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The Very Irish Reasons You Should Be Watching The League One Play-Offs

The Very Irish Reasons You Should Be Watching The League One Play-Offs
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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While the remaining League One fixtures will not be played, the play-offs will begin on Friday. Four teams will be hoping to join Coventry City and Rotherham United in the Championship next season: Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford United, Portsmouth, and Fleetwood Town.

Now we understand that you may not be all that excited by the prospect of watching third tier football teams play in empty stadiums, but there are some intriguing storylines for Irish football supporters.

Portsmouth are probably the main attraction. Ronan Curtis has been in absolutely brilliant form for Pompey this season, registering 11 goals and five assists in the league this season.

He was twice named League One Player of the Month during the campaign and is highly likely to be playing in the Championship next season regardless of how Portsmouth fare in the coming days.

Having also been in and around the Ireland squad over the past 18 months, he will want to show Stephen Kenny that he is deserving of a chance in September.

They host Oxford United tomorrow night, who boast Liam Kelly amongst their ranks. English-born Kelly, who is on loan from Feyenoord, committed his international future to Ireland in 2019 having been in limbo over the past couple of years.

However, he has made only three substitute appearances since he joined Oxford in January.

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In the other tie, we could be getting a final look at Glenn Whelan in English football. The veteran midfielder has played a key role since joining the club in January.

Now 36-years old, and having rejected offers from the Middle East to continue his international career last year, he could make the move at the end of the campaign.

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He is joined in the Fleetwood team by Paddy Madden, who has scored a massively impressive 15 goals in League One this season. The one-cap international will be hoping to become a Championship player for the first time since the 13/14 season.

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Here's the play-off schedule in full:

Friday 3 July

Portsmouth v Oxford United – 17:30

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Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers – 19.30

Monday 6 July

Oxford United v Portsmouth – 17:00

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Wycombe Wanderers v Fleetwood Town – 19.30

Final (Wembley Stadium)

Monday 13 July – 19.30

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SEE ALSO: Former United Player Recalls How Roy Keane Called Out Brazilian World Cup Winner

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