FAI confirm fixture changes to facilitate clubs in Europe

With four League of Ireland clubs in the midst of tackling their European campaigns, the FAI have moved a number of fixtures to assist those teams in Europe – with further changes noted should any team progress through to the next round.

The clash of Cork City and Derry City scheduled for Friday July 20 has been moved to Monday July 23. Kick off will be 7.45pm at Turner’s Cross but if either City side progresses to the Second Qualifying Round of their respective European competition, then the fixture will be postponed to a future yet unconfirmed date.

Both sides trail after the first leg. Champions Cork City lost 1-0 to Legia Warsaw at Turner’s Cross in their Champions League First Qualifying Round First leg match. The Candystripes will take a 2-0 deficit to Belarus for their Europa League First Qualifying Round second leg against Dinamo Minsk.

Shamrock Rovers were due to take on Waterford this coming Friday but that match has been provisionally moved to Sunday as the Hoops will be travelling back from Sweden that day after taking on AIK the previous evening.

The Stockholm side have a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Tallaght last Thursday evening. If Rovers are eliminated from Europe by AIK, Stephen Bradley’s men will play Waterford at the RSC on Sunday 22 July with a 3pm kick off.

However if the Hoops overcome that 1-0 first leg deficit and progress to the Europa League Second Qualifying Round, then that match with Waterford will be moved out again to a later date.

Meanwhile Dundalk’s involvement in the Europa League qualifiers means that their away fixture against Sligo originally set for Saturday July 21 has been pushed out one day with a Sunday evening 7pm kick off at the Showgrounds.  

Once again though, in the event of the League of Ireland side progressing to the second qualifying round then the SSE Airtricity League fixture will be postponed until a later date. This could well be the case as Dundalk are carrying a 1-0 first leg lead from their away tie with Levadia Tallinn.

 

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile