League of Ireland in Europe 2015, mod note in OP

Paz-CCFC

Five LoI teams will be in Europe this year. Dundalk will be in the Champions League, while Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and UCD will be in the Europa League. We got an extra place from the UEFA Fair Play award, which UCD benefitted from.

Dundalk will enter the 2nd round of the CL. City, Pats, Rovers and UCD will enter the 1st round of the EL. The draw for the first two rounds of both competitions will be on the 22nd.

The opening round of the EL will take place on the 2nd and 9th of July (both Thursdays). The second round, if any LoI team gets there, will be on the 16th and the 23rd.

Dundalk's CL ties will be on the 14th/15th and 21st/22nd of July. The 3rd round for both competitions take place the week after, with the draws being made on the 17th, in between the two legs of the 2nd round.

Shamrock Rovers and St Pats will be the only seeded sides. That gives them an excellent chance to go through. Cork City and UCD will be unseeded. They could face teams like Rosenborg/West Ham or lower seeded teams from Luxembourg/the Faroe Islands. Dundalk could face the likes of Celtic, BATE, Steau Bucharest. The more beatable seeded teams would be Videotan or HJK. A win for them would be massive, as a loss in the 3rd round would put them into the EL play-off. This is the route Rovers took to the EL group stages in 2011.

My pre-draw predictions would be for the two seeded teams to advance and the three non-seeded teams to be knocked out at the first hurdle. City probably have the best chance of the non-seeded teams in Europe and a favourable draw would help us, but there are some particularly strong teams in there, as well. Dundalk do have a very strong squad and would put it up to any of the seeded teams in the EL (except maybe West Ham), but the CL teams are a cut above and there are a lot more of them.

Cork City released ticket info for the first round. €20 for adults, €15 juveniles, €10 schoolchildren/OAPS. If bought before the draw on the 22nd, they're €15, €10 and €5. (same as league matches). On sale to club members first for the next few days and then on general sale after that.

Mod Note: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96355801&postcount=729

ionadnapokot

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

My pre-draw predictions would be for the two seeded teams to advance and the three non-seeded teams to be knocked out at the first hurdle. City probably have the best chance of the non-seeded teams in Europe and a favourable draw would help us, but there are some particularly strong teams in there, as well. Dundalk do have a very strong squad and would put it up to any of the seeded teams in the EL (except maybe West Ham), but the CL teams are a cut above and there are a lot more of them.

I'd go along with your predictions. Cant see Dundalk getting past any of the teams that they could draw.

dan1895

That Champions League draw looks ridiculously difficult. What happened to playing the likes of KR Reykjavik and Glentoran in the first round? Makes such a difference being seeded.

Paz-CCFC

dan1895 wrote: »

That Champions League draw looks ridiculously difficult. What happened to playing the likes of KR Reykjavik and Glentoran in the first round? Makes such a difference being seeded.

The other thing is that they're giving more automatic group stage places to the likes of Germany, Spain, England etc., so it closes off places in the qualifiers and makes it a lot more competitive. Before, they had 16 places for teams in the qualifiers, now it's only 10. When City were in it in 2006-07, the first round (which is the equivalent of the 2nd round now) had seeded teams from Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia etc. The likes of Serbia, Romania, Croatia etc. didn't enter until the second round. So, they've basically pushed the tougher teams back a round.

The thing is, though, that teams in the 3rd round now get a guaranteed an EL play-off place, whereas you had to get to the old equivalent of the CL play-offs to get that (CL 3rd round, if you were knocked out, you got a UEFA Cup First Round Proper place, which was the round before the groups). And if you get to the CL play-off, you're guaranteed an EL group place. If Shels had gone in their 2004 run in the current format, they'd have gotten into the EL group stages after losing to Deportivo. You also don't really get much higher quality teams in the 3rd round as the 2nd. Only three teams enter in the 3rd round and none in the play-off, so a top seed from the 2nd is essentially a top seed in the play-off. You don't get joined by the likes of Deportivo, Arsenal, Lazio etc. It means that if (a big if for an unseeded side) you're good enough to beat a top seed in the 2nd round, you won't be far off group stage material. You'll also take that seeding for the 3rd round and face a much easier tie. Shakter Karagandy did that two years ago. Beat BATE in the 2nd round, drew an unseeded Albanian team in the 3rd and qualified for the EL group stages after losing to Celtic in the play-off.

Paz-CCFC

Draws will take place a week from today. Champions League first and second rounds up in the morning, then Europa League first and second rounds in the afternoon, I think.

City selling a steady stream of tickets, I think. Pushing it on social media, with draws for free tickets etc. on offer. Hopefully we can sell a good few before the draw.

How are other clubs doing? I'd imagine Dundalk are doing very well, given the competition they're in and the lower capacity creating a bit of demand (you'd hope).

Mushy

I know at the Cork shop on Friday they didn't have enough tickets printed, my mate went to buy one and ended up having to go back at half time.

dundalkfc10

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

Draws will take place a week from today. Champions League first and second rounds up in the morning, then Europa League first and second rounds in the afternoon, I think.

City selling a steady stream of tickets, I think. Pushing it on social media, with draws for free tickets etc. on offer. Hopefully we can sell a good few before the draw.

How are other clubs doing? I'd imagine Dundalk are doing very well, given the competition they're in and the lower capacity creating a bit of demand (you'd hope).

We are not selling tickets yet

Paz-CCFC

Mushy wrote: »

I know at the Cork shop on Friday they didn't have enough tickets printed, my mate went to buy one and ended up having to go back at half time.

Brilliant, very good to hear. If we can keep that up, we'll be flying.

dundalkfc10 wrote: »

We are not selling tickets yet

That's surprising. Two years ago, Sligo sold out the vast majority (possibly all) of their tickets ever before the draw was made. Gets the money in earlier, gives a chance for the regulars to buy in advance of a possible rush following a big draw and if it sells out earlier, it allows the club's marketing team to focus on advertising the domestic matches.

anncoates

dan1895 wrote: »

That Champions League draw looks ridiculously difficult. What happened to playing the likes of KR Reykjavik and Glentoran in the first round? Makes such a difference being seeded.

Both (unseeded) in the first qualifying round of the Europa this year and presume are in our region so presumably could meet us or Pats.

Hammer Archer

UCD are streaming the draw live in the Clubhouse bar on Monday afternoon. Can't wait for it.

CSF

Hammer Archer wrote: »

UCD are streaming the draw live in the Clubhouse bar on Monday afternoon. Can't wait for it.

They say drinking alone is the first sign of alcoholism.

dreamers75

Pots should be out tonight, Pats Rovers will be grouped with 5 of these. Assuming it follows previous draws and we regionalised with northern teams.





Kalev Sillamäe ( Est )
Flora Tallinn ( Est )
Kalju Nõmme ( Est )
Víkingur ( Far )
NSÍ Runavík ( Far )
SJK ( Fin )
FC Lahti ( Fin )
VPS ( Fin )
Vikingur Reykjavík ( Isl )
Skonto ( Lat )
Jelgava ( Lat )
Liepajas Metalurgs ( Lat )
Kruoja ( Lit )
Atlantas ( Lit )
Trakai ( Lit )
Progrès Niedercorn ( Lux )
Glenavon ( Nir )
Glentoran ( Nir )
Odds BK ( Nor )
Bala Town ( Wal )
Airbus UK ( Wal )
Newtown ( Wal )

AgileMyth

Shams will get a nordy team while Pats will probably end up in the faroes. Both will go through though.

kksaints

Dont want to get the Norwegian or Iceland team and possibly Skonto Riga.

dreamers75

Dundalks possibles, dont see any winnable game there.

dreamers75

.AC Juvenes/Dogana (SMR)
MTK Budapest (HUN)
FC Lahti (FIN)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
Skonto FC (LVA)

**** off UEFA *****...

doncarlos

dreamers75 wrote: »

**** off UEFA *****...

Tough enough group of non seeds.

doncarlos

dreamers75 wrote: »

Dundalks possibles, dont see any winnable game there.

Celtic are the only team in group on a winter season too. Tough enough draw. Slight chance against Molde and Helsinki but we need to be at our very best and hope they are not.

Hammer Archer

UCD's potential opponents:

Neftçi PFK (Azerbaijan)
NK Domžale (Slovenia)
Strømsgodset IF (Norway)
F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg)
MŠK Žilina (Slovakia)

citytillidie

St Pats possible ties

AC Juvenes/Dogana (SMR)
MTK Budapest (HUN)
FC Lahti (FIN)
NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
Skonto FC (LVA)

Shamrock Rovers
Nõmme Kalju FC (EST)
FC Dinamo Batumi (GEO)
FC Shirak (ARM)
FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)
FK Kruoja Pakruojis (LTU)

Cork
AIK Solna (SWE)
Go Ahead Eagles (NED)
İnter Bakı PİK (AZE)
KR Reykjavík (ISL)
HB Tórshavn (FRO)

UCD
Neftçi PFK (AZE)
NK Domžale (SVN)
Strømsgodset IF (NOR)
F91 Dudelange (LUX)
MŠK Žilina (SVK)

anncoates

Armenia and Gerogia, FFS.

Godot.

Hammer Archer wrote: »

UCD's potential opponents:

Neftçi PFK (Azerbaijan)
NK Domžale (Slovenia)
Strømsgodset IF (Norway)
F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg)
MŠK Žilina (Slovakia)

UCD are so rubbish they wouldn't even score against the Luxembourg mob, never mind beat them

Lovely Bloke

If Foras get GAE this forum will explode.

NIMAN

I thought these were regionalised?
Some (potential) extra long trips there. And expensive too.

dreamers75

skyscanner having a meltdown now

dreamers75

Next week away is a non runner for any of those teams flights are too much, week after is doable tho.

Have to hope for FAR or SMR and hope for the win and look at next round.

anncoates

dreamers75 wrote: »

skyscanner having a meltdown now

Some fcuking terrifying stuff there :pac:

Hammer Archer

Godot. wrote: »

UCD are so rubbish they wouldn't even score against the Luxembourg mob, never mind beat them

dreamers75

anncoates wrote: »

Some fcuking terrifying stuff there :pac:

Wonder if that ferry to FAR is still going

Want to avoid Budapest for footballing reasons but its one of the cheaper options for the following week.

SMR and FAR not far off 600 flights for next week

anncoates

dreamers75 wrote: »

Wonder if that ferry to FAR is still going :

Don't think there's one from Scotland now?

Flights for Armenia and Gerogia are pushing 800 quid.

I suppose at least a better footballing but more expensive first round draw means you might get another crack at a good trip in second round.

Omackeral

Hammer Archer wrote: »

UCD's potential opponents:

Neftçi PFK (Azerbaijan)
NK Domžale (Slovenia)
Strømsgodset IF (Norway)
F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg)
MŠK Žilina (Slovakia)

Household names, each and every one of them.

Pighead

Up against it for sure no matter who we draw but we've definitely got a chance with a couple of the Scandinavian teams. I'd say signing a striker is top of Kenny's to do list before these games takes place.

It's all very exciting isn't it?

dfx-

Niederkorn finished fifth in Luxembourg and qualified, that might be ok

Pighead

Live stream here:
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/draws/index.html

Pighead

For Fcuk sake. The one team I didn't want. Bate Borisov. Nasty. And away first as well. At least if we were home first we could have whipped the town up into a Champions League frenzy.

GLaDOS

Woeful draw

dreamers75

Thats possibly the worst draw for Dundalk, in season and flying.

SantryRed

BATE haven't conceded a goal yet in the domestic league and they've play 10 games. Terrible draw for Dundalk, but an away goal and anything is possible!

Pighead

dreamers75 wrote: »

Thats possibly the worst draw for Dundalk, in season and flying.

Yeah, nightmare really. To be honest we were up against it no matter who we drew but you'd have to say we have absolutely zero chance of progressing now. 3000 km journey. I'm guessing the club will charter a flight. According to a local journalist Derry did this last year and it cost £395 a head for the trip.

NIMAN

Very tough draw, but lets hope Dundalk can do us proud.

DaveyCakes

Very tough draw, but well worth the trip for any Dundalk fans considering it.

dfx-

Pighead wrote: »

For Fcuk sake. The one team I didn't want. Bate Borisov. Nasty. And away first as well. At least if we were home first we could have whipped the town up into a Champions League frenzy.

maybe they'll be open to switching legs, Copenhagen wanted to. Presuming with their history against Bohs that they will not be complacent though.

ionadnapokot

9 league titles in a row! Just had a look at Bate squad surprisingly few (3) foreigners. And they beat Bilbao last year in Group stages

gimmick

CCFC at home to Reykevic first leg

Hammer Archer

Godot. wrote: »

UCD are so rubbish they wouldn't even score against the Luxembourg mob, never mind beat them

Well sure we're going to see, aren't we?

ionadnapokot

Patricks v Skonto

Tomagotchye

Not sure how good the standard is in Iceland or Lux but those ties look very doable. Must check my schedule for the Cork home tie, I'd give that a watch.

ionadnapokot

Sounds like Skonto are in as much financial turmoil as the LOI..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skonto_FC

Lovely Bloke

full draw for the Irish teams?

dreamers75

Riga is doable found an option for 170 just waiting for confirmation now.

Hammer Archer

Tomagotchye wrote: »

Not sure how good the standard is in Iceland or Lux but those ties look very doable. Must check my schedule for the Cork home tie, I'd give that a watch.

Dudelange were in the Champions League in 2012 and beat Red Bull Salzburg to make the third qualifying round. They're no slouches.