Dundalk v Waterford .... promotion/relegation playoff

The young lad Maguire up front for the Blues looks a prospect.

First leg in Dundalk; all the momentum with W'Ford after nearly catching Limerick with a late push.

Interesting that Darius Kerins on MNS tonight said that they'd scouted both sides in recent weeks; they were resigned to their fate along way out during the last few weeks of the AL season.

Confidence surely low at Oriel.

A very tough game to call, i think the game may be played to Waterford but i kinda fancy Dundalk, no bet for me or no bet yet anyway.

Waterford have won their last 12 away games in the league, with 8 clean sheets including 2 wins at Limerick. That's some going.

Waterford 2-1 up now.

waterford will go away disappointed that they didnt win against the ten men. Dundalk could not have played much worse tonight but still got the draw having played an hour a man down. Wford had won their last 13 away before tonight

Pity the league really want a strong waterford and dundalk in the premier league.

Waterford United 0 Dundalk 2 Mark Rafter with his 2nd goal of the game

I doubt that game meant anything tonight. The FAI are going to have to scrap the 1st division. As it stands it has 7 teams and two of those are junior clubs from Galway and a youth academy from Wexford. Its time to restore a single division LOI with Waterford, Finn Harps a proper Galway club and one of Athlone or Monagahan to represent the midlands

Delighted with that obviously.The lads played well and deserved it imo though Waterford gave us plenty of scary moments.
It was all about staying up & now with new owners next year i think we can get back up to the top end where we belong imo.

Waterford stand by dramatic play-off appeal

http://www.thescore.ie/

Waterford United are seeking to have their defeat in last week’s play-off overturned on the grounds that Dundalk striker Michael Rafter was ineligible.

WATERFORD UNITED TODAY stood by their dramatic claim that Dundalk goal hero Michael Rafter was ineligible to play in last week’s Airtricity League play-off.

Wednesday’s Irish Sun reports that the Blues are seeking to have their defeat in the promotion/relegation decider overturned on the grounds that Rafter, who scored both goals in the Lilywhites’ 2-0 second leg win, was not properly registered.

But despite confident indications from the paper’s FAI sources that the striker’s transfer will be rubberstamped when the case is heard, Waterford insisted today that they have grounds to lodge an appeal.

If successful, the protest could entitle Waterford to a place in the Premier Division next season.

“WUFC did not make the decision lightly but stands over its merit,” a short statement on the club’s official Twitter account said. “The club will not make any further statement until the process is complete.


To clarify WUFC considered decision to make the protest very carefully! And still believes it has merit.

Dundalk say that Rafter, 20, signed for them on 21 February from St Michael’s AFC, an amateur club in Tipperary town. According to FAI Rule 34 (b), the transfer window for amateur players closes on 31 January.

However, if Rafter’s one-year deal with Dundalk was signed on a professional basis, he would be entitled to finalise the switch at any time in the professional registration period as per the same rule.