LoI Academies

[Buckett]

Not sure on the exact details but clubs, Mayo FA and Mayo FC seem to be in an argument. The use of Milebush and players leaving clubs to play for Mayo seems to be bones of contention

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/11/28/tensions-flare-within-mayo-soccer-over-perceived-power-shift-to-mayo-fc/

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2026/01/10/mayo-fc-barred-from-milebush-as-talks-with-league-collapse/

https://www.westernpeople.ie/sport/ugly-saga-has-put-greater-pressure-on-mayo-fc-to-succeed_arid-84357.html

[EalingGreen]

https://x.com/i/status/2041094801081208961

Plans for a new League of Ireland team in Meath are to be revealed this week.

No idea/opinion about how this might work out, but surely to goodness they could have shown more imagination with the name than "Meath FC"? Hardly going to inspire chants or songs, is it: "Meath, Meath, Meath, Meath, er... Meath".

Maybe "Meath County FC", what with the "County" suffix already having a hold in the game elsewhere. Or if that might antagonise GAA folk, "Meath Royals FC"? "Meath Ravens FC" even?

(Same with Kerry FC or Mayo FC, for that matter, but at least they've each got two syllables to rub together.)

[legendz]

Kerry aren't exactly proving that that's the right way to do it and there's a civil war in Mayo

Kerry have taken the approach for Kerry. It doesn't need the validation of outperforming an impressive Longford Town who have finished the last two seasons impressively or the validation of having to finish in the playoffs.

[Kiki Balboa]

Kerry have taken the approach for Kerry. It doesn't need the validation of outperforming an impressive Longford Town who have finished the last two seasons impressively or the validation of having to finish in the playoffs.

Whats the view about Killarney being in the 3rd Tier?

Has anything changed?

[pineapple stu]

Kerry have taken the approach for Kerry. It doesn't need the validation of outperforming an impressive Longford Town who have finished the last two seasons impressively or the validation of having to finish in the playoffs.

I'm trying to read this wondering what on earth it actually means. If indeed it actually means anything.

[Nesta99]

Ill have a go, as people know I love the county model and the attempts to appease all in a country where social cohesion is built on parochialism.

So its possibly a barbed comment, passive aggressive in nature, sprinkled with sugar in that Longford are no great example but havent been too bad in terms of form during the 2025 run in. That Kerry are doing things their own unique way and don't need the validation of other especially by comparison to the previously mentioned Longford by doing batter than them with their recently impressive 2025 form. Nor is the benchmark for success or validation to finish in the playoffs.

So in response, you cant argue against the general point that a club may not have the same targets by which most set. The Wexford example is that it was about youth development, sustainability, and anything else, like senior success on the pitch is a bonus. I havent gotten the impression that this is similar to Kerry's remit and that they want to develop as a senior club and to be competitive. Slowly but surely is fine with year on year improvement. Things have gone backwards in football terms so its seem the ambition of the club has been subtly changed in Legendz assessment of things.

The issues with Mayo are more typical of the issues faced by this this sort of model in Ireland. The bigger picture is less important than individual egos and the quick fix of success. More localised clubs are, of course, not immune to the similar characters wrecking things, but the less broadly a club tries to be the less the risk is. It would be better if Castlebar built a club that others in the county would follow if successful. Fuinn Harps is a good example (bar the successful bit) where the county generally follows Harps even if not from Ballybofey. Plenty could cite Derry or Sligo as their club, possibly closer to them geographically but its not a given that people from Inishowen flock to support Derry over Harps.

There was a time that Dundalk Schoolboy League wouldnt cooperate with Dundalk FC, they have their own representative side. There were many excuses and spurious stories on the reasons why, but ultimately it boiled down to not wanting to lose the better players to a LoI club. I still dont get why tbh, the purpose of SBL is firstly participation and recreation and then player development to hopefully to then move to higher levels - as long as that higher level is not locally based cause of disagreement 100 years ago. Kids were going to Shels eg rather than Dundalk simply because of the clash between a couple of people in 1952. So it happens, it will always happen eventually, but it is the identifying with your local club that generally, eventually, saves the day. I dont think people in Ballina will stick their necks out for a Mayo club based in Castlebar when things get tough, same with Navan and Trim for example, it has yet to be tested in Tralee/Killarney. Can you imagine a Louth FC if the county hadnt a football heritage, and all of this is before you throw in the like of GAA mischief ala Thomas Davis.

[legendz]

Whats the view about Killarney being in the 3rd Tier?

Has anything changed?

If the plan at the end of the day will see Kerry District League and other district leagues linked all the way to the National League, there will be other clubs moving up and down the pyramid structure.

The Kerry sporting landscape is familiar with a club representing a region and familiar with a club or clubs within that region going off on their own. Any emerging talent from Killarney will be picked up by the Kerry youth structures. Time will tell how relations will be between the two clubs. A spikey Munster Senior Cup clash could create tension. I mentioned before that Kerry will have to be something of an understanding parent if a child is throwing a tantrum.

[EalingGreen]

The Kerry sporting landscape is familiar with a club representing a region and familiar with a club or clubs within that region going off on their own. Any emerging talent from Killarney will be picked up by the Kerry youth structures. Time will tell how relations will be between the two clubs. A spikey Munster Senior Cup clash could create tension. I mentioned before that Kerry will have to be something of an understanding parent if a child is throwing a tantrum.

Such a paternalistic approach as you envisage may be very suited to GAA, since it has always been county-based.

But surely logic, history, experience and the facts on the ground mitigate against this for Football? That is, just as eg Drogs vs Dundalk does far more for football in that part of the country than a single "Louth FC", then wouldn't eg Killarney FC vs Tralee Dynamos FC do far more for the game in Kerry, seeing as local (town) rivalries are the very lifeblood of Football, rather than contrived county rivalries?

Of course you're landed with Kerry FC now, so that can't be dismantled. However, its existence should never be a barrier eg to a team from Tralee also aiming for Senior status some day alongside them, rather than just being seen as a part of some vague feeder/youth system. Ditto Navan vs Ashbourne (Trim even?) in Co.Meath.

And if any of those places cannot/will not support a Senior club some day, then go to other places which may do so, regardless of whether they're next door to an existing club, or in the same county as one, or miles away from the nearest one.

[legendz]

So its possibly a barbed comment, passive aggressive in nature, sprinkled with sugar in that Longford are no great example but havent been too bad in terms of form during the 2025 run in. That Kerry are doing things their own unique way and don't need the validation of other especially by comparison to the previously mentioned Longford by doing batter than them with their recently impressive 2025 form. Nor is the benchmark for success or validation to finish in the playoffs.

So in response, you cant argue against the general point that a club may not have the same targets by which most set. The Wexford example is that it was about youth development, sustainability, and anything else, like senior success on the pitch is a bonus. I havent gotten the impression that this is similar to Kerry's remit and that they want to develop as a senior club and to be competitive. Slowly but surely is fine with year on year improvement. Things have gone backwards in football terms so its seem the ambition of the club has been subtly changed in Legendz assessment of things.

I didn't feel the comment I was responding to was deserving of much more of a response tbh.
Kerry had a disappointing finish to 2024 but hat's off to Longford who surged ahead. While Harps finished above Kerry last year, it was the late surge by Longford again as Kerry faltered that stood out.
I wouldn't see either poor finishes to the last two seasons or the current struggles to get results on the field as something that invalidates what Kerry are doing clubwise in what they represent.
I was surprised from the journey to Tallaght Stadium last year that the high flying Shamrock Rovers had a respect and understanding for Kerry's journey. I suppose game respects game. Some get it and some don't.

[Kiki Balboa]

Looking forward to seeing how Kerry FC evolves in LOI. I think Killarney joining will only be a good thing.

Different topic, does anybody have any explanation why we have a lack of Irish born goalkeepers in the Premier Division?

[Nesta99]

I didn't feel the comment I was responding to was deserving of much more of a response tbh.
Kerry had a disappointing finish to 2024 but hat's off to Longford who surged ahead. While Harps finished above Kerry last year, it was the late surge by Longford again as Kerry faltered that stood out.
I wouldn't see either poor finishes to the last two seasons or the current struggles to get results on the field as something that invalidates what Kerry are doing clubwise in what they represent.
I was surprised from the journey to Tallaght Stadium last year that the high flying Shamrock Rovers had a respect and understanding for Kerry's journey. I suppose game respects game. Some get it and some don't.

This almost sounds like the genesis of a footballing rivalry almost. Which is generally the basis of how I feel on the county system - who wants a MLS like polite rivalry?! It needs to be tribal for the bug to bite, (respectful ish) hostility, no catch all diluted identity. Kerry County Council meetings should have councillors from Tralee and Killarney sniping weekly about the others sh1thole football ground between the minor stuff of running the county. If the time ever comes where Mayo FC beat Kerry FC in a winner takes all League of Ireland title game half of Mayo folk will think they've broken the '51 hoodoo and the other half will be in Croke Park wondering what time throw in is.

Now if Kerry and Longford fans start sniping I might start thinking there's hope for Kerry FC, cause the places in Munster where LoI has been established, even Limerick, wont see Kerry as much more than just a game. It'd hopefully be better than the poor Monaghan United fans thinking they had a rivalry with Dundalk so tried playing mind games like flooding dressing rooms and locking visiting fans out (who could just hop the fence and watch from the neighbouring field among the cows).

A Kerry Derby 4 times a year though and FAI Cup draws - and an identity is forged, inherited generational allegiances stuff.

[legendz]

There's no one size that fits all. I think someone was saying the "Connacht Derby" between Galway and Sligo is pushing it. Possibly an Athlone - Mullingar rivalry would suit the Midlands.
Haven't seen any detail on what's required for NL clubs to earn a First Division licence. I would expect having teams entered to the youth leagues being required. Would any of the NL clubs from Galway and Donegal for example be likely to enter youth teams?
My understanding is that Killarney Celtic are focused on the National League only. Doubt they'll be entering the youth leagues or seeking a First Division licence any time soon.

[nr637]

Did the application for the FAI New National league not have some request or structure for academies in place for clubs as part of their application!

[legendz]

Don't think so. Seems the National League will be the top tier of amateur football if the Football Pathways Plan is fully implemented. The majority of NL clubs are likely to be senior sides only, like LoI clubs were for years until the youth leagues started up.

[Nesta99]

There's no one size that fits all. I think someone was saying the "Connacht Derby" between Galway and Sligo is pushing it. Possibly an Athlone - Mullingar rivalry would suit the Midlands.
Haven't seen any detail on what's required for NL clubs to earn a First Division licence. I would expect having teams entered to the youth leagues being required. Would any of the NL clubs from Galway and Donegal for example be likely to enter youth teams?
My understanding is that Killarney Celtic are focused on the National League only. Doubt they'll be entering the youth leagues or seeking a First Division licence any time soon.

If Longford and Athlone were going well it'd be a decent midlands Derby. Sligo/Derry/Harps seem to generate more rivalry than Galway I'd agree but again if there was a competitive edge to games it would become a proper derby. Its not a derby but Dundalk v Cork became a feisty affair and still would have some edge to it so it can happen if there is a sustained period of competing and likewise the fizz can go out of an established derby, like Bohs winning so many Dublin Derbies just made it dull.