First Division Run-In

[legendz]

I dunno, there's a bit of faff in the current set-up. Why should 50% of the teams in the first divison be in with a chance of promotion? Or ninth-placed in the Premier get a bye to the final? Why not PD9 v FD4 and FD2 v FD3 over two legs, winners into the playoff (one fewer game than currently). OK, a first division team misses out on a playoff spot, but the Premier team faces the extra jeopardy of two banana skins and the full attention of the schadenfreude crowd, which makes it fun for neutrals too!.

That is an option. FD4 v FD5 in a quarter final in addition to your suggestion is an option as well. Only requires the First Division finishing a week before the Premier Division.

The current playoff including 2nd to 5th has succeeded in giving more FD clubs a lifeline. That was a big reason for going with it.

[Buckett]

I would doubt that there will be any tinkering until the new tier is in place with promotion to the FD.
I like the idea of PD9 joining the playoffs at the semi-final stage though.

[Eminence Grise]

That is an option. FD4 v FD5 in a quarter final in addition to your suggestion is an option as well. Only requires the First Division finishing a week before the Premier Division.

True, but it's an extra two games and elongates the playoffs.

The current playoff including 2nd to 5th has succeeded in giving more FD clubs a lifeline. That was a big reason for going with it.

I take that point. Out of curiousity, how many clubs who finished fifth have won the playoff? Not being a smart-alec asking: if the answer is as few as one, it offers some support, if not total vindication, for the bar being set at fifth.

[2 Year Contract]

True, but it's an extra two games and elongates the playoffs.



I take that point. Out of curiousity, how many clubs who finished fifth have won the playoff? Not being a smart-alec asking: if the answer is as few as one, it offers some support, if not total vindication, for the bar being set at fifth.

Since 5th place became a playoff spot in 2020, the results are;

2020 Longford (4th place) beat Shels to gain promotion
2021 UCD (3rd place) beat Waterford to gain promotion
2022 Waterford (2nd place) lost to UCD to stay down
2023 Waterford (2nd place) beat Cork to gain promotion
2024 Bray (5th place) lost to Drogheda to stay down