Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers | FAI Cup R1 | Sun 23 July 2023 ko 17.00

[oldfogey]

Can't believe this fixture is listed for the Sunday between R1 and R2 of Europe. Suits Rovers of course, with their extended squad. They have 2 extra days to prepare and - if we get through in Europe - will have only Monday to recover before we are back on a plane to Iceland/Wales. Rovers, if they progress, are home to Copenhagen and probably already thinking about Europa League opponents.

Obviously hacked off over last Friday.

[seand]

When would you want it played if not Sunday?

[punkha]

Talk on twitter that this will be rescheduled if Rovers beat Breidablik as they'll be travelling to Copenhagen on the Sunday.

[seand]

Well they're at home in the first leg v Copenhagen if they get through, so that seems unlikely!

[niall_hearty2000]

Well they're at home in the first leg v Copenhagen if they get through, so that seems unlikely!

Surely as home team we should get to select what day the match is on. It can't be a policing issue? And if it isn't moved for live tv coverage then why was it selected for Sunday evening?

[oldfogey]

When would you want it played if not Sunday?

I would have preferred to wait until Rovers are out of the CL so it's a level playing field - both playing Thursday. I can't see any way in which O'Donnell will field his first choice eleven in the cup, unless they hammer Magpies in Gibraltar and he can afford to rest players for the home leg. (or we are eliminated). Of course the club may already have been told off the record that, if we progress, the legs will be reversed in R2 - irrespective of whether it's Akureyri or Connahs Quay.

Ironically, if Rovers are eliminated now, it really opens up the competition to any number of clubs - ourselves included. It would also reduce the likelyhood of the winner coming from the top 3 in the league.

[seand]

If we're playing Thursday-Thrusday in Europe then Sunday is ideal. If Rovers are dsitracted by the Champions League so much the better. We can't wait for Rovers to be out of the CL, if they beat Copenhagen they'll be in it until round 2 of the FAI Cup, if they make the group stage it'll be December, which is fairly late to be playing round one I reckon :-)
There's no ideal time when two Euro qualifiers are playing each other, Sunday 23 is just about perfect for Dundalk.

(for the slow of thinking I'm being facetious about South Dublin County Council's most troublesome tenants making the CL groups)