First Division Run-In

**Kiki Balboa** · 20/09/2025, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

I hear this every year for both Divisions - it is a constant of LOI that every year is a bad year.

How can both Divisions be consistently having a "weak" year , year-after-year? This is despite the LOI being overall far more competitive in Europe.

Honestly, the standard in 1st Division is relatively high for a 1st Division in LOI, and is increasing every year I have been watching games.

Of course there is a difference between it and the Premier, but overall, I was pretty surprised with the type of football being played and what players can do.

Having watched Dundalk in the 00s, Drogheda in the 2010s, and now Dundalk in 2020s, there is a huge improvement all across the board in the Division.

Athlone and Longford are hardly hopeless teams (apart from the Athlone cb who went to Palermo) , and offer something. Like the Premier, there are a lot of teams around the same standards, so if you can rise above it, you can get wins while everyone else consistently drops points (ala Dundalk and Rovers), and a bit below, plenty of losses. But, there are very few easy games in the Division.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cork (or Sligo/Galway/Waterford) struggled in the Division next year, or whoever is there over the next couple of years.

Dundalk in a way got lucky that there was a crop of Academy talent to come into the team. I could imagine in different years, Dundalk would have struggled big time.

Of course teams and leagues like ours go in cycles, but you cant deny the overall trend that both Divisions as a whole are getting better and better.

Just noticed this too, the FAI Cup has had a 1st Division team in the semi finals every year since 2022 (Kerry, Wexford, Treaty, Galway).

Of course, its a cup, maybe good draws help - still surprising.

TLDR: The bottom and middles of both Divisions have seen steady increases of standards on the pitch.

**Stevie mac** · 20/09/2025, 1:08 PM

I can only comment on the level of opposition we have faced and the teams we've played against have been overall poor. Only one match this season will I say we were beaten by the better side. That was bray away in the summer. Most other matches, I left thinking when we won but should of played better
Cobh our nearest rivals never laid a glove on us all season and when the pressure came they folded faster than superman on laundry dry. If bray or UCD hadn't of had such a poor start then who knows.

If you compare our last time in FD the quality then was far better. At least 3 teams each season from 06 to 08 were neck and neck (06 rovers, dundalk and Galway, 07 cobh Harps and dundalk, 08 shels dundalk and waterford. There were always a challengers and some sort of tug o war for a player.

The quality definitely is not there as what was a generation ago. Maybe thats demographics as its a young mans league now

**outspoken** · 20/09/2025, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by Stevie mac

I can only comment on the level of opposition we have faced and the teams we've played against have been overall poor. Only one match this season will I say we were beaten by the better side. That was bray away in the summer. Most other matches, I left thinking when we won but should of played better
Cobh our nearest rivals never laid a glove on us all season and when the pressure came they folded faster than superman on laundry dry. If bray or UCD hadn't of had such a poor start then who knows.

If you compare our last time in FD the quality then was far better. At least 3 teams each season from 06 to 08 were neck and neck (06 rovers, dundalk and Galway, 07 cobh Harps and dundalk, 08 shels dundalk and waterford. There were always a challengers and some sort of tug o war for a player.

The quality definitely is not there as what was a generation ago. Maybe thats demographics as its a young mans league now

Defintely way better young talent in the division now but it's a poor standard compared to the top flight

**Kiki Balboa** · 20/09/2025, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Defintely way better young talent in the division now but it's a poor standard compared to the top flight

I mean, of course it is, thats how Divisions in football work.

**Nesta99** · 20/09/2025, 8:27 PM

Yeah thanks for that Longford! I feel a tad justified in not calling it all done and dusted until it is! As Ive said many times, Ive never known Dundalk to do much the easy way!!

**LTFC** · 20/09/2025, 8:44 PM

Did not expect that, but really deserved win for the Town tonight.

**Longfordian** · 20/09/2025, 8:44 PM

Prescient comment from Kiki Balboa above! I really like this young squad we have I must say. They give everything, it doesn't work out every week but they'll keep turning up.

**LTFC** · 20/09/2025, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Prescient comment from Kiki Balboa above! I really like this young squad we have I must say. They give everything, it doesn't work out every week but they'll keep turning up.

Maybe Dundalk a bit off tonight, but the performance in the second half was very good.

**Stevie mac** · 21/09/2025, 9:14 AM

A bump in the road. Well deserved Longford. Dundalk missing key experienced players.

Despite the defeat an overall good weekend. Only 6 points required out of 12 to win the league.

**Stevie mac** · 26/09/2025, 9:01 PM

Done close thread

**Buckett** · 26/09/2025, 9:10 PM

The final playoff spot hasn't been decided yet.
Longford are on a good run of form lately, they're away to Treaty next, could they possibly take the final playoff place?

**Longfordian** · 26/09/2025, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

The final playoff spot hasn't been decided yet.
Longford are on a good run of form lately, they're away to Treaty next, could they possibly take the final playoff place?

I very much doubt it but it would be nice for the team even if we have zero chance to go up. And less than zero chance of survival if we did go up.

**legendz** · 27/09/2025, 6:24 AM

Longford are definitely on a bit of a charge. Going on a run at a good time.

**De Town** · 27/09/2025, 6:41 AM

Nah we're a couple of points and more than a couple of goals difference too far back. Nice to see us finishing strongly though.

**thebronze14** · 27/09/2025, 9:41 AM

Cobh would give the Prem team in playoff a good rattle. Very good last night, dispite us being pitiful

**nigel-harps1954** · 27/09/2025, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by thebronze14

Cobh would give the Prem team in playoff a good rattle. Very good last night, dispite us being pitiful

Have said it all year, Cobh the team to impress me most out of all the First Division sides. If it goes to the final day with three points separating them from Dundalk, I'd fancy them to win it.

**Buckett** · 27/09/2025, 10:18 AM

Dundalk have beaten them three times already this season though

**Nesta99** · 27/09/2025, 10:30 AM

If it comes to a last days promotion play-off like game, that we have beaten then 3 times wouldnt be particularly important, momentum would be with Cobh and Dundalk would have thrown away a very strong position. Its hard to know whether Cobh are a bit brittle in the ust win games like v Dundalk or whether Dundalk have secret gears we can go up when needed but Bray are the side that impressed me.... in relative terms.