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They may have been relegated, but UCD are on course to qualify for the Europa League

The Students are in line to play in Europe next season thanks to Ireland’s position in the UEFA Respect Fair Play League.

Pat Devlin UCD's new management team Pat Devlin (right) and Colin O'Neill. Ed Scannell Ed Scannell

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE side UCD could be handed a spot in next season’s Europa League qualifying via the UEFA Respect Fair Play League.

Current standings in the table, which are based on the fair play conduct of clubs and the national team, sees Ireland ranked first ahead of the second-placed Netherlands and England, currently third.

The Students were relegated to the First Division in 2014 but if Ireland are still among the leading three with a ranking above 8.0 on 30 April, the top-ranking League of Ireland outfit will earn a place Europe.

Although Dundalk and Cork City were the top two in the SSE Airtricity League Fair Play League, they have already qualified for the Champions League and Europa League respectively so the spot would go to Pat Devlin’s men.

Former Irish international Liam Miller is returning to Cork to join his hometown club

He doesn’t miss the football, but Billo misses his old pals Eamon and Johnny

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8 Comments
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    Mute Rob O'H
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    Jan 15th 2015, 4:00 PM

    That’s like giving the stupid kid in the class an A because he’s a nice chap… Ridiculous stuff!

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    Mute John Mc Glynn
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    Jan 15th 2015, 4:20 PM

    No Rob. They are the best run club in the country. They basically act as a feeder team for every other club. They play fair on and off the pitch and deserve recognition for that,- and for being raped and pillaged every year yet regrouping and coming back strong.

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    Mute Rob O'H
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    Jan 15th 2015, 8:37 PM

    What has that got to do with the Respect Fair Play League?! It’s a rating based on red/yellow cards received, respect shown to referees etc. Undermines the standard of a European tournament when teams can get in on those criteria.

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    Mute John Mc Glynn
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    Jan 16th 2015, 1:29 AM

    Well its not exactly the 1st year this incentivised scheme has been used, and its the Europa League. It cant really be undermined, though the competition did gain a tiny bit of credibiIity this year as the winner now qualifies or the Champions League. Bout time UEFA.

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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Jan 15th 2015, 4:13 PM

    The Europa League is ludicrously bloated! No offence to UCD, but no way do they deserve to take part in European competition!

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jan 15th 2015, 11:19 PM

    If they get well beaten in the first round qualifiers you will be proven right and no real harm will be done. They were beaten 1-0 on aggregate when they played in the old cup winners cup in 1984…. Against Everton who eventually won that years competition

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    Mute laurence stokes
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    Jan 15th 2015, 5:04 PM

    They don’t there in the 1st round qualifiers not the main event a big boost money wise

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    Mute David McMillan
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    Jan 17th 2015, 10:47 AM

    It is not “Pat Devlin’s side”

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