Third Tier Talk - A Championship Mk II

[EalingGreen]

Ballybofey and Stranorlar..

Wahey!

[sbgawa]

Derry and Londonderry

[EatYerGreens]

What name do you want them to have? CK Leinster? They had their reasons for moving away from "Carlow Kilkenny FC".

You are of course right. The only possible name a team from those counties could have is 'CK United'. No other names could ever exist or be thought of

You can just hear their legions of fans chanting "CK! CK!" in their thousands at the Tullow Megadrome as the team enters the pitch. #Believe

[culloty82]

On the county point, Wexford are undoubtedly the most successful modern example, in that they've endured in the League for sixteen seasons now (even if they've only been promoted once in that time), and adopting the GAA colours appears to have been embraced by their supporters. An interesting case would be Mayo, in that on their own, Castlebar and Westport would both be decent Connacht League outfits under the proposed system, though probably no further, yet a united Mayo team would be capable of attracting sizeable First Division attendances.

[culloty82]

You are of course right. The only possible name a team from those counties could have is 'CK United'. No other names could ever exist or be thought of

You can just hear their legions of fans chanting "CK! CK!" in their thousands at the Tullow Megadrome as the team enters the pitch. #Believe

In Norman times, the area was known as "Ossory" and indeed "Ormond", but can't imagine either catching on!

[EalingGreen]

Derry and Londonderry

Sorry, Institute FC and who else?

[EatYerGreens]

On the county point, Wexford are undoubtedly the most successful modern example, in that they've endured in the League for sixteen seasons now (even if they've only been promoted once in that time), and adopting the GAA colours appears to have been embraced by their supporters. An interesting case would be Mayo, in that on their own, Castlebar and Westport would both be decent Connacht League outfits under the proposed system, though probably no further, yet a united Mayo team would be capable of attracting sizeable First Division attendances.

I still think there's an opportunity for a South Park-themed 'Kill Kenny FC'. Or to give it its full name 'OMGY Kill Kenny FC'.

[kksaints]

CK absolutely have not taken the right approach. They haven't really publicly consulted anyone, have gone off on their own to move to Tullow, a town smaller than Ballybofey in the north of Carlow that's not along the train route, it's poorly supported by public transport, and it's just so far out of the way it's beyond a brutal choice of home patch.

Aside from that, it's hardly overly accessible to the people of Kilkenny either. There's any number of places between Carlow and Kilkenny in which they could have based themselves, got involved with all the junior clubs, linked up with the Carlow and Kilkenny leagues, and really grown something for everyone. Instead, they've done much of the opposite, and pretty much doomed themselves before they even start.

Amalgamation of areas is grand if it's done right. Cavan/Monaghan example was another really poor choice based off nothing other than "at least they done it". It was a dreadful experiment, and the only half decent player in the partnership, Monaghan United, quickly jumped ship.

Interestingly CK United have a post on their Instagram from a week ago thanking some contractors for working on their dugouts to bring the Watershed up to LOI Stadium standard. They could be playing matches in the Watershed in Kilkenny which makes much more sense than Tullow. Real shame they can't use Buckley Park after Castlewarren Celtic cleaned it up last year.

[kksaints]

You are of course right. The only possible name a team from those counties could have is 'CK United'. No other names could ever exist or be thought of

You can just hear their legions of fans chanting "CK! CK!" in their thousands at the Tullow Megadrome as the team enters the pitch. #Believe

It's not easy to think of a name suitable to both counties that isn't the standard Carlow-Kilkenny United. The joint radio station is called KCLR and bar the Dail area there is very little joined between the two counties.

[nigel-harps1954]

Interestingly CK United have a post on their Instagram from a week ago thanking some contractors for working on their dugouts to bring the Watershed up to LOI Stadium standard. They could be playing matches in the Watershed in Kilkenny which makes much more sense than Tullow. Real shame they can't use Buckley Park after Castlewarren Celtic cleaned it up last year.

Been a while since I was down there, but isn't the Watershed just a running track with no spectator facilities at all?

[Buckett]

I just looked on Google maps and there's another pitch beside the running track with, what looks like, a small spectator stand on one side. Ground looks very tight though

[kksaints]

Been a while since I was down there, but isn't the Watershed just a running track with no spectator facilities at all?

Pretty much,.I can't imagine it would be used for anything other than academy matches.

[legendz]

Interestingly CK United have a post on their Instagram from a week ago thanking some contractors for working on their dugouts to bring the Watershed up to LOI Stadium standard. They could be playing matches in the Watershed in Kilkenny which makes much more sense than Tullow. Real shame they can't use Buckley Park after Castlewarren Celtic cleaned it up last year.

I was of the impression that they were based in The Watershed in Kilkenny as well. They admit Buckley Park would be the ideal but for whatever reason that is not possible.
On the subject of Treaty, I don't see visibility that they are doing enough to garner support from Clare and North Tipperary. It's one thing saying people should support their nearest LoI club but are the nearest LoI clubs playing their part. Treaty could have preseason friendlies against Clare League and North Tipperary. At youth level they should have something similar or offer trials in both locations annually.

[culloty82]

A summary of today's Pathways Document, which can be downloaded in full on the FAI website:

https://archive.is/ngI2B

The third tier has been officially christened the "National League Premier" with Northern and Southern groups, the key question being if preparations, consultation, etc begin immediately, can it be up and running by this time next year?

[EalingGreen]

A summary of today's Pathways Document, which can be downloaded in full on the FAI website:

https://archive.is/ngI2B

The third tier has been officially christened the "National League Premier" with Northern and Southern groups, the key question being if preparations, consultation, etc begin immediately, can it be up and running by this time next year?

From the above:
"Now, the FAI have split the age groups into five sections from age five up to adult football, with leagues to be played up to Under-14 level from February to June and blitzes, football camps and mini leagues to take place afterwards."

Kevin Doyle has an interesting take on this:
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024...-summer-fears/

Has he got a point, or is he overstating it?

[passinginterest]

He's overstating it. I grew up playing all the sports in Wexford too. There was always overlap anyway, even back then (same era as Kevin himself, think we even played against each other at least once). The clubs find a way to work together with training and games, neither can afford to lose players. There will be some who have to choose, but to be honest, I don't think that's a bad thing. For a lot of kids, the push to play just about everything leads to burn out or just not pushing on from being pretty good at lots of sports to maybe becoming very good at a single one. It's definitely tough in rural counties to pull away from the GAA, there's a lot of pressure not to let the parish down, and I think that still exists, but a proper football career pathway should help parents and kids to make the choice to go in that direction.

[joey B]

There’s as usual plenty of self interest going on ,Shane Keegan who’s employed by the GAA seems to be railing against it aswell,others lying about there being no consultation,all very symbolic of why we’re in the mess we’re in ….

[nigel-harps1954]

There's loads of the usual "grassroots being forgotten in favour of senior clubs" nonsense being championed across the country, which is utter sh!te.

I hope the plan is pushed through, and anyone who doesn't like it can start their own unaffiliated leagues that have no tie to FAI or any grant monies.

[passinginterest]

There's loads of the usual "grassroots being forgotten in favour of senior clubs" nonsense being championed across the country, which is utter sh!te.

I hope the plan is pushed through, and anyone who doesn't like it can start their own unaffiliated leagues that have no tie to FAI or any grant monies.

Couldn't agree more. It's little fiefdoms clinging to power that prevent any meaningful change. The big schoolboy clubs farming kids to England didn't have a care for "grassroots" either. They hoovered up young lads from all over the country with their promises of trials in England. Genuine local grassroots clubs will always have a place, but it the plan works as intended, the elite will have much better opportunities to be noticed, to train with similar level players and to potentially have a career in the game in Ireland, if not in Europe or England. If they do go abroad, hopefully the new system will lead to them being better trained, educated and prepared. It should benefit players, clubs, regional leagues, the league of Ireland and the international team if it's implemented with proper rigour. It's not going to happen overnight, but it absolutely should happen.

[culloty82]

He's overstating it. I grew up playing all the sports in Wexford too. There was always overlap anyway, even back then (same era as Kevin himself, think we even played against each other at least once). The clubs find a way to work together with training and games, neither can afford to lose players. There will be some who have to choose, but to be honest, I don't think that's a bad thing. For a lot of kids, the push to play just about everything leads to burn out or just not pushing on from being pretty good at lots of sports to maybe becoming very good at a single one. It's definitely tough in rural counties to pull away from the GAA, there's a lot of pressure not to let the parish down, and I think that still exists, but a proper football career pathway should help parents and kids to make the choice to go in that direction.

Many of the top intercounty players in Kerry would have played both sports until fairly late on (Darran O'Sullivan, the Cliffords, Mikey Sheehy, among others), not to mention Billy Dennehy playing minor before his LoI career, but generally by the age of 16 it tends to be clear who has the potential to play at senior level, and specialise accordingly, so the idea that scheduling the KDL on a calendar year basis would see anyone extra "lost" to the GAA is rather unlikely.