It’ll be here before we know it.
The League of Ireland has this morning released the fixture list for the 2016 season, and Dundalk fans hoping to salute their Double-winning heroes will have to wait until round two to welcome them back to Oriel Park.
The champions begin the hunt for a third Premier Division title in a row with a trip to Bray Wanderers on Saturday, March 5 before welcoming newly-promoted Finn Harps to Dundalk the following weekend.
The season begins the night before that with four games on the docket, including a first ever Premier Division tie at Ferrycarrig Park, where the other promoted side, Wexford Youths, face Longford Town.
Cork City begin their campaign at home to Bohemians, St Pat’s take on Galway, while Harps face Derry City in a north-west derby at Finn Park and Shamrock Rovers travel to Sligo.
The midseason break has been scheduled to coincide with Ireland’s Euro 2016 group stage campaign, running from June 6 until June 23, the day after Ireland’s final group game against Italy.
Here’s the full first round of games:
Friday, March 4
Cork City v Bohemians, Turner’s Cross, 7.45pm.
St. Patrick’s Athletic v Galway United, Richmond Park, 7.45pm.
Finn Harps v Derry City, Finn Park, 8pm.
Wexford Youths v Longford Town, Ferrycarrig Park, 8pm.
Saturday, March 5
Bray Wanderers v Dundalk, Carlisle Grounds, 7.30pm.
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
