewarded in my humble opinion. After everyone has played each other 4 times - I'd be more in favour of 2nd and 3rd having home advantage in one off semi finals. The higher placed finalist then with home advantage in a one off final.
The promotion/relegation playoff e.g. Waterford v Bray seems more appropriate for two legs when clashing for the first time all season. Up to the clubs anyway. The FAI were pushing for breaks during international windows - First Division clubs pushed back. The clubs will decide and they seem happy enough with the way things are.
Last edited by legendz; 18/03/2026 at 1:57 PM.
Not sure if many clubs would want it, early/mid week games which for most clubs outside of Dublin and possibly Galway and Cork offer same match day cost with about 30-40% less gate receipts until it gets to quarter final stage
But maybe could something could be worked between 1st division and the new 3rd tier to give a shot at some silverware
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Seems very unlikely the League Cup will come back. If it was to surprisingly come back, at least 3 rounds would probably have to played during pre-season. Possibly with 4 regional pools of 5 teams to reduce travel before the last 4. 3 pre-season rounds would mean trying to fit in semi finals and final during the regular season. Any drive for any return will have to come from the clubs. Haven't heard or seen anything to indicate any interest.
I think it should return and have the final in the Aviva. Have a double header with the women's All-Ireland cup final, around early October.
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