20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

[Nesta99]

Well considering there’s no plan for there to be relegation from the Third tier initially at least, it’ll work exactly how it’s working now, just with an additional tier added to the LOI. It’s essentially lowering the basement

and letting the riff raff move in!

[sbgawa]

relegation from the second to the third tier will make the 2nd division more compeititive IMO but i assume the promotion will be dependant on minimum standards of stadium etc
In the current scenerio where Athlone will prob finish bottom it would be a shame to see them go down and a team with crap facilities come up.....there is a lot of talk about miniumum standards for the 3rd division but that could lead to very few clubs being elegible for promotion

[sbgawa]

and letting the riff raff move in!


We are already used to the riff raff moving in , we had Pats over last week and like most unwanted visitors they arrived early and then we couldnt get rid of them :)

[nigel-harps1954]

relegation from the second to the third tier will make the 2nd division more compeititive IMO but i assume the promotion will be dependant on minimum standards of stadium etc
In the current scenerio where Athlone will prob finish bottom it would be a shame to see them go down and a team with crap facilities come up.....there is a lot of talk about miniumum standards for the 3rd division but that could lead to very few clubs being elegible for promotion

The only way things will ever grow and improve is by setting minimum standards and sticking to them. It happens widely in other countries and should also be the norm here.

[Nesta99]

Oriel Park meets all standards.....

[Roones26]

The empire strikes back

https://www.fai.ie/latest/fai-announces-calendar-season-alignment-major-amateur-cup-competitions/

[Nesta99]

Well thats an interesting and useful tactic by the FAI, fair dues.

[nigel-harps1954]

Love to give them a kick every now and again, but its a good move from FAI.

[Roones26]

It's hardly a particular novel insight but I do think this is the kind of downward pressure you can put on the grassroots to get on board with the aligned season certainly at an adult level and certainly if the National League is a success and expanded by another tier or two. FAI is claiming 78 leagues and 1160 clubs outside the LOI your never going to get them alligned and into a pyramid in one sharp shock and even then there's a query of if you'd want to. Setting raising standards and the ambitious will come along

The kids game is where the most benefit is and I think is way harder to solve

[sbgawa]

Great move by the FAI and will force teams to train through the summer if they want to be compeititive in the big cups......next move from there seems obvious.
Could happen that it means the premier division of LSL for instance goes Feb to Nov but the more social divisions stay winter....i suppose from an FAI perspective if they achieved the top divisions on Summer schedule does it really matter if the lower ones arent in step........obviously better if they were but in the imperfect world we live in etc etc

[yurt]

Do we know when this is happening?

The FAI can also confirm that entry for the next round of Men’s and Women’s National Cup Competitions will open at the end of 2025. Online entry forms will be circulated to all affiliated leagues for distribution to their clubs and will also be accessible directly via the FAI Connect platform.

From this quote I understand it that it'll be starting right away from this season. Meaning it'll just be the 2026 FAI Junior Cup (Not the 25/26).

Happy to see this move being made and looking forward to seeing how much more competitive the non-league teams are in the first rounds of the FAI Cup as a result.

[Burnsie]

that's correct on timing

But it won't make teams the non-league teams any more competitive .They'll still be off all summer (in terms of league matches) And in any event I'm not convinced that off-season rustiness is a significant factor in the results we've seen in recent years.

[legendz]

What's likely to happen from here? Is it only leagues on the calendar year season that are going to be linked to a national pathway and the winter season leagues continuing as separate entities?

[Elfman]

For the 20 National League clubs that will emerge, having academy sides should be part of the licencing for the League of Ireland eligibility.

Not necessarily crucial for NL eligibility but certainly for LOI promotion. Creating an amateur third tier allows extra money generated to be spent an upgrades to the club e.g. Fences, stands and running more youth teams nationally.

Might take 3-5 years to build up enough fans & sponsors to deal with the extra costs. And we don't want teams getting promoted before their time. As Nigel and others have said, let's hope for some minimum requirements and then their enforcement. Like dressing rooms & toilets:p

[Elfman]

that's correct on timing

But it won't make teams the non-league teams any more competitive .They'll still be off all summer (in terms of league matches) And in any event I'm not convinced that off-season rustiness is a significant factor in the results we've seen in recent years.
Can anything be done to bridge the gap?

[Elfman]

What's likely to happen from here? Is it only leagues on the calendar year season that are going to be linked to a national pathway and the winter season leagues continuing as separate entities?
I'd agree with you, it's hard to see any other outcome what with the FAI announcement about moving the national cups and non-leagues like the Cork Business League pressing ahead with plans to switch to a summer season.

I do wonder what will happen in that scenario where the biggest clubs in Cork & Dublin (plus Donegal, Galway and Limerick) are on a winter season and potentially not competitive in the cups.

[EatYerGreens]

I'd agree with you, it's hard to see any other outcome what with the FAI announcement about moving the national cups and non-leagues like the Cork Business League pressing ahead with plans to switch to a summer season.

I do wonder what will happen in that scenario where the biggest clubs in Cork & Dublin (plus Donegal, Galway and Limerick) are on a winter season and potentially not competitive in the cups.

I suspect that many, if not most, of the biggest clubs in those areas will have joined the new Third tier to be honest. So it won't be an issue for them.

[nigel-harps1954]

Majority of clubs in Donegal have stopped entering the national cups anyway, so I'd say it'll have negligence difference.

[culloty82]

Will be interesting to see how the KDL sides react - it's only from August onwards that the GAA club season really kicks in, so with the vast majority of rounds between January and then, there shouldn't be much in the way of availability clashes until the last 16/QFs onwards.

[EatYerGreens]

Majority of clubs in Donegal have stopped entering the national cups anyway, so I'd say it'll have negligence difference.

Why is that, Nigel? Cost of travel?

[nigel-harps1954]

Why is that, Nigel? Cost of travel?

They just don't see the point mostly.

[EatYerGreens]

They just don't see the point mostly.

Is that not a sign of depression ?

[nigel-harps1954]

Is that not a sign of depression ?

There's often scheduling conflicts and the Donegal League executive half suggest to clubs not to bother entering the national cups to avoid disruption to the league schedules.

Majority of clubs don't bother entering then, and there's only two or three spaces to go forward to the national stages between all of Donegal and Inishowen Leagues, which are generally taken up by the bigger clubs that are spending a few quid on players, so ultimately, theres little point in smaller clubs even bothering to enter a competition they will not progress in, and will disrupt the league schedule and cause backlog games.

[Roones26]

someone called LOITalk claiming St Pats CYFC and Limerick FC shortlisted

See below re Cockhill Celtic

https://highlandradio.com/2025/08/22/cockhill-in-final-stage-of-application-process-for-league-of-ireland-third-tier/

[sbgawa]

If Limerick pull a Lazarus and got promoted that would be a tasty derby with Treaty. I assume the Treaty supporters will stick with treaty despite the mutterings of discontent that seem to be coming out of there.

[pineapple stu]

If Limerick FC have been short-listed then you'd worry about the prospects for the third division in general to be honest

[outspoken]

If Limerick FC have been short-listed then you'd worry about the prospects for the third division in general to be honest

Agreed

[Shearer]

someone called LOITalk claiming St Pats CYFC and Limerick FC shortlisted

See below re Cockhill Celtic

https://highlandradio.com/2025/08/22/cockhill-in-final-stage-of-application-process-for-league-of-ireland-third-tier/
LOI Talk have all the hallmarks of a Transition Year project. What's worse is that there are League of Ireland clubs who entertain them.

If they told me the sky was blue I'd go out and check.

[legendz]

The link from district leagues to the National League should be the higher priority if it gets off the ground. While those links are being established, clubs with strong LoI potential can be progressing on and off the park.

[Roones26]

There is a complete lack of official information here so basically everything from the content aggregators on Twitter is of zero value. More value in the local press

[Martinho II]

Whos St Pats CYFC as never heard of them?

[pineapple stu]

Didn't they make the LSC final a few years back?

[Martinho II]

Didn't they make the LSC final a few years back?

yeah spot on Pineapple did google on them 2011/12 they were R-Up in LSC. They are out in Ringsend.

[nr637]

10 Clubs That Could Join The FAI's National League,

Mayo FC,
St Francis FC,
Newbridge Town FC,
Klub Kildare,
Salthill Devon,
CK United,
SETU,
Limerick FC,
DCU/Home Farm,
Buncrana Hearts FC,[/h]


https://www.balls.ie/football/10-clubs-national-league-third-tier-637551

[brendy_éire]

10 Clubs That Could Join The FAI's National League,

Mayo FC,
St Francis FC,
Newbridge Town FC,
Klub Kildare,
Salthill Devon,
CK United,
SETU,
Limerick FC,
DCU/Home Farm,
Buncrana Hearts FC,[/h]


https://www.balls.ie/football/10-clubs-national-league-third-tier-637551

Not sure how Buncrana Hearts being included there tallies with the Cockhill talk. Would be madness to have two Buncrana clubs in the new league.

[nr637]

Not sure how Buncrana Hearts being included there tallies with the Cockhill talk. Would be madness to have two Buncrana clubs in the new league.

I reckon there is a strong chance that Shamrock Rovers B and several other Dublin clubs with big membership like St. Kevins Boys, Wayside Celtic or St. Mochtas are in with a good shout.
There will have to be a regional spread so, expect teams from the MSL like College Corinthians and UCC being considered while Tipperary teams like St. Michaels orn Peake Villa will also be in there.
Meath DL are another good bet, while Fairview Rangers of Limerick.

[Nesta99]

If Limerick FC were as determined when they were in senior football as they have been in clinging on they'd have Champion League group stages under their belt. They are like a fecking wart that just wont go away!

[Buckett]

If Limerick pull a Lazarus and got promoted that would be a tasty derby with Treaty. I assume the Treaty supporters will stick with treaty despite the mutterings of discontent that seem to be coming out of there.

I've been wondering this too. Are there many supporters that didn't start following Treaty after Limericks demise? Are there many Treaty fans that would go back?

[culloty82]

I'd have thought if anyone didn't follow Treaty afterwards, they'd have moved onto Fairview, Pike etc, rather than pining for Limerick's return?

[nigel-harps1954]

Not sure how Buncrana Hearts being included there tallies with the Cockhill talk. Would be madness to have two Buncrana clubs in the new league.

Buncrana aren't entering. Balls.ie just pulled a list of names out their arse.

[yurt]

I'm a little bit worried about the state of any third tier at this stage. Hopefully I'm wrong but it feels like that until we get a Canham replacement there isn't going to be too much solid work done on actually getting the foundations in place for 20 clubs to move to the summer season and join a brand new division.

The only info I read about it appears to just be hearsay and rumors that get passed from foot to facebook to reddit and eventually get collated in an aggregated list like from balls.ie above.

I think it's safe to assume at this stage without any actual details on teams and dates that there won't be any third tier until at least 2027 because all these clubs are set to start in their local leagues soon.

[culloty82]

TBF, that's why it would be an "abridged" season in 2026 - they would finish their junior league season in May/June, take a very short break, with the National League then held between September and Christmas.

[EatYerGreens]

Not sure how Buncrana Hearts being included there tallies with the Cockhill talk. Would be madness to have two Buncrana clubs in the new league.

Is this not the first time they've been mentioned by anyone, anywhere in connection with the 3rd tier?

[EatYerGreens]

10 Clubs That Could Join The FAI's National League,

Mayo FC,
St Francis FC,
Newbridge Town FC,
Klub Kildare,
Salthill Devon,
CK United,
SETU,
Limerick FC,
DCU/Home Farm,
Buncrana Hearts FC,[/h]

https://www.balls.ie/football/10-clubs-national-league-third-tier-637551

I appreciate that's basically a speculative list, but most of the names there do little to excite me to be honest. Doubt I'd be in a hurry to take in many games of most of those.

[Buckett]

I'd be happy to see Mayo and Salthill get into it, just to double the amount of Connacht clubs. Is two divisions still the plan?

[Nesta99]

If UCD every dropped to a third levels with SETU and DCU, that'd be intereting enough. Kildare and Newbridge etc. Just to see if rivalry build.

[nr637]

It would be more feasible for areas like Clare to enter a team based on the Kerry FC model. I think Klub Kildare, CK United (Carlow/Kilkenny), Mayo FC & Meath FC are following a coordinated set-up with all the organised leagues in their counties to provide a joint representation. You could possibly have a selection of teams in the Third Tier like the following,

Klub Kildare based in Station Road Stadium, Newbridge,
CK United based in Buckley Park, Kilkenny,
Mayo FC, based in Celtic Park, Castlebar,
Meath FC based in the MDL Grounds, Trim.

[nigel-harps1954]

Mayo FC are based in Milebush Park

[nr637]

Mayo FC are based in Milebush Park

Fair enough, I am not too familiar with the locations, it was just a suggestion. Thanks for the update, looks like a nice facility as well, thanks.

[yurt]

I'm a little bit worried about the state of any third tier at this stage. Hopefully I'm wrong but it feels like that until we get a Canham replacement there isn't going to be too much solid work done on actually getting the foundations in place for 20 clubs to move to the summer season and join a brand new division.

The only info I read about it appears to just be hearsay and rumors that get passed from foot to facebook to reddit and eventually get collated in an aggregated list like from balls.ie above.

I think it's safe to assume at this stage without any actual details on teams and dates that there won't be any third tier until at least 2027 because all these clubs are set to start in their local leagues soon.

https://highlandradio.com/2025/08/22/cockhill-in-final-stage-of-application-process-for-league-of-ireland-third-tier/

Funny that in less than 24 hours that I say that we haven't actually hearing anything concrete in months from anyone who would actually be a reliable source, do we hear from a manager of a club say they believe they've more or less been accepted and are aiming to join the league next summer.

This gives me hope that there's more going on in the background than meets the eye. But the fact we have one proven junior club 'confirmed' at this stage means it's 5% of the way to the 20 required. Which means this is far more likely to go ahead in 2026 than I had believered this time yesterday.