20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

**MoydowMonty** · 16/12/2024, 12:36 PM

Is there a timeline for when this 3rd tier is expected to be in place? Are we looking at 2026, 2027 or further beyond?

**Shearer** · 16/12/2024, 5:51 PM

Only club in Limerick who are ambitious enough to apply would be Aisling Annacotty and maybe Newcastle West Town, but I doubt the latter will.

Fairview Rangers have two stands making up an impressive ground but, like a lot of clubs, would rather be a big fish in a small pond.

**wonder88** · 16/12/2024, 7:55 PM

I would hope that one or both of Salthill Devon and Mervue utd apply. It would give an opportunity to local Galway players to develop and those older players of reasonable ability to play for a team near them. In terms of support, I wonder what the target the FAI have, would 250-300 be sufficient?
Good point made by Legentz above, that local rivalries can suit certain regions, clusters of clubs is a feature of many leagues. Cork Celtic/Hibs games I am sure where big draws, maybe Cobh going into private owners may bring back the big derby games down there.

**CorribsideSteve** · 16/12/2024, 9:09 PM

Originally Posted by Shearer

Only club in Limerick who are ambitious enough to apply would be Aisling Annacotty and maybe Newcastle West Town, but I doubt the latter will.

Fairview Rangers have two stands making up an impressive ground but, like a lot of clubs, would rather be a big fish in a small pond.

7000 people live in or around NCW, and it's the county town, with a straight, wide, main road all the way to Limerick, where it's just 30 minutes away. You would think surely at some future point they'd give it a go. They must have had a horrendous time in the LOI in the 80's to have never tried again, but the LOI was beyond puerile amateurishness in those days, and the town must be three times bigger now also.

**Shearer** · 16/12/2024, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by CorribsideSteve

7000 people live in or around NCW, and it's the county town, with a straight, wide, main road all the way to Limerick, where it's just 30 minutes away. You would think surely at some future point they'd give it a go. They must have had a horrendous time in the LOI in the 80's to have never tried again, but the LOI was beyond puerile amateurishness in those days, and the town must be three times bigger now also.

I read that they had planned on returning to the league but it never happened for whatever reason.

Hypothetical, but if you had a team like Newcastle representing West Limerick you would be drawing from a strong enough playing pool in the region. Lot of players going into the city for the "expenses" might just stay.

I don't think it will happen just yet but I would say they would be more forward thinking than the "bigger" clubs in the city and county.

**legendz** · 17/12/2024, 5:30 PM

Established clubs can probably join the National League and build their academy structures later. Any new club being formed could do the same but they are possibly better off building through the youth leagues. It'll be very left field for a Meath FC to arrive in the National League. Maybe people might get it. Mayo FC, Klub Kildare and CK United have been getting established through the academy leagues. Not so left field that they would look to join the National League.

**Crgalway** · 18/12/2024, 9:39 PM

I�d imagine limerick fc will apply for new league. Seems to be a bit of unrest also with treaty and their fans at the moment

**Martinho II** · 19/12/2024, 1:48 PM

Originally Posted by Crgalway

I�d imagine limerick fc will apply for new league. Seems to be a bit of unrest also with treaty and their fans at the moment

Thats interesting. Considering the two clubs dont get on where will Limerick FC play?

**sbgawa** · 19/12/2024, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

Thats interesting. Considering the two clubs dont get on where will Limerick FC play?

Understatement of the year

**Shearer** · 27/12/2024, 8:23 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

Thats interesting. Considering the two clubs dont get on where will Limerick FC play?

Limerick Football Club don't even play in Limerick.

They got the boot from UL and Hogan Park and play their underage games in Charleville, Co. Cork.

Which is hilarious because Kilkenny United got removed from the WNL for not training in Kilkenny, amongst other spurious reasons.

**nr637** · 06/01/2025, 6:37 PM

Anyone know of teams interested in the new third tier, I heard several MSL teams are considering their options. UCC have the facilities and sports structure in place. I think that a number of the Third level/Universities are showing an interest. The option of scholarships are a great attraction to players.

**nigel-harps1954** · 06/01/2025, 8:19 PM

Can't see why many universities would be interested when it's outside the college year.

**EatYerGreens** · 07/01/2025, 1:22 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

Anyone know of teams interested in the new third tier, I heard several MSL teams are considering their options. UCC have the facilities and sports structure in place. I think that a number of the Third level/Universities are showing an interest. The option of scholarships are a great attraction to players.

Would love UCC to be in the league, if for no other reason than they've had some great-looking sports shirts over the years with the skull and cross-bones on

**Nesta99** · 07/01/2025, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Can't see why many universities would be interested when it's outside the college year.

If its a scholarship model then you could have players available outside the academic year. Healthcare courses often run over a 12 month academic year so maybe as part of the course/scholarship you dont have to use the traditional college calender.

**Eminence Grise** · 07/01/2025, 1:51 PM

I'd be surprised if any HEI entered it. Too much scrutiny on finances after dodgy property deals in UL, and UCC and TU Dublin running large deficits. The final bill for creating the TU sector hasn't come in yet and I'd be suprised if only TU Dublin was in debt. There'd be war with the unions if half a million was set aside to enter a team while classes of students paying anything up to 15k pa (more in some cases) are being taught by non-tenured (and never likely to be) lecturers paid by the hour.

Out of interest, Nesta, do you have any idea what a scholarship might be worth? My (limited) knowledge of the model would see fee waivers and access to coaching and facilities as the HEI's major financial input, but not necessarily payments to athletes.

**Acornvilla** · 07/01/2025, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

I'd be surprised if any HEI entered it. Too much scrutiny on finances after dodgy property deals in UL, and UCC and TU Dublin running large deficits. The final bill for creating the TU sector hasn't come in yet and I'd be suprised if only TU Dublin was in debt. There'd be war with the unions if half a million was set aside to enter a team while classes of students paying anything up to 15k pa (more in some cases) are being taught by non-tenured (and never likely to be) lecturers paid by the hour.

Out of interest, Nesta, do you have any idea what a scholarship might be worth? My (limited) knowledge of the model would see fee waivers and access to coaching and facilities as the HEI's major financial input, but not necessarily payments to athletes.

I'm sure there's many different levels of scholarship per school but for one example, just before Treaty United entered the league, my sister was on a scholarship in LIT (now TUS) to play for their women's team managed by Dominic Foley at the time, for her it was basically no fees for 4 years and access to training/coaching and all that, not sure there was anything on top for accommodation etc.

**nr637** · 07/01/2025, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Can't see why many universities would be interested when it's outside the college year.

Well UCD haven't done so badly outside the college year over the years!

**Eminence Grise** · 07/01/2025, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

I'm sure there's many different levels of scholarship per school but for one example, just before Treaty United entered the league, my sister was on a scholarship in LIT (now TUS) to play for their women's team managed by Dominic Foley at the time, for her it was basically no fees for 4 years and access to training/coaching and all that, not sure there was anything on top for accommodation etc.

Pretty much my own experience with students on scholarships. Fairly minimal stuff for anybody already eligible for a Susi grant - just the coaching and facilities. Campus accommodation would be very desirable, but for a squad of 18 that's the guts of 180k in foregone revenue. Say half that amount again in waived fees - you're looking at a 270k commitment before a ball is kicked. More if the fee waivers include postgrads or international students.

Originally Posted by nr637

Well UCD haven't done so badly outside the college year over the years!

True, but they were already in the system so unless they withdrew the choice was made for them. Also taught and research postgrads are year-round students so they'd be available. (Not that I can think of anyone doing a four-year PhD while playing for UCD.)