Tuesday, February 13, 2018

The SSE Airtricity League of Ireland entering its 34th campaign



With the SSE League of Ireland opening on Friday February 16, with the headliner match in the colossus of Dublin Aviva Stadium with two of its major squads from Eire’s capital. The Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians FC will headline this campaign opener with their traditional and contested Dublin Derby.

As ten squads start, a new campaign composed of 36 matches and 2 major Cup competitions in the Daily Mail FAI Cup Sunday November 4 at Aviva Stadium and the EA Sports Cup on Saturday September 15.

Three teams of the Aitricity League will take part in the knockout stages of the UEFA’S Champions League with last edition SSE champions Cork City and in the Europa League Dundalk FC and Shamrock Rovers. 

As these three squads looking forward to once again bring some glory as the way the Lilywhites of De Town did it in 2016 in the Europa League, a participation of a couple of squads in these competitions once again will put this association players in the radar.

After UEFA changing the format of Champions League favoring big leagues, rishi clubs will have to face off four rounds instead of three and compensation for smaller leagues in any side eliminated from Champions League goes straight into Europa League next rounds.

Irish sides in the past Champions League competitions had to win a tie to guarantee the safety net the Europa League, still for these three SSE Titans its business as usual and the way these reinforce to make front of a contested European pack.

With the championship starting another campaign and for sure will deliver us another fun and disputed campaign from all of its ten members, I do see a certain success from newcomer and recently promoted Waterford FC.

With last edition, champion Cork City netting a treble, by winning the Daily Mail FAI Cup and League of Ireland shields along the Munster Cup in 2017, so far in this 2018 winning the Presidents Cup, over Dundalk. By showing off this squad mettle and heading to be the all-around favorite to win the league shield.

Still don t count out the Lilywhites of Dundalk looking forward after losing several of their top rated players, these have armed themselves towards another run for the shield and for their manager Stephen Kenny looking to return to primetime. 

If the league ended today maybe a finish in first with Cork City, followed in second by Dundalk, third place Shamrock Rovers, fourth between Derry City and Limerick battling it out, preceded by Saint Patrick’s, Bohemians, Waterford, Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers battling in the bottom.

Come Friday febraury 16 with the Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians Derby the League of Ireland opens its championship followed by Dundalk hosting the Bray Wanderers, Saint Patricks to play at home against the league champions Cork City and Waterford against Derry City.

With Saturday, only game scheduled the Sligo Rovers are to host Limerick FC. 

 

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