20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

[nr637]

Lets list possible teams for the proposed North & South Divisions.

Some teams already mentioned are a Mayo FC team representing the Mayo football leagues and CK United covering the Carlow/Kilkenny areas, I think.

Just thought it might be interesting to see what fans around the country think what areas need representing outside the existing areas already covered!

[cobhlad]

Tipperary (St Michael’s), Kildare (Maynooth), Clare (Newmarket) are three areas that certainly have clubs capable of stepping up in counties not represented already. Whether they will is another thing.

UCC (Cork), Salthill Devon (Galway), Villa (Waterford) are all clubs in areas with a team already but these regions probably could sustain it and help give football to young players coming out of the academy not able for the step up yet.

[nr637]

I suppose the clubs in Munster & Leinster Senior leagues in the main will not be interested from an issue with facilities. Some of the grounds would really not be suitable. Maybe Midleton, current champions of the Munster Senior league might be tempted and clubs like St Francis former league club and probably Lucan United or St. Mochtas. I hope it doesn't get dominated with more Dublin City clubs

[Neish]

Rumors for Letterkenny Rovers and Cockhill Celtic(Buncrana) being interested in entering from Donegal, Fanad United would be another that could possibly enter the North league

[passinginterest]

The likes of Greystones United, Arklow Town and Gorey Rangers along the East coast would all have decent setups and might be the kind of clubs interested. Pretty sure they all have extensive schoolboy sections too. Maynooth would be another club that have been doing well in recent years in LSL etc. but nor sure what their underage section is like. Some of the Dublin based LSL sides might be tempted. Someone like Malahide/Skerries/Swords who'd be outside the traditional club hinterlands. Looking at other clubs in top LSL divisions and from outside Dublin, you'd have the likes of Edenderry, Tullamore (Offaly), Willow Park (Westmeath), Newbridge, Leixlip (Kildare), Dunboyne (Meath).

A lot will depend on costs and licencing requirements you'd image. Money talks, so if the FAI can sell it as a way for clubs to generate funds, rather than lose money, that will make or break it!

[Martinho II]

Cant rule out the likes of the NE either Monaghan Utd or Monaghan/Cavan side?

[DCSIL]

Would this stop Harps joining the Northern Irish leagues if there’s less travelling?

[culloty82]

Given Killarney Celtic have little domestic challenge in the KDL, they may be tempted to put in an application, even if Kerry could yet be joining them in the Southern Section by that stage. Pike and Fairview Rangers would surely be interested from Limerick, and possibly Rockmount from Cork?

[EatYerGreens]

Rumors for Letterkenny Rovers and Cockhill Celtic(Buncrana) being interested in entering from Donegal, Fanad United would be another that could possibly enter the North league

I couldn't see Fanad lasting tbh. They're just too far away from everything, and their population and catchment area is too small (the village has about 700 people). The mileage and especially journey time they'd clock up would be bonkers, even in a regionalised league. They're about 45mins north of Letterkenny as it is, for example. It would take over 2 and a half hours to get to Monaghan, and that's without leaving Ulster.

Letterkenny makes perfect sense for me. It has the population, but I've no idea what sort of facilities the club has up there?

[legendz]

The first teams that took part in the A Championship from '08 to '11:
2008) Mervue United, Salthill Devon and Tullamore Town.
2009) Salthill Devon, Tullamore Town, Cobh Ramblers, Castlebar Celtic, F.C. Carlow and Tralee Dynamos.
2010) Castlebar Celtic, Tullamore Town, Cobh Ramblers, F.C. Carlow and Tralee Dynamos.
2011) Fanad United, F.C. Carlow, Tralee Dynamos and Cobh Ramblers.
Mayo FC, Klub Kildare and CK United from the academy leagues seem to have LoI ambitions. Hard to comment on anyone else. Tullamore Town are the only ones listed above in an area without LoI football. Castlebar, Carlow, Tralee and Tullamore had the rug pulled from under them.
It'll be interesting to see who are actually waiting in the wings to join National League.

[nigel-harps1954]

I couldn't see Fanad lasting tbh. They're just too far away from everything, and their population and catchment area is too small (the village has about 700 people). The mileage and especially journey time they'd clock up would be bonkers, even in a regionalised league. They're about 45mins north of Letterkenny as it is, for example. It would take over 2 and a half hours to get to Monaghan, and that's without leaving Ulster.

Letterkenny makes perfect sense for me. It has the population, but I've no idea what sort of facilities the club has up there?

There isn't really a Fanad village. I would also wager they have zero interest in the new third tier.

Letterkenny Rovers are definitely the best set up. They have a decent 200 seater stand, plans for a new clubhouse and dressing rooms, right in Letterkenny town, but they have very little support in the town itself. They have plenty of money behind them though and basically have an ex-Harps team playing Donegal League at the minute including Mark Anthony McGinley, Keith Cowan, BJ Banda, Adrian Delap and more. They 100% have an eye on the new third tier.

[joey B]

You’d think Cockhill will be giving serious consideration to the new league aswell,far and the best intermediate side in the county when they had an intermediate league to play in…..

[Nesta99]

Did I read someone saying that Cavan/Monaghan have gone? If so when? Dundalk need to seriously tap that source for the academy with catchement growth in to east Monaghan at the very least and this would be the way to do it. If Cavan Moaghan are still going as an acedamy but not interest in LoI structures than a partnership with Dundalk is a no brainer.

[cláirseach]

Around the death of the USL there was an understanding on Cockhill's end that they would have a role in the upcoming third tier. Of course, more time has since passed than expected.

Agree with most posts above in that I'd also expect interested from Letterkenny Rovers but I think Fanad is just guessing, I don't think they'll be involved.

[legendz]

Monaghan & Cavan, Meath, Laois & Offaly, Tipperary and Clare seem the 5 standout areas without academy football at least.
Treaty United currently seem incapable of being a club for the mid west region. Others might have detail on any neighbouring LoI links with Monaghan & Cavan, Meath and Laois & Offaly. Any strategic planning for the academy leagues should possibly be looking to expand to those 5 regions.
Of some of the clubs mentioned by others on here, I'll be interested to see if the formation of the National League encourages them to put academy structures in place. The National League pathway might be part of the encouragement they require.
Of regions currently with LoI clubs from posts by others on here it seems 1 or 2 - Dublin, 1 - Cork, 1 - Wicklow and 1 - Donegal might be tempted?
Mayo FC, Klub Kildare, CK United, 5 regions without academy football and 5 clubs from regions with LoI representation works out at an upper potential of 13 clubs. Excluding the 5 regions without academy football, 8 first team clubs seems a more realistic prospect for 2026 at a stretch. Getting nearer to 20 will required B teams and universities getting on board. Shamrock Rovers are the only club with a proven track record for an enthusiasm for a B team.

[cláirseach]

The (unreliable) rumours I had heard around Dublin involved St Francis and Maynooth. Dan McDonnell has mentioned Lucan United (their location is a bit of a pity).

[Buckett]

Ballymun was another club that I heard could be interested

[culloty82]

Did I read someone saying that Cavan/Monaghan have gone? If so when? Dundalk need to seriously tap that source for the academy with catchement growth in to east Monaghan at the very least and this would be the way to do it. If Cavan Moaghan are still going as an acedamy but not interest in LoI structures than a partnership with Dundalk is a no brainer.

Having a quick look in FAI Connect, they don't appear to have played in the underage leagues since 2022?

[nigel-harps1954]

I think people are underestimating this. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more than 20 applications and a few teams have to be turned away. The north/south divide makes it a hell of a lot more appealing to prospective sides. There'll be no more than 2 or 3 hours travel for the majority of sides for away games.

There's a lot of clubs in the country who'll fancy a crack at this without the full commmitment of joining the LOI senior ranks in an already established First Division.

The key to this will be extra detail provided to any clubs from the FAI.

What might be interesting to watch, would be the potential for representative sides from junior league areas without a club, and whether the FAI might look to encourage such an 'entity' to join, as opposed to a club.

[legendz]

I think people are underestimating this. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more than 20 applications and a few teams have to be turned away. The north/south divide makes it a hell of a lot more appealing to prospective sides. There'll be no more than 2 or 3 hours travel for the majority of sides for away games.

It is perfectly understanding to underestimating it after the A Championship. That was also North and South.
Didn't Mayo League more or less have to form Mayo FC? I don't expect "entities" to be allowed. It will have to be Meath FC for example. Club structures will have to be put in place.