2012 First Division structure?

[LFC-Zulu]

8 teams it is.. Tralee and Cobh on a waiting list of sorts.

http://www.fai.ie/domestic-a-grassro...-released.html

It says the fixtures are out but I don't see them there as yet.

Salthill playing as SD Galway.

[Mr A]

I don't really get the obsessions with having a team playing in Terryland. Or indeed when people say there should be a team playing in Buckley Park. They're nice and all.. but I don't think that should be the primary consideration in getting teams into the league!

Fixtures out now: http://www.airtricityleague.ie/image...xture_List.pdf

[Mr A]

FIRST DIVISION
SERIES NO. 1
Fri. 2 March Athlone Town v SD Galway Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 2 March Limerick v Finn Harps Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 2 March Mervue United v Longford Town Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 2 March Wexford Youths v Waterford United Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 2
Fri. 9 March Waterford United v Limerick R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 9 March Finn Harps v Mervue United Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 10 March SD Galway v Wexford Youths Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 10 March Longford Town v Athlone Town Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 3
Fri. 16 March Athlone Town v Finn Harps Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 16 March Mervue United v Limerick Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 16 March Waterford United v SD Galway R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 16 March Wexford Youths v Longford Town Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 4
Fri. 23 March Limerick v SD Galway Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 23 March Mervue United v Athlone Town Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 23 March Finn Harps v Wexford Youths Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 24 March Longford Town v Waterford United Flancare Park 7.30 pm
MONDAY, 26th MARCH – EA SPORTS CUP FIRST ROUND
SERIES NO. 5
Fri. 30 March Athlone Town v Limerick Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 30 March Waterford United v Finn Harps R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 30 March Wexford Youths v Mervue United Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 31 March SD Galway v Longford Town Terryland Park 7.00 pm
SERIES NO. 6
Fri. 6 April Athlone Town v Wexford Youths Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 6 April Limerick v Longford Town Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 6 April Mervue United v Waterford United Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 6 April Finn Harps v SD Galway Finn Park 8.00 pm
MIDWEEK – EA SPORTS CUP SECOND ROUND
SERIES NO. 7
Fri. 13 April Waterford United v Athlone Town R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 13 April Wexford Youths v Limerick Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 14 April SD Galway v Mervue United Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 14 April Longford Town v Finn Harps Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 8
Fri. 20 April Waterford United v Wexford Youths R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 20 April Finn Harps v Limerick Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 21 April SD Galway v Athlone Town Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 21 April Longford Town v Mervue United Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 9
Fri. 27 April Athlone Town v Longford Town Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 27 April Limerick v Waterford United Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 27 April Mervue United v Finn Harps Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 27 April Wexford Youths v SD Galway Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 10
Fri. 4 May Limerick v Mervue United Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 4 May Finn Harps v Athlone Town Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 5 May SD Galway v Waterford United Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 5 May Longford Town v Wexford Youths Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 11
Fri. 11 May Athlone Town v Mervue United Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 11 May Waterford United v Longford Town R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 11 May Wexford Youths v Finn Harps Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 12 May SD Galway v Limerick Terryland Park 7.00 pm
SERIES NO. 12
Fri. 18 May Limerick v Athlone Town Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 18 May Mervue United v Wexford Youths Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 18 May Finn Harps v Waterford United Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 19 May Longford Town v SD Galway Flancare Park 7.30 pm
WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 27th MAY – FAI FORD CUP THIRD ROUND
SERIES NO. 13
Fri. 1 June Waterford United v Mervue United R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 1 June Wexford Youths v Athlone Town Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 2 June SD Galway v Finn Harps Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 2 June Longford Town v Limerick Flancare Park 7.30 pm
MID-SEASON BREAK – TUESDAY, 5th JUNE – THURSDAY, 21st JUNE (inclusive) – NO FIXTURES
SERIES NO. 14
Fri. 22 June Athlone Town v Waterford United Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 22 June Limerick v Wexford Youths Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 22 June Mervue United v SD Galway Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 22 June Finn Harps v Longford Town Finn Park 8.00 pm
MIDWEEK – EA SPORTS CUP QUARTER-FINALS
SERIES NO. 15
Fri. 29 June Athlone Town v SD Galway Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 29 June Limerick v Finn Harps Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 29 June Mervue United v Longford Town Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 29 June Wexford Youths v Waterford United Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 16
Fri. 6 July Waterford United v Limerick R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 6 July Finn Harps v Mervue United Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 7 July SD Galway v Wexford Youths Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 7 July Longford Town v Athlone Town Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 17
Fri. 13 July Athlone Town v Finn Harps Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 13 July Mervue United v Limerick Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 13 July Waterford United v SD Galway R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 13 July Wexford Youths v Longford Town Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 18
Fri. 20 July Limerick v SD Galway Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 20 July Mervue United v Athlone Town Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 20 July Finn Harps v Wexford Youths Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 21 July Longford Town v Waterford United Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 19
Fri. 27 July Athlone Town v Limerick Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 27 July Waterford United v Finn Harps R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 27 July Wexford Youths v Mervue United Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 28 July SD Galway v Longford Town Terryland Park 7.00 pm
SERIES NO. 20
Fri. 3 August Athlone Town v Wexford Youths Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 3 August Limerick v Longford Town Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 3 August Mervue United v Waterford United Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 3 August Finn Harps v SD Galway Finn Park 8.00 pm
MONDAY, 6th AUGUST – EA SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINALS
SERIES NO. 21
Fri. 10 August Waterford United v Athlone Town R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 10 August Wexford Youths v Limerick Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 11 August SD Galway v Mervue United Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 11 August Longford Town v Finn Harps Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 22
Fri. 17 August Waterford United v Wexford Youths R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 17 August Finn Harps v Limerick Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 18 August SD Galway v Athlone Town Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 18 August Longford Town v Mervue United Flancare Park 7.30 pm
WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 26th AUGUST – FAI FORD CUP FOURTH ROUND
SERIES NO. 23
Fri. 31 August Athlone Town v Longford Town Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 31 August Limerick v Waterford United Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 31 August Mervue United v Finn Harps Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 31 August Wexford Youths v SD Galway Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
SERIES NO. 24
Fri. 7 September Limerick v Mervue United Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 7 September Finn Harps v Athlone Town Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 8 September SD Galway v Waterford United Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 8 September Longford Town v Wexford Youths Flancare Park 7.30 pm
WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 16th SEPTEMBER – FAI FORD CUP QUARTER-FINALS
SERIES NO. 25
Fri. 21 September Athlone Town v Mervue United Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Fri. 21 September Waterford United v Longford Town R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 21 September Wexford Youths v Finn Harps Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 22 September SD Galway v Limerick Terryland Park 7.00 pm
SATURDAY, 22nd SEPTEMBER – EA SPORTS CUP FINAL
SERIES NO. 26
Fri. 28 September Limerick v Athlone Town Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Fri. 28 September Mervue United v Wexford Youths Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
Fri. 28 September Finn Harps v Waterford United Finn Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 29 September Longford Town v SD Galway Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 27 & FAI FORD CUP SEMI-FINALS
Fri. 5 October Waterford United v Mervue United R.S.C. 7.45 pm
Fri. 5 October Wexford Youths v Athlone Town Ferrycarrig Park 8.00 pm
Sat. 6 October SD Galway v Finn Harps Terryland Park 7.00 pm
Sat. 6 October Longford Town v Limerick Flancare Park 7.30 pm
SERIES NO. 28
Sat. 13 October Athlone Town v Waterford United Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm
Sat. 13 October Finn Harps v Longford Town Finn Park 7.45 pm
Sat. 13 October Limerick v Wexford Youths Jackman Park 7.45 pm
Sat. 13 October Mervue United v SD Galway Fahy’s Field 7.45 pm
FIRST DIVISION PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
Fri. /Sat. 19/20 October Third placed Club v Second placed Club
Fri. /Sat. 26/27 October Second placed Club v Third placed Club
(Winning Club to play the Eleventh placed Premier Division Club in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off Final
over two legs)

[Mr A]

So the rumours of 4 up to a 16 team division are untrue.. 1 up and 2 in a playoffs with 11th in premier.

[Mr A]

I don't understand the exclusion of Tralee and Cobh if they meet the requirements. Doesn't make any sense to me and seems harsh on the two clubs.

I guess it does cut our travel a fair bit though!

[atfconline]

Home to Galway in the first game, home to Waterford in the last - nice.

[gormacha]

What a joke.

Only 28 games, many of which will be meaningless for many clubs.

Second and third play a promotion playoff in a division with only eight teams.

Cobh and Tralee will only be considered if one of these eight fail licensing.

I'm bored already, and the season hasn't even started and I actually like the LoI. Imagine what non-believers would make of it. Not that they're watching.

[gufc2000]

Home to Salthill in the first game, home to Waterford in the last - nice.

Fixed that for you.

[MagicMon]

How many years is it now since the bottom placed team in the Premier competed in the 1st division the next season?

[legendz]

It's a backward move if the league is retuning to being a closed league. If the clubs that were looking to join don't meet the standard we can't have complaints. 4 series mightn't be ideal but it seems to be the only option.

[LFC-Zulu]

How many years is it now since the bottom placed team in the Premier competed in the 1st division the next season?

Six hundred and nine.

[cornflakes]

First division doesn't matter at all this year, it will all come down to who gets a premier licence next year

[citybone]

Awful decision to exclude Tralee and Cobh, Carlow and Gust is a little more understandable but what are these clubs going to do next season?

[gael353]

I think the bad thing about excluding the likes of carlow tralee and cobh etc is that there is no A division. So by not getting into the 1st division they now have no league to play in????? a quick fix reserve league needs to be sorted now maybe an under 23 reserve league ??

[Mr A]

Unless the FAI believe there's a real chance that two of the existing clubs won't make it...... (but I can't see any of the 8 having too much of an issue)

[WoodquayBoy]

SD Galway - if that is an attmept to attract fans, why not just call themnselves SD Barcelona or SD Manchester or SD Liverpool? Ridiculous. Also, condolences to fans of both Cobh and Tralee on missing out

[legendz]

Awful decision to exclude Tralee and Cobh, Carlow and Gust is a little more understandable but what are these clubs going to do next season?

It's a question which could be asked of the clubs themselves. If Carlow, Cobh and Tralee's long term ambition is to join the league but their not ready on in a position to do so, it should be down to them to work together first and the the FAI on a workable solution with reserve teams if at all remotely possible.

[sadloserkid]

I don't really get the obsessions with having a team playing in Terryland. Or indeed when people say there should be a team playing in Buckley Park. They're nice and all.. but I don't think that should be the primary consideration in getting teams into the league!

I think it just makes sense to have a Galway based team playing in the decent, centralish ground. All the better for attracting in potential support and what not. If they don't run themselves into the ground like the last lot so much the better obviously.

What a joke.

Only 28 games, many of which will be meaningless for many clubs.

Second and third play a promotion playoff in a division with only eight teams.

Cobh and Tralee will only be considered if one of these eight fail licensing.

I'm bored already, and the season hasn't even started and I actually like the LoI. Imagine what non-believers would make of it. Not that they're watching.

Absolutely agree. A season of tediousness awaits. Already the gloss has been taken off what I was hoping would be a leisurely stroll to the title this season...

It makes no sense to exclude Cobh and Tralee either particularly as the promotion/relegation setup would suggest that we won't be rushing headlong into a 16 team premier/0 team first next season. Delaney and his fellow dregs are some shower alright...

SD Galway - if that is an attmept to attract fans, why not just call themnselves SD Barcelona or SD Manchester or SD Liverpool? Ridiculous. Also, condolences to fans of both Cobh and Tralee on missing out

Also, tbf, they are from the area of Galway so it's a long way from SD Barcelona. Cynical ploy? Absolutely. Hardly ridiculous though, why shouldn't they aspire to being representative off a larger area

[JC_GUFC]

How many years is it now since the bottom placed team in the Premier competed in the 1st division the next season?

2008 UCD finished bottom and won Division 1 the next season. No team since will have played in Division 1 the following season.

[JC_GUFC]

Awful decision to exclude Tralee and Cobh, Carlow and Gust is a little more understandable but what are these clubs going to do next season?

Yeah I agree - as a Galway United fan I feel somewhat hard done by this season but can only imagine what those at Tralee and Cobh think. It seemed as if they were shoe-ins to get in with no A-Championship to compete in next year but what do they do now? It must feel like the last 3 or 4 years in the A-Championship striving for a League of Ireland place was all a total waste. It would be interesting to hear where they fell down and what the lower teams in Division 1 have that these clubs don't.

Edit: Also as my better half is from near to Tralee they were going to be the team I supported for this season. Do I need 2 petrol canisters?!