r/LeagueOfIreland • u/fwaig Bohemians • 6d ago
News Mayo FC remain in pole position for League of Ireland third tier berth
https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/09/02/mayo-fc-remain-in-pole-position-for-league-of-ireland-third-tier-berth/36
u/Stats8 6d ago
Mad that the only avenue to get any info on this division has consistently been the Connaught Telegraph.
Fair play to them for covering, but it almost always brings up more questions than answers
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u/leo_murray Cork City 6d ago
I think these and the Donegal Leader (i think it’s called) have been the best for bringing this news. The FA fucking I have of course been completely radio silent, probably for fear that it’ll all come crashing down like the aligned calendar debacle did.
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u/Stats8 6d ago
Agreed. They’ll let everyone know about Ireland players turning up at a hotel for training, yet nothing around these hugely important developments…
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u/No_Pilot395 Treaty United 6d ago
They have categorically no idea what they are doing on literally anything they do
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u/NorthKoreanMissile7 5d ago
Lets not forget it's going to be an entirely amateur league with clubs that either have no current fanbases or miniscule existing fanbases.
LOI was niche enough until recently where it became a bit more trendy, hardly surprising a future amateur league isn't getting loads of national coverage.
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u/Geronimooon Sligo Rovers 6d ago
"The FAI’s preference for county representative clubs over local town sides has strengthened Mayo’s hand..."
Followed by
"A decision is expected by mid-September, with ten licences up for grabs for the inaugural campaign. Mayo FC, Klub Kildare, Cockhill Celtic, Salthill Devon and several Dublin hopefuls are in the mix...."
Completely understand Dublin is far and away the biggest population but does it need more teams?
Seems like a contradictory statement, be disappointed to hear some regional teams may miss out at the expense of a few more Dublin teams getting into the league.
Albeit, I have zero idea of how many regional/county/non Dublin teams are showing interest over and above the 10 places (that aren't mentioned above).
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u/cula_bula Shamrock Rovers 5d ago
Based on population and number of applicants, there are guaranteed to be Dublin teams admitted. I just hope they are in areas that would be far away enough from the current LOI sides that they could build their own identity, say like Swords.
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u/59reach Wexford 6d ago
Yeah I don't think adding another northside Dublin team will do any good, when you've Shels, Bohs and the likes already well rooted in the area. I think a team or two to help more young players play LOI football will help sure, but half the league being Dublin would be a mistake. I know Cabo tried before, but I think that area of south county Dublin is still relatively untapped.
I really like Sligo's model, for example playing home games on a Saturday, as a way to draw crowds in who might be working or going to college in Dublin/Galway/elsewhere during the week. Would be great to see any third tier clubs in the likes of Mayo or Kildare follow similar, even ourselves whenever we get out of Ferrycarrig.
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u/NorthKoreanMissile7 5d ago
Completely understand Dublin is far and away the biggest population but does it need more teams?
Yeah I think this is a bad thing, attendances in Dublin are very good now, we don't need things spread too thin when there's enough clubs.
And if those high Dublin attendances extended to 3rd tier teams and the league went semi pro, you don't want a couple of Dublin teams having more money, being successful and knocking Kerry, Athlone, Longford or whoever down to the 3rd tier when they're not going to add much and it takes away from a place that can use a football team.
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u/fwaig Bohemians 6d ago
Interesting that it says 10 licenses are up for grabs for the initial season. Does that mean 10 per regional division ie North and South or 10 overall I wonder. A snippet below;
''A decision is expected by mid-September, with ten licences up for grabs for the inaugural campaign. Mayo FC, Klub Kildare, Cockhill Celtic, Salthill Devon and several Dublin hopefuls are in the mix, with the national body eager to broaden the footprint of the league as part of wider UEFA-aligned reforms.
The third tier – entirely amateur – will be split on a regional basis for year one, running over a shortened season before moving to a full calendar in 2027 to align with the Premier and First Divisions. The FAI see it as a vital plank in building development pathways and strengthening the case for additional European competition slots.''
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u/cula_bula Shamrock Rovers 6d ago
Im assuming that they mean there are 10 licenses up for grabs in the Northern Section, which Mayo would be in. The Southern section is irrelevant to them.
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u/PangolinAble9291 Shamrock Rovers 3d ago
That wouldn’t make any sense at all.
Pretty sure it’s 20 licences up for grabs then the ten most Northern teams go into the northern section and the ten most southern teams go into the southern section.
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u/cula_bula Shamrock Rovers 3d ago
That is correct. We were pointing out that the article is incorrect and were trying to understand why the author believed there was only 10 licenses available for Mayo FC.
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u/DonerMeatOnChips Finn Harps 5d ago
Wonder what the logic is around it strengthening the case for additional Euro slots - is that organic/indirect as a result of the third division eventually generating a better pipeline for players to the top of the premier division? Surely those players would already make it there if they were going to as the alternative path is overseas which isn’t likely to change as a result of the third division?
There aren’t any more Euro places available because we have “another division” are there? Feels like a real stupid question
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u/Dilf_Hunter367 St Patrick's Athletic 6d ago
Local priest confirmed to me that this team would also be cursed
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u/irishscouser1892 Kerry FC 6d ago
I might be wrong, but weren't they meant to join the first division next year?
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u/Lost_Statistician_61 Galway United 6d ago
You'd have to assume that he meant 20 licenses up for grabs or 10 licenses for the northern section, since he didn't clarify that there'd be a change in amount of teams involved.
That should have been the headline if it was the case.
Interesting to read that there'll be decisions made in a few weeks time. Hopefully we'll hear some proper communication from the FAI on the matter
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u/fwaig Bohemians 6d ago
You'd have to assume that he meant 20 licenses up for grabs or 10 licenses for the northern section
The other teams listed could arguably all be Northern teams too, I guess, depending on applicants.
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u/NilFhiosAige Kerry FC 6d ago
Kildare are one of those borderline clubs that could be moved to the southern section in order to make up numbers if required, haven't heard much about those, apart from Villa FC (Waterford), CK United, and Peake Villa (Thurles)?
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u/fwaig Bohemians 6d ago
South East Technological University (SETU), a returning Limerick FC, Arklow Town, UCC, Midleton and Newmarket from Clare are a few that have been rumoured or declared interest.
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u/whsubehebebr 6d ago
Midelton have definitely applied for sure as have ucc but I’d be quite worried about ucc facilities as the pitch they play on now is absolutely shocking and practically can’t be used if it rains
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u/AulMoanBag Shelbourne 6d ago
The Ulster senior league has teams with similar quality to Finn Harps
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u/Stats8 6d ago
The Ulster Senior League doesn’t exist anymore
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u/NorthKoreanMissile7 5d ago
They should bring it back, have a clear pyramid, bottom team from each province plays a promotion/relegation play off against the winner of their provincial senior league, then you have a proper pyramid from top to bottom.
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u/Mulled_wine 6d ago
What will the third tier mean for the FAI cup. Will it be an expansion of teams to the first proper round while still keeping the junior and intermediate qualifiers?
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u/cula_bula Shamrock Rovers 6d ago
All that’s been said so far is that being in the 3rd tier means direct qualification to the FAI Cup.
Anything about how Intermediate/Junior clubs will qualify as well or potential changes to the format hasnt been mentioned yet as far as Im aware.
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u/Bill_Badbody 6d ago
The pathway plan mentioned a new "amateur FAI cup".
But didn't clarify whether this would be just for the 3rd division or something else.
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u/WhyDidWeTakeDarko 6d ago
I don’t see how this club will have any avenue for success in the long term. Between funding , location , support I feel there’s so much working against it. I hope I’m very wrong !
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u/Plastic_Review5119 5d ago
Where do you get this idea? Mayo would be strong on all those points, in my opinion. County teams doesn't suit everywhere with town rivalrys etc. and although Mayo has a competitive league, castlebar, westport, etc, I'd still fancy Mayo to band well together and gather some of their gaa county wide support. Mayo fc are one of the bankers for this division and id imagine a division 1 team before too long.
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u/leo_murray Cork City 6d ago
Gorgeous plot of land that Umbro Milebush Park is. Not awfully far away from Castlebar and absolutely acres of space for expansions, terraces, fanzones, the lot.