Who Will Win the 2026 First Division Play-Off Semi-Finals?
The League of Ireland First Division play-off predictions have an unfamiliar headline act this Saturday: Kerry, once rooted near the foot of the table, are hosting Bray in the club’s first promotion play-off. Across the country, Longford meet UCD in another finely balanced first leg. These two-legged ties mix ambition with first-leg caution.
When Are Kerry vs Bray and Longford vs UCD?
| First leg, Saturday 24 October | Kick-off | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Longford Town vs UCD | 19:30 | Bishopsgate |
| Kerry vs Bray Wanderers | 19:45 | Mounthawk Park |
Both return legs take place on Tuesday 27 October at 19:45: UCD host Longford at the UCD Bowl, while Bray welcome Kerry to the Carlisle Grounds. All four fixtures are available on LOITV. The semi-final winners meet on 1 November; the final winner faces the Premier Division’s ninth-placed club for promotion.
First Division Table: How Close Are the Contenders?
| Team | Position | Points | Goals for-against |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCD | 2nd | 56 | 67-51 |
| Bray | 3rd | 54 | 67-53 |
| Kerry | 4th | 52 | 45-41 |
| Longford | 5th | 52 | 49-46 |
The standings reveal contrasting contests. UCD and Bray produced more goals over 36 games, but Kerry’s tighter defensive figures and Longford’s late surge make straightforward away-win predictions difficult.
Kerry vs Bray Prediction: Can History Keep Rolling?
Kerry’s transformation under Colin Healy is the story of the season’s closing stretch. They earned 36 points in the final 18 league games, losing only twice, and qualified with a 1-1 draw against champions Cork City. Captain Seán McGrath explained the prevailing mood:
“We’re where we expected to be.” – Seán McGrath, Kerry captain
Bray’s 67 league goals demand respect, yet recent results have unsettled their rhythm: a 1-4 defeat to Cobh, a 2-2 draw with Wexford and a 2-0 loss at Finn Harps. Kerry’s home energy gives their first-leg win a genuine case, although Bray remain perfectly capable of scoring.
Longford vs UCD Prediction: Momentum Against Firepower
Longford booked fifth place by beating Athlone 1-0 through James Bailey’s goal. A recent 1-1 draw at UCD shows league position isn’t everything. UCD, though, finished with a 5-2 victory at Wexford and ended the regular season with 67 goals. For a Longford vs UCD prediction, I prefer goals over trying to split the teams. UCD’s attack travels well enough to threaten, while Longford have shown they can compete with the Students. Both teams scoring is the more interesting first-leg angle.
LOI Play-Off Odds and Saturday Betting Picks
There is a difference between backing the better league finish and backing the right first-leg market. These decimal prices from market comparisons may change.
