It’s almost that time again.
It feels like only yesterday that Wexford Youths captured the First Division title and secured promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in their history, but here we are, facing another season.
The fixtures have been announced for the 2016 season and the opening weekend sees some crackers, with three games to pick from on Friday, March 4.
Cabinteely host Athlone Town at Stadbrook on Friday night while Drogheda United meet Waterford United at United Park. Cobh Ramblers make the trip to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne with all three games getting underway at 7.45 PM.
On Saturday, Limerick welcome UCD to Markets Field for a 6.30 PM kick off.
The first round of the EA Sports Cup takes place on March 21 and 22, the second round on April 18 and 19, quarter-finals on May 2, semi-finals on August 1 and the final on Saturday, September 17
Teams from both the Premier Division and First Division join the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup in the competition’s second round which takes place on the weekend of May 21. The third round gets underway on the weekend of August 21, the quarter-finals on the weekend of September 11, the semi-finals on the weekend of October 2 and the final on Sunday, November 6.
The first leg of the First Division play-offs is expected to take place on either October 21 or 22 with the second leg the following Friday, October 28. The first leg of the promotion-relegation play-off final takes place on Monday, October 31 with the second leg either on either November 4 or November 9 depending on whether or not one of the teams has qualified for the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final.
Here are the First Division games scheduled for the opening weekend and for the full fixture list, click here.
Friday, March 4
Cabinteely v Athlone Town, Stadbrook, KO 7:45pm
Drogheda United v Waterford United, United Park, KO 7:45pm
Shelbourne v Cobh Ramblers, Tolka Park, KO 7:45pm
Saturday, March 5
Limerick v UCD, Markets Field, KO 6:30pm
