A 7-team league First Division Next Year

**sadloserkid** · 02/12/2013, 3:46 PM

Not on topic as such but I wonder how many people saw where Carlow were playing their games? It made Drom look like Thomond Park.

**gufc2000** · 02/12/2013, 6:09 PM

Talk on Galway Bay FM about the Connacht Senior League being formed shortly, and also the possible formation of an FAI Intermediate League? Whatever that would entail I don't know

**A face** · 02/12/2013, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

Not on topic as such but I wonder how many people saw where Carlow were playing their games? It made Drom look like Thomond Park.

Yeah, but is that where their LOI games were going to be played? The IT has a pitch with a stand i thought. The ground you are on about is in Ballon, and to be fair they have to train somewhere. City training in Bishopstown and that isn't a brilliant ground either being honest.

**nigel-harps1954** · 02/12/2013, 10:54 PM

I would imagine, if Carlow were ever to re-apply, they'd have to play out of Carlow IT. They have a seriously good sports ground from all I've heard about it. Big stand, modern facilities down to the bone. They'd put a few current LOI clubs to shame with their facilities.

**sadloserkid** · 03/12/2013, 7:36 AM

Originally Posted by A face

Yeah, but is that where their LOI games were going to be played? The IT has a pitch with a stand i thought. The ground you are on about is in Ballon, and to be fair they have to train somewhere. City training in Bishopstown and that isn't a brilliant ground either being honest.

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I would imagine, if Carlow were ever to re-apply, they'd have to play out of Carlow IT. They have a seriously good sports ground from all I've heard about it. Big stand, modern facilities down to the bone. They'd put a few current LOI clubs to shame with their facilities.

I've never seen the IT facilities to be fair. They were playing at Ballon though (albeit A/U19 games) and there's no way it could host senior ball. I actually loved it as a setting (big silos in the near background and what have you) but if that was what they presented as their ground when they were looking at coming in a couple of years back I can almost understand why they were told to look at Buckley Park (though that makes no sense for them either obviously).

Are they actually playing anywhere at all now though? Do they have a senior team? There was almost a hint of something makey-uppy about them I felt...

**NeverFeltBetter** · 03/12/2013, 11:57 AM

Not as far as I can tell. Info on them very hard to come by.

**ForzaForth** · 03/12/2013, 12:52 PM

Wexford Youths played Shamrock Rovers in a pre-season friendly in IT Carlow at the beginning of last year. Great facilities ok, would remind you a lot of UCD's Belfield. First time there and, if I'm right, the main stand overlooks a GAA pitch rather than a soccer pitch. The match was played on an all-weather but there were grass pitches there too.

I didn't see FC Carlow's pitch at Ballon, but I saw them play Youths' U19s at Tullow. Would be hard to approve Tullow as a LOI facility.

I always had the impression that Carlow's chances of LOI football died when Shane Keegan moved from Carlow to the Youths as a manager and brought some of the players with him. Might be wrong, though.

**Martinho II** · 03/12/2013, 9:16 PM

Originally Posted by ForzaForth

Wexford Youths played Shamrock Rovers in a pre-season friendly in IT Carlow at the beginning of last year. Great facilities ok, would remind you a lot of UCD's Belfield. First time there and, if I'm right, the main stand overlooks a GAA pitch rather than a soccer pitch. The match was played on an all-weather but there were grass pitches there too.

I didn't see FC Carlow's pitch at Ballon, but I saw them play Youths' U19s at Tullow. Would be hard to approve Tullow as a LOI facility.

I always had the impression that Carlow's chances of LOI football died when Shane Keegan moved from Carlow to the Youths as a manager and brought some of the players with him. Might be wrong, though.

did Shane keegan manage Carlow IT before gettin Youths forza?

**ForzaForth** · 03/12/2013, 9:44 PM

Marty

He came from FC Carlow at the beginning of the 2012 season to us. Off the top of my head, he brought three players with him at least - CJ Browne, Jimmy Dermody and Shane Clarke. The last two were still with us at the end of 2013 although Jimmy was injured. CJ left half-way through the 2013 season.

**citybone** · 04/12/2013, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by gufc2000

Talk on Galway Bay FM about the Connacht Senior League being formed shortly, and also the possible formation of an FAI Intermediate League? Whatever that would entail I don't know

Great about the Connacht Senior League. Even just 8 teams would be good, Mervue, Salthill, Castlebar, Westport, Galway FC Reserves?, Sligo Rovers Reserves? Tuam Celtic/St. Bernards ? Balina? Ballinasloe? Loughrea? NUIG? Gawlay Hibs? Ballyheane?, Iorras Aontaithe FC?. Too many Galway city clubs would not be good but it should be the best teams in the provence.

**gufc2000** · 04/12/2013, 8:45 PM

Originally Posted by citybone

Great about the Connacht Senior League. Even just 8 teams would be good, Mervue, Salthill, Castlebar, Westport, Galway FC Reserves?, Sligo Rovers Reserves? Tuam Celtic/St. Bernards ? Balina? Ballinasloe? Loughrea? NUIG? Gawlay Hibs? Ballyheane?, Iorras Aontaithe FC?. Too many Galway city clubs would not be good but it should be the best teams in the provence.

I don't think Galway FC will be able to enter a team in this league, some other people from Galway on the forum might be able to clarify but to the best of my knowledge this may have been stated already.

During the summer when it was mooted Athlone & Longford Reserves were also mentioned. Also a St. John's from Sligo.

If it's a Connacht Senior League then it should be as much representatives from the different associations, and not just Galway/Mayo. Roscommon & Sligo/Leitrim should have participants too.

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/12/2013, 8:51 PM

My understanding was that the agreement that led to Salthill and Mervue taking part in Galway FC excluded the club from fielding any junior sides for something like 5 years. Maybe it's different for men's but I doubt it.

**gufc2000** · 04/12/2013, 8:57 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

My understanding was that the agreement that led to Salthill and Mervue taking part in Galway FC excluded the club from fielding any junior sides for something like 5 years. Maybe it's different for men's but I doubt it.

There's definitely no Galway FC U19 team for five years, I'd imagine the same rule would apply to a reserve selection. Anyways, at this moment in time a reserve team wouldn't be the priority for Galway I'd imagine, even in a non-league regional tier