Fixtures Speculation Thread

**Ebmania** · 15/02/2007, 8:40 AM

The independent said that Shels are drawn against Rovers first game. Also said there is a series of dublin derbies(Hopefully Pats against Bohs). Waterford will play instead of Shels if they go down. Confirmation on Friday cant wait.

http://www.unison.ie/uselect/?a=faq

**Danny** · 15/02/2007, 8:43 AM

from Unison

Fixture list

Originally, the FAI were due to release the fixture list for the new
domestic campaign tomorrow but cannot do so until Shels' situation is
clarified.

The Irish Independent has learned that the first week of the new
season will feature a series of local derbies with Shamrock Rovers the
intended opponents of Shels.

However, if Shels are demoted then Waterford will take their place in
the top flight which would scupper plans to welcome Wexford Youths to
the league with a Division One clash with their Suirside neighbours.

-------------
that'd probably mean

shels v rovers,
pats v bohs,
bray v ucd,
galway v sligo,
cork v longford,
derry v drogs

**blackholesun** · 15/02/2007, 8:46 AM

well if Shels go down they'll be playing Wexford, the past of the LOI against the future ... newboys against reiging champions, I am sure Dolan would relish the chance to turn them over ...

bhs

**Rory H** · 15/02/2007, 8:49 AM

looking at the fixtures rumoured it would be one hell of an opening weekend!

**dcfcsteve** · 15/02/2007, 9:44 AM

Originally Posted by wild rover

looking at the fixtures rumoured it would be one hell of an opening weekend!

Was thinking that myself WR ! Looks like the FAI have put some thought into it for a change.

Cracking opening weekend if it happens. Derry v Drogs first game !? Feck - can't we have an easere one to begin with, sir.....?

**mypost** · 15/02/2007, 9:44 AM

This whole fixture list "leak", reminds me of the whole Ireland playing in Boston rumour for USA '94. To the media, the whole thing was apparantly rigged before the draw.

So we ended up playing in New York, and Orlando of course instead.

In any event, it leaves us none the wiser as to we will actually play first. We may have to wait a while longer to find out, as even if Shels miracoulously stay up, how will they get a squad in time for ko??

Btw, how are Cork-Longford, Galway-Sligo, and Derry-Drogs, supposed to be local derbies, when there's hundreds of miles between them??

**Poor Student** · 15/02/2007, 9:55 AM

It reminds me of the old derby day in Scotland. You could pair together the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee clubs and then you'd have to scrape together half assed "derbies" with the remaining clubs.

**MyTown** · 15/02/2007, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

Btw, how are Cork-Longford, Galway-Sligo, and Derry-Drogs, supposed to be local derbies, when there's hundreds of miles between them??

Galway to Sligo is 84 miles one way or 135km - hardly hundreds - and if you ever get to a Galway v Sligo soccer match you'll be in no doubt about its status as a derby. Only when there's a huge gap in the respective form of either side does the atmosphere calm down.

**dcfcsteve** · 15/02/2007, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

Btw, how are Cork-Longford, Galway-Sligo, and Derry-Drogs, supposed to be local derbies, when there's hundreds of miles between them??

A bit picky MP. City's neaerest club are Sligo, so we have no premier derby. An opening game against Drogs, however, would be a great start to the league - 2 good sides from last season with a lot of making good to be done. Drogs were our bogey team last year, and if we had played them when we were supposed to earlier in the season we'd probably ahve won the league...!

Galway v Sligo is about as good a derby as those clubs can get.

Agree that Cork v Longford isn't a derby at all, but everyone's gotta play someone....

**BohsPartisan** · 15/02/2007, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

An opening game against Drogs, however, would be a great start to the league - 2 good sides from last season with a lot of making good to be done.

Agreed.
If they are to be the fixtures its a finger licking good start to the season.

**mypost** · 15/02/2007, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by MyTown

Galway to Sligo is 84 miles one way or 135km - hardly hundreds - and if you ever get to a Galway v Sligo soccer match you'll be in no doubt about its status as a derby.

135 kms is about roughly the same distance as Dublin-Kilkenny/Waterford, and they're not derbies. I've seen signposts saying the distance from Galway-Sligo is 170kms+.

Longford would be the nearest team to Galway and Sligo, imo.

Personally, I'm more interested in our run-in, than the first match. Considering we've been away in the last game for the past 3 seasons, I'm praying for the last game at home.

**Terry** · 15/02/2007, 12:08 PM

galway and sligo are the only 2 clubs in senior football from connaught, thats why it would be classed as a derby, and yes you are correct longford is closer to us.

**Patrick Dunne** · 15/02/2007, 12:11 PM

Sligo are a huge club, they don't regard us as rivals.

Surely Longford could be paired off with UCD, or some other Dublin outfit ?

**pete** · 15/02/2007, 12:24 PM

I think need to start the league with a few attractive fixtures so sounds like a good decision. It makes the first tv game a bit more attractive too.

Surely would make more sense to have Bohs v Rovers & Pats v Shels. Also Derry v Sligo. Drogs v Longford, Bray v UCD & Galway v Cork City.

**corbyeire** · 15/02/2007, 2:50 PM

think most of us in galway would like an early bout with rovers - sligo that is, than cork

not saying that a first game against cork would not be a cracking tie in its own right

**R�iteoir** · 15/02/2007, 7:03 PM

tbh - if this is true - then Derry - Drogs to be a perfect game to open up the League's Live TV coverage with

**pete** · 15/02/2007, 7:39 PM

Originally Posted by R�iteoir

tbh - if this is true - then Derry - Drogs to be a perfect game to open up the League's Live TV coverage with

Thats all we need another Drogs 0-0 hoofball contest on live tv.

**harry crumb** · 15/02/2007, 7:47 PM

Drogs and Derry would be a great game to open the league.

Neither team are hoofball.

**holidaysong** · 15/02/2007, 8:29 PM

If Derry play half as bad as they did against us last week then Drogheda will whip them. Fenlon has a lot of work to do before the Setanta Cup starts!

**Aaron** · 15/02/2007, 8:30 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

If Derry play half as bad as they did against us last week then Drogheda will whip them. Fenlon has a lot of work to do before the Setanta Cup starts!

Am a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Moscow is a massive improvement, and we'll be more than ready for the Setanta Cup. BTW Greg O'Halloran is on trial with us at the minute