2009 A Championship

**pineapple stu** · 06/02/2009, 8:39 AM

That's been tried before. Poor system, I think. Probably more dead games, ironically. Teams who finish one point off the top half are done out of a chance to make a late run for Europe, but have no chance of going down. Also leads to situations of three home games and one away game against a club, or vice versa.

**gufc2000** · 06/02/2009, 3:53 PM

League spilts don't work, as some teams are merely going through the motions for the last few weeks of the season. In an ideal world, there would be a 16 team Premier with 30 games and a 12 team First.

**hoop4life** · 06/02/2009, 5:33 PM

99% sure that castlebar celtic will be playing in the a championship this season. great news and good to have eircom league clubs back in celtic park after the way that we were treated in not being let play in the u20 league last season. new pitch built and now more than likely an eircom league club. great few months for celtic!!

**gufc2000** · 06/02/2009, 6:08 PM

Originally Posted by hoop4life

99% sure that castlebar celtic will be playing in the a championship this season. great news and good to have eircom league clubs back in celtic park after the way that we were treated in not being let play in the u20 league last season. new pitch built and now more than likely an eircom league club. great few months for celtic!!

Any info or pictures of new pitch?

**hoop4life** · 06/02/2009, 6:26 PM

Originally Posted by GUFCforlife

Any info or pictures of new pitch?

no pictures but it is a 3rd generation astroturf pitch, full size, fully floodlit. once we get licence it is fit to play any level games. fantastic surface. massive asset for celtic. we were paying a couple of grand a year to mayo league to train on their astroturf but our pitch is now going every night of the week.

**gufc2000** · 06/02/2009, 8:16 PM

Originally Posted by hoop4life

no pictures but it is a 3rd generation astroturf pitch, full size, fully floodlit. once we get licence it is fit to play any level games. fantastic surface. massive asset for celtic. we were paying a couple of grand a year to mayo league to train on their astroturf but our pitch is now going every night of the week.

Well I wish ye the best of luck, no harm for another bit of rivalry out West!

**hoop4life** · 06/02/2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by GUFCforlife

Well I wish ye the best of luck, no harm for another bit of rivalry out West!

thanks!! lost 11 players players to ye, mervue and sligo last year. they dont have to leave now to get eircom league football. have some young excellent young players coming through here.

**gilberto_eire** · 07/02/2009, 8:51 PM

Originally Posted by hoop4life

thanks!! lost 11 players players to ye, mervue and sligo last year. they dont have to leave now to get eircom league football. have some young excellent young players coming through here.

Boyler will be banging them in this year

**chimpster** · 09/02/2009, 9:33 PM

I like the way the A-league is shaping up, more teams coming through this year. I say let them find their feet and then merge with the First Div and split north/south to reduce costs. Could make the whole thing much more financially sustainable. For example:

Premier Div:
Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, St Patricks Ath, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers

First Div (N):
Athlone Town, Castlebar Celtic, Finn Harps, Longford Town, Mervue United, Monaghan Utd, Salthill Devon, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Tullamore Town

First Div (S):
FC Carlow, Cobh Ramblers, Kildare County, Kilkenny City, Limerick, Tralee Dynamoes, UCD, Waterford United, Wayside Celtic, Wexford Youths

IF more teams come through (e.g. Mullingar, Clonmel, Fanad), the First Divs can be beefed up by reducing from 4 rounds of matches to 3. Thoughts???

**gufc2000** · 09/02/2009, 9:38 PM

Originally Posted by chimpster

I like the way the A-league is shaping up, more teams coming through this year. I say let them find their feet and then merge with the First Div and split north/south to reduce costs. Could make the whole thing much more financially sustainable. For example:

Premier Div:
Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, St Patricks Ath, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers

First Div (N):
Athlone Town, Castlebar Celtic, Finn Harps, Longford Town, Mervue United, Monaghan Utd, Salthill Devon, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Tullamore Town

First Div (S):
FC Carlow, Cobh Ramblers, Kildare County, Kilkenny City, Limerick, Tralee Dynamoes, UCD, Waterford United, Wayside Celtic, Wexford Youths

IF more teams come through (e.g. Mullingar, Clonmel, Fanad), the First Divs can be beefed up by reducing from 4 rounds of matches to 3. Thoughts???

Would another Dublin team be viable? I don't think so, but I do like your idea. Crowds may benefit through more local derbies, and it would be easier for away fans travelling to games as they wouldn't have as far to travel.

**chimpster** · 10/02/2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by GUFCforlife

Would another Dublin team be viable?

I think its vital. I'm no Dub, but the population of the capital is large and the bigger clubs need some feeder clubs to help players make the step up from LSL.

**culloty82** · 10/02/2009, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by chimpster

I like the way the A-league is shaping up, more teams coming through this year. I say let them find their feet and then merge with the First Div and split north/south to reduce costs. Could make the whole thing much more financially sustainable. For example:

Premier Div:
Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, St Patricks Ath, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers

First Div (N):
Athlone Town, Castlebar Celtic, Finn Harps, Longford Town, Mervue United, Monaghan Utd, Salthill Devon, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Tullamore Town

First Div (S):
FC Carlow, Cobh Ramblers, Kildare County, Kilkenny City, Limerick, Tralee Dynamoes, UCD, Waterford United, Wayside Celtic, Wexford Youths

IF more teams come through (e.g. Mullingar, Clonmel, Fanad), the First Divs can be beefed up by reducing from 4 rounds of matches to 3. Thoughts???

Definitely agree that the "A" clubs need to be given full League membership, as that's their ultimate aim in joining in the first place. Also your regional divisions could definitely work, as the likes of Dynamos, Carlow and Salthill are ambitious, but are lacking the funds to play in a national league at the moment.

**hoop4life** · 10/02/2009, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by chimpster

I like the way the A-league is shaping up, more teams coming through this year. I say let them find their feet and then merge with the First Div and split north/south to reduce costs. Could make the whole thing much more financially sustainable. For example:

Premier Div:
Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, St Patricks Ath, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers

First Div (N):
Athlone Town, Castlebar Celtic, Finn Harps, Longford Town, Mervue United, Monaghan Utd, Salthill Devon, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Tullamore Town

First Div (S):
FC Carlow, Cobh Ramblers, Kildare County, Kilkenny City, Limerick, Tralee Dynamoes, UCD, Waterford United, Wayside Celtic, Wexford Youths

IF more teams come through (e.g. Mullingar, Clonmel, Fanad), the First Divs can be beefed up by reducing from 4 rounds of matches to 3. Thoughts???

i agree that that is a very good idea. would cut down travelling expenses big time and also the new clubs like ourselves and tralee would be playing teams more of our own equal like tullamore, salthill and mervue.
best idea i have heard so far!!

**holidaysong** · 10/02/2009, 2:11 PM

An idea that has been proposed before and probably the one I like the best.

**Sheridan** · 10/02/2009, 2:11 PM

I've been flying that kite since about 2003!

**irishyop** · 10/02/2009, 3:28 PM

Originally Posted by GUFCforlife

Any info or pictures of new pitch?

Not fully completed pics but they give an idea

http://www.castlebarceltic.com/defau...nc=8114&id=509

Please note that the 4 recruits in the pics are not our defensive 4. Digger, tractor, dumper and hi-mac were just there doing the ground work

Will see if I can get a few pics, due up there Sunday for a game.

**oldyouth** · 10/02/2009, 5:03 PM

Originally Posted by chimpster

I like the way the A-league is shaping up, more teams coming through this year. I say let them find their feet and then merge with the First Div and split north/south to reduce costs. Could make the whole thing much more financially sustainable. For example:

Premier Div:
Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, St Patricks Ath, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers

First Div (N):
Athlone Town, Castlebar Celtic, Finn Harps, Longford Town, Mervue United, Monaghan Utd, Salthill Devon, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Tullamore Town

First Div (S):
FC Carlow, Cobh Ramblers, Kildare County, Kilkenny City, Limerick, Tralee Dynamoes, UCD, Waterford United, Wayside Celtic, Wexford Youths

IF more teams come through (e.g. Mullingar, Clonmel, Fanad), the First Divs can be beefed up by reducing from 4 rounds of matches to 3. Thoughts???

In principle, it looks like the solution, but there is one problem. Promotion and relegation could soon become an issue should a geographical imbalance occur, leading to a new 'shuffle' of the the 2 first division groups. In my opinion, 4 rounds of matches is too much and people get bored of the same opposition on a regular basis.

My solution would be a 16 team 1st division, play eachother twice and have no midweek matches. 2 automatic promotion places, and 2 relegation to the A Championship. The 1st division is the second tier of our country and you should be able to afford those costs, if you want to play in it

**holidaysong** · 10/02/2009, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by oldyouth

In principle, it looks like the solution, but there is one problem. Promotion and relegation could soon become an issue should a geographical imbalance occur, leading to a new 'shuffle' of the the 2 first division groups.

That already occurs in the Blue Square North and South in England and isn't a problem.

**TheBoss** · 10/02/2009, 5:35 PM

That does look a viable option, I think that has to be considered. As I said in my proposal, I would like the Promotion and Relegation to extend to the Provincial leagues and Junior Leagues, to give them something to play for and they can always accept not to be promoted if they wish not to be.

**pineapple stu** · 11/02/2009, 8:48 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

That already occurs in the Blue Square North and South in England and isn't a problem.

It occurs in lots of leagues. The Spanish third division is regionalised, as is the Belgian third flight, the German fourth division, etc. The whole point of the system is that teams aren't bound to one division or the other, but that there's a new north/south split every year.