20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

[Kiki Balboa]

Ck United arent fron either Carlow town or Kilkenny either. The towns arent even close.

Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.

[Roones26]

Rather disappointing that there was no applications from Cavan/ monaghan areas or Mullingar which is a much bigger town than Sligo!

Monaghan United per the local paper did apply and were rejected

[Buckett]

Ck United arent fron either Carlow town or Kilkenny either. The towns arent even close.

Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.

Do they still play their games in Laois?

[culloty82]

Does anyone have an idea if Lucan or St Francis are likely to also keep a LSL side in addition to this team?

Killarney Celtic have "B" and "C" teams in the KDL already, so all depends on whether either already have reserve sides in the lower divisions, presumably.

[da bishop]

Delighted to see a pathway plan in place.but disappointed with the make up of the 15 selected so far albeit they passed the process for entry.Outside of the feeder club syndrome that will accompany some of the clubs the viability of having 3 clubs from Donegal with Harps in the first div doesnt stack up.2 clubs from Galway city with Galway Utd must also raise long term questions and then theres the prospects for two Kerry teams.Finance and results will determine many of these clubs futures.pity about Monaghan.

[Zico]

Wonder if Kerry FC will merge with Tralee Dynamos in the future and rebrand.[/QUOTE]

This would never happen nor is there any logical reason for it. Kerry FC was formed as a county team - franchise type model, whether people agree or disagree with this. The model has worked very well so far. Any club that goes alone in the county would struggle to unite a fan base, Killarney Celtic are definitely going to struggle here too. Killarney is a lot smaller than Tralee and soccer is a lot more popular in the north of the county. I wish them well and do believe it is good for the game in the county (all boats go up in a rising tide etc.).

[Kiki Balboa]

This would never happen nor is there any logical reason for it. Kerry FC was formed as a county team - franchise type model, whether people agree or disagree with this. The model has worked very well so far. Any club that goes alone in the county would struggle to unite a fan base, Killarney Celtic are definitely going to struggle here too. Killarney is a lot smaller than Tralee and soccer is a lot more popular in the north of the county. I wish them well and do believe it is good for the game in the county (all boats go up in a rising tide etc.).

I am definitely not saying the model doesnt work, Kerry have been a huge success and fair play to them, but there is a possibility of the 'County' team system would break down if Killarney is a success, and maybe Kerry FC would need to evolve, (maybe for example into a Tralee / North Kerry team (full of what ifs...)).

I think we are used to the British system, which has been relatively static for team identities , but across world football, teams develop in dynamic ways, merging and splitting, changing crests, colours and names. Even here, Wexford has changed into a 'county' team (ie, name of the county and using GAA colours). So I dont think its unimaginable for another LOI team, especially one still in its infancy compared to others, to undergo these changes.

Considering the amount of 'County Teams' that were introduced into LOI underage at different points (Meath, CK, Klub Kildare, Mayo, Cavan/Monaghan), there are lessons to be learned from the biggest success story, ie. Kerry, and important to watch how it evolves.

Even the fact that Killarney are now in the 3rd tier might show what will happen if these county clubs become established in the LOI. Would success for Mayo mean that we will soon have a Westport United? Meath FC push Trim Celtic? Newbridge Town is absorbing Klub Kildare, will something happen to CK United eventually? Its a dynamic process which is a little unique in world football at the moment.

[legendz]

I am definitely not saying the model doesnt work, Kerry have been a huge success and fair play to them, but there is a possibility of the 'County' team system would break down if Killarney is a success, and maybe Kerry FC would need to evolve, (maybe for example into a Tralee / North Kerry team (full of what ifs...)).

I think we are used to the British system, which has been relatively static for team identities , but across world football, teams develop in dynamic ways, merging and splitting, changing crests, colours and names. Even here, Wexford has changed into a 'county' team (ie, name of the county and using GAA colours). So I dont think its unimaginable for another LOI team, especially one still in its infancy compared to others, to undergo these changes.

Considering the amount of 'County Teams' that were introduced into LOI underage at different points (Meath, CK, Klub Kildare, Mayo, Cavan/Monaghan), there are lessons to be learned from the biggest success story, ie. Kerry, and important to watch how it evolves.

Even the fact that Killarney are now in the 3rd tier might show what will happen if these county clubs become established in the LOI. Would success for Mayo mean that we will soon have a Westport United? Meath FC push Trim Celtic? Newbridge Town is absorbing Klub Kildare, will something happen to CK United eventually? Its a dynamic process which is a little unique in world football at the moment.

The Kerry sporting landscape is familiar with a club representing a region and a club from that region going alone. Both can coexist. If a fully integrated tiered structure is on the cards from district league to LoI, it will become a bit more common place.
People can support their local "amateur" club and their local "elite" LoI club. Are there places where it would be one or the other?

"If the champions have been approved for a First Division licence, they will play against the team that finishes bottom of the First Division in a promotion-relegation play-off for a place in the second tier."
Agree with the winners having to have been approved for a First Division licence. Waste of time going through the formality of a playoff without it. It'll be interesting to see what First Division licence criteria are required. The usual standout for me is - will having academy sides be part of the licencing?
LoI clubs have invested in academy sides. If academy sides are required for a First Division licence, outside of CK and Mayo - are many of the other NL sides likely to invest in academy sides?

[pineapple stu]

Delighted to see a pathway plan in place.but disappointed with the make up of the 15 selected so far albeit they passed the process for entry.Outside of the feeder club syndrome that will accompany some of the clubs the viability of having 3 clubs from Donegal with Harps in the first div doesnt stack up.2 clubs from Galway city with Galway Utd must also raise long term questions and then theres the prospects for two Kerry teams.Finance and results will determine many of these clubs futures.pity about Monaghan.

I think what it's showing really is that there's a gap in terms of the USL and the CSL (both defunct) - so in a way it's no surprise there's clubs from those regions looking to find something new for themselves. Though even that invites questions as to the strength of the league - I don't know enough about the teams to really compare them against each other, and finances outside a regional league will likely impact that. But I'd have my doubts as to whether it's comparable in strength to the LSL or MSL, and that in itself may impact which way the league goes in future years.

[Kiki Balboa]

The Kerry sporting landscape is familiar with a club representing a region and a club from that region going alone. Both can coexist. If a fully integrated tiered structure is on the cards from district league to LoI, it will become a bit more common place.
People can support their local "amateur" club and their local "elite" LoI club. Are there places where it would be one or the other?

Again, not saying you are wrong... Just football is dynamic, and clubs do adapt. If this national league stays rather static, well fine, but if it joins together and becomes a regular LOI division, its not beyond belief that Kerry and Kilarney play against each other in the league eventually, bluring the lines of who is the elite one, and another identity might be needed (event a threat of this scenario might be enough)

Sure, similar to Kerry, look at in Louth, there is one elite team that does win league and pushes standards in Europe, and one part time/ amateur that most of the time just makes up the numbers in LOI, but every so often (and only a very very few times) they swap places. It does happen. (Joking).

[2 Year Contract]

Ck United arent fron either Carlow town or Kilkenny either. The towns arent even close.

On a similar trend, Lucan United's senior side don’t play in Lucan either. They play on the outskirts of Celbridge, a 30 minute walk from Celbridge town itself

[legendz]

Again, not saying you are wrong... Just football is dynamic, and clubs do adapt. If this national league stays rather static, well fine, but if it joins together and becomes a regular LOI division, its not beyond belief that Kerry and Kilarney play against each other in the league eventually, bluring the lines of who is the elite one, and another identity might be needed (event a threat of this scenario might be enough)

Sure, similar to Kerry, look at in Louth, there is one elite team that does win league and pushes standards in Europe, and one part time/ amateur that most of the time just makes up the numbers in LOI, but every so often (and only a very very few times) they swap places. It does happen. (Joking).

Kerry has built up through the academy leagues since 2016. There's no blurring of those lines in Kerry.
Not saying you are wrong either. Killarney could pick up local players with a point to prove and cause problems in an MSC clash at least. Kerry will have to handle communication of being a club for the region while recognising the freedom of clubs to plot their own course. Could be tricky if there is a spiky encounter.
Professionalism seems more attainable for Kerry than Killarney. Again, if the pathway from district leagues to LoI does get integrated - professional and local amateur ambitions should be able to coexist.