League format for 2019

[sbgawa]

So how did the 10 team league and playoffs go?
My view is it was a success the 4 games against dundalk cork bohs etc didn't seem too repetitive and the 1st division playoffs have kept things going there.

My request from the fai would be to start 2 weeks earlier and end 2 weeks later and have less mid week matches.
I know that costs more money in wages but some of the money thrown away by midweek matches was nuts.
One of our smallest crowds of the season was the 3nil Monday match against cork.
Spread the league out and cut the longest off season in the world.

[nigel-harps1954]

10 team First Division was a bit of a disaster I think. The gaps in games towards the end of the season, and the three week gap between finishing 2nd and starting the playoff was just a ridiculous situation for a club like Harps to be in.

The clubs voted against a four round First Division, and I wonder if any regretted it now?

For me, cup weekends from Quarter Final onwards shouldn't stop league games being scheduled, especially in the First Division. You'd immediately have two less midweek games if they done that.

If the First Division stayed at 3 rounds next season, then a possible return of the First Division Cup could start off the season.

[sbgawa]

First division should be 4 rounds as well imo. Players are not playing in the first division for the money.
More games as they are trying to develop a careear

[Nesta99]

First division should be 4 rounds as well imo. Players are not playing in the first division for the money.
More games as they are trying to develop a careear

Tell that to a few of the (former)Athlone players!

[redobit]

They'd want to look a the fixture list ... 11 weeks with no home game ffs.

[marinobohs]

Not a fan of the 10 team premier Division and would prefer to have a 12 team division but it boils down to having 12 teams at that level. Prem Division was fairly predictable but, on the plus side, we managed to get through a season without 'losing' a club (bray and limerick did their best though ;)). Please, please, please, get rid of Monday night games :excruciating: difficult enough to get people to come to matches but Monday night is a joke. Monday night or midweek games should be reserved for replays or rescheduled games. only.
I wont comment on 1st Division as I don't know enough about it.

[Mr A]

Blank weekends for the FAI cup make the end of the season very stop start for most clubs. If the first division is going to stick with three rounds it should start later to match up better with premier rather than having that gap to the playoff. Had things panned out that the second place was wrapped up sooner, it would have been crazy altogether.

[Real ale Madrid]

Not a fan of the 10 team premier Division and would prefer to have a 12 team division but it boils down to having 12 teams at that level. Prem Division was fairly predictable but, on the plus side, we managed to get through a season without 'losing' a club (bray and limerick did their best though ;)). Please, please, please, get rid of Monday night games :excruciating: difficult enough to get people to come to matches but Monday night is a joke. Monday night or midweek games should be reserved for replays or rescheduled games. only.
I wont comment on 1st Division as I don't know enough about it.

A few weeks to go yet before we can say that with any certainty. Limerick v Revenue Commissioners in the high court today I believe.

[marinobohs]

A few weeks to go yet before we can say that with any certainty. Limerick v Revenue Commissioners in the high court today I believe.
Deferred for three weeks according to another poster. hurrah, we did it !!!!!!!!!!!!

[brendy_éire]

I was surprised that the games didn't seem repetitive, which was a positive.

Scheduling would be my biggest gripe from this season. A few examples:


We've had 10 midweek league games this season, two of which were away to Cork.
We went three months without an away game (29/06-26/09).
We played seven games in April, seven in May, six in August. Four in most of the rest of them.
We've had two home games since August.
We played two games a week four weeks in a row around May.


Shouldn't be all that difficult to sort really.

[IsMiseSean]

The FD should have four rounds of fixtures like the the PD. The playoff system in the FD is ridiculous too.

Something like 9th PD vs 4th FD & 3rd FD vs 2nd FD - Winners playoff for promotion/avoid relegation.

[SeanDMRooney]

I think the two divisions need to be on the same format and the length and format of the playoffs is an a bit of a shambles

Friday Monday for the First game
Friday - Friday for the Second Game
Friday Monday for the Third game

Feels like its drawn out a week longer than necessary purely due to the different format

[SeanDMRooney]

The FD should have four rounds of fixtures like the the PD. The playoff system in the FD is ridiculous too.

Something like 9th PD vs 4th FD & 3rd FD vs 2nd FD - Winners playoff for promotion/avoid relegation.

I funny enough argue for getting rid of the second chance for the Premier Division side

[sbgawa]

Getting rid of the second chance means 20% of the league going down every year....
I probably agree with you but its a hell of a squeaky trapdoor