Ck United arent fron either Carlow town or Kilkenny either. The towns arent even close.
Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.
Ck United arent fron either Carlow town or Kilkenny either. The towns arent even close.
Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.
Delighted to see a pathway plan in place.but disappointed with the make up of the 15 selected so far albeit they passed the process for entry.Outside of the feeder club syndrome that will accompany some of the clubs the viability of having 3 clubs from Donegal with Harps in the first div doesnt stack up.2 clubs from Galway city with Galway Utd must also raise long term questions and then theres the prospects for two Kerry teams.Finance and results will determine many of these clubs futures.pity about Monaghan.
Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.[/QUOTE]
This would never happen nor is there any logical reason for it. Kerry FC was formed as a county team - franchise type model, whether people agree or disagree with this. The model has worked very well so far. Any club that goes alone in the county would struggle to unite a fan base, Killarney Celtic are definitely going to struggle here too. Killarney is a lot smaller than Tralee and soccer is a lot more popular in the north of the county. I wish them well and do believe it is good for the game in the county (all boats go up in a rising tide etc.).
I am definitely not saying the model doesnt work, Kerry have been a huge success and fair play to them, but there is a possibility of the 'County' team system would break down if Killarney is a success, and maybe Kerry FC would need to evolve, (maybe for example into a Tralee / North Kerry team (full of what ifs...)).
I think we are used to the British system, which has been relatively static for team identities , but across world football, teams develop in dynamic ways, merging and splitting, changing crests, colours and names. Even here, Wexford has changed into a 'county' team (ie, name of the county and using GAA colours). So I dont think its unimaginable for another LOI team, especially one still in its infancy compared to others, to undergo these changes.
Considering the amount of 'County Teams' that were introduced into LOI underage at different points (Meath, CK, Klub Kildare, Mayo, Cavan/Monaghan), there are lessons to be learned from the biggest success story, ie. Kerry, and important to watch how it evolves.
Even the fact that Killarney are now in the 3rd tier might show what will happen if these county clubs become established in the LOI. Would success for Mayo mean that we will soon have a Westport United? Meath FC push Trim Celtic? Newbridge Town is absorbing Klub Kildare, will something happen to CK United eventually? Its a dynamic process which is a little unique in world football at the moment.
The Kerry sporting landscape is familiar with a club representing a region and a club from that region going alone. Both can coexist. If a fully integrated tiered structure is on the cards from district league to LoI, it will become a bit more common place.
People can support their local "amateur" club and their local "elite" LoI club. Are there places where it would be one or the other?
"If the champions have been approved for a First Division licence, they will play against the team that finishes bottom of the First Division in a promotion-relegation play-off for a place in the second tier."
Agree with the winners having to have been approved for a First Division licence. Waste of time going through the formality of a playoff without it. It'll be interesting to see what First Division licence criteria are required. The usual standout for me is - will having academy sides be part of the licencing?
LoI clubs have invested in academy sides. If academy sides are required for a First Division licence, outside of CK and Mayo - are many of the other NL sides likely to invest in academy sides?
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined.
First Division 2014: 7 first teams and a B team.
Opportunity lost for new clubs to join GLITW.
I think what it's showing really is that there's a gap in terms of the USL and the CSL (both defunct) - so in a way it's no surprise there's clubs from those regions looking to find something new for themselves. Though even that invites questions as to the strength of the league - I don't know enough about the teams to really compare them against each other, and finances outside a regional league will likely impact that. But I'd have my doubts as to whether it's comparable in strength to the LSL or MSL, and that in itself may impact which way the league goes in future years.
Again, not saying you are wrong... Just football is dynamic, and clubs do adapt. If this national league stays rather static, well fine, but if it joins together and becomes a regular LOI division, its not beyond belief that Kerry and Kilarney play against each other in the league eventually, bluring the lines of who is the elite one, and another identity might be needed (event a threat of this scenario might be enough)
Sure, similar to Kerry, look at in Louth, there is one elite team that does win league and pushes standards in Europe, and one part time/ amateur that most of the time just makes up the numbers in LOI, but every so often (and only a very very few times) they swap places. It does happen. (Joking).
Kerry has built up through the academy leagues since 2016. There's no blurring of those lines in Kerry.
Not saying you are wrong either. Killarney could pick up local players with a point to prove and cause problems in an MSC clash at least. Kerry will have to handle communication of being a club for the region while recognising the freedom of clubs to plot their own course. Could be tricky if there is a spiky encounter.
Professionalism seems more attainable for Kerry than Killarney. Again, if the pathway from district leagues to LoI does get integrated - professional and local amateur ambitions should be able to coexist.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined.
First Division 2014: 7 first teams and a B team.
Opportunity lost for new clubs to join GLITW.
I wouldn't be too concerned about strength.
Lucan United and St. Francis are strong top division LSL sides straight away and UCC are a top division MSL side (even if not quite as strong as a few years ago).
Then take Newbridge Town, down a few divisions in the LSL, so the immediate thought is they'll be much weaker, but with no Klub Kildare involved at the moment, they'll likely have the choice of any players from there not wanted by Dublin LOI sides.
You'd expect Mayo and CK to be decent with the pick of their underage players coming through, plus local Junior players who want the opportunity to prove themselves in Senior football, and then we've got some very strong Junior clubs in areas that have no Senior football Cockhill Celtic, Salthill Devon, Mervue, Villa & Killarney Celtic (MSL being a Cork only league), Bonagee, Letterkenny. Pretty much all of these would be comfortable at a good level of Intermediate League if they existed for those areas.
No idea how good TUD are but I imagine they'd have a strong pick and rounded out by Home Farm in the 2nd tier of the LSL.
Even in a worst case scenario I imagine we'll get a league at least similar to the top division of the LSL and I envisage most of the talented young players in the underage League of Ireland who don't join League of Ireland clubs would look at playing for clubs involved in this league, rather than LSL or MSL clubs....... well unless significant money was involved to do otherwise.
Is it right to say they are expecting the 15 clubs to be expanded on before the season starts by next year? And definitely more for the 1st full season in 2027? 15 is an odd number to have, meaning one division will only 7.
I am also always surprised that St. Kevin Boys is never thrown into the hat in these conversations, considering how they used to be the powerhouse underage and how well known they are. Nearly closer to the main campus in DCU than Home Farm if I remember correctly too. I know some lads hate fantasy games, but St. Kevin Boys playing in Santry's Morton Stadium makes sense to me as a proper potential LOI club, more than Home Farm or St. Francis, but yet total lack of appetite there from anyone.
Also, I did read somewhere as well ATU were trying to enter, playing in Athlone. SETU as well in Carlow. Three Third Level Education linked teams in this National League.
Other details to be revealed are:
• Will the FAI Amateur Cup be for NL clubs only?
• At what round will NL clubs enter the FAI Cup and will they be guaranteed a place, ranking above LSL and MSL?
Looking at clubs who have enjoyed success in the FAI Intermediate and Junior Cups, might the lure of the mooted FAI Amateur Cup and access to the FAI Cup encourage clubs to want to play at a higher level?
All to be revealed in time. Be interesting to see how that dynamic unfolds. The competitive spirit of wanting to compete at a higher level is what will ultimately drive things on.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined.
First Division 2014: 7 first teams and a B team.
Opportunity lost for new clubs to join GLITW.
All for expanding the league but this is only spreading national level football to 3 new counties Mayo, Kildare & Kilkenny (two of which previously had team at nation level and it couldn't be maintained). Still 12 counties (if I'm counting right) with no club at national level(almost half of counties in the country)
So we now have:
8 Dublin Clubs
4 Donegal Clubs
3 each from Cork and Galway
2 each from Louth, Waterford & Kerry
54 Crew-Finn Harps FC Supporters Club
Following Harps Home & Away
https://www.facebook.com/54CrewFHFC
It is disappointing that there wasn't more clubs from unrepresented counties who've put themselves forward. But the fact that there's 15 clubs with the window still open for some more to join them is a hugely positive step when it seemed like progress on the third tier had stalled.
I don't think any comparisons of this competition to the A championship are fair. Anything organised under that *****'s reign can be written off as dog****. I have much more hope that this tier of football has a future, particularly without any B teams.
The fact that each LOI club has an academy means there's 1000s of teenagers taking football really seriously. Having at least an extra 15 clubs playing at a national level will give a lot of these a better foundation to grow their game.
It is vital that these teams become clearly stronger in level and resources than the intermediate leagues. If all of the talent filters to these teams, playing summer football it might give the others something to think about if/when they start to fall behind.
Seems more a matter of those regions getting their own houses in order. Is it necessary for every county to be represented at national level?
Leitrim and Roscommon seem like regions that will gravitate towards neighbouring national clubs. If Trim see themselves as the club to bring National League football to Meath, building through the youth leagues should be on their radar.
The FAI should possibly work with Clare, Tipperary, Cavan-Monaghan, Meath and Laois-Offaly from a strategic point of view to be part of the youth leagues at least. They'd have to be self sufficient and stand on their own feet.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined.
First Division 2014: 7 first teams and a B team.
Opportunity lost for new clubs to join GLITW.
Well firstly CK was very much formed as a Carlow-Kilkenny venture, and does represent both those counties not just Killenny. Currently they're playing out of Killeshin in Laois, and perhaps the changing of the name from Carlow-Kilkenny to CK was to make it more palatable for people from bordering counties to support them.
There was noise in Clare a few months ago about starting a LOI club, but obviously that takes time and best with them starting at underage. Perhaps it's better that a Junior club in Clare didn't manage to get in so far if that is the case.
Tipperary has some very strong Junior clubs, with good facilities as well, but anything that isn't a Gaa style county model here will struggle to get support across the county, and likely never be viable as a 1st Division (or above) club, so again maybe it's a good thing that the likes of St. Michael's, Peake Villa, Clonmel Town or Nenagh have made it into this league so far.
Cavan-Monaghan to enter but didn't meet the criteria at least so far, but imagine they'll continue efforts and be playing in a 3rd/4th tier in the next few years.
I think people are expecting too much too soon and expecting this to be a panacea for all things wrong with Irish football in one swoop.
It will bridge clubs transitioning into the 1st Division in future and give them somewhere to fall to if things go wrong.
It'll also help us fix our football pyramid from below up and have something to link onto, rather than having to meet the extremely high level of 1st division of LOI for sides potentially coming out of Junior football.
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