The Football Traveller - football fixtures from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

tft

Republic of Ireland
For the 2009 season, the Premier Division has been reduced from 12 to 10 clubs, with just Dundalk promoted to replace Finn Harps and UCD (both relegated to Division 1) and Cobh Ramblers (dropped down to the third tier ‘A’ Championship). Shamrock have moved to their new ground, the Tallaght Stadium

Consequently, Division One has increased in size to 12 clubs with Mervue United promoted from the ‘A’ Championship and who will play home games at Galway United FC’s Terryland Park. Last season’s bottom club, Kildare County, lost a promotion/relegation play-off 5-2 on aggregate to Mervue but retained their place after Cobh failed to obtain a Division One licence. Limerick 37 are now known as Limerick FC.

The the third tier newstalk ‘A’ Championship commenced in mid-April. It is mandatory for clubs in the Premier Division to enter ‘reserve’ teams while clubs in Division One are invited to do so. Clubs from outside the two League of Ireland divisions must meet certain club licensing criteria in order to gain entry. Salthill Devon (Co. Galway) and Tullamore Town (Co. Offaly) were both members last season and are joined by Castlebar Celtic (Co. Mayo), Cobh Ramblers, FC Carlow (based at Tullow, Co. Carlow) and Tralee Dynamos (Co. Kerry).
Newstalk ‘A’ Championship – Group One: Castlebar Celtic, Derry City, Dundalk, Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Galway United, Sligo Rovers, Salthill Devon, Tullamore Town.
Newstalk ‘A’ Championship – Group Two: Bohemians, Bray Wanderers, Cobh Ramblers, Cork City, FC Carlow, Shamrock Rovers, Sporting Fingal, St Patrick’s Athletic, Tralee Dynamos.

Football Association of Ireland (www.fai.ie)
RTE Irish Soccer News
Leinster Senior (www.lsl.ie)
Munster Senior (www.munsterseniorleague.ie)
Athletic Union (www.aul.ie)