Republic of Ireland football league system
The Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises two tiers, the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division,[1] which together form the League of Ireland. (Officially known as the SSE Airtricity League for sponsorship reasons)
Expansion
Initially, there was just a single tier in Irish senior football; the League of Ireland which consisted of eight clubs. However over time, as more and more clubs joined, a second tier was added in 1985.[1] This split the league of Ireland into the Premier Division and First Division. In 2008 the decision was made to add a third tier to the system; the A Championship, which also featured reserve teams from some League of Ireland clubs.[2] It was split into two groups, North and South.[3] Though the A Championship was not considered part of the League of Ireland, it was the only league from which promotion could be accessed to it, which Galway sides Mervue United and Salthill Devon notably achieved in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The A championship was disbanded at the end of the 2011 season.
At present there is no relegation from the First Division. Expressions of interest for application to the League of Ireland are extended to potential participants on occasion, with Cabinteely F.C. becoming the latest club to enter the First Division, replacing Shamrock Rovers B.
Structure
The League of Ireland is governed by the Football Association of Ireland.[1] Up until 2007 however, the League of Ireland was governed by the clubs themselves. All teams in the League of Ireland play in the FAI Cup and the League of Ireland Cup. The season runs from March to November since the introduction of summer soccer.[4]
Promotion/Relegation
The 12 teams of the Premier Division play each other 3 times,[5] while First Division teams play each other 4 times over the course of a season.[6] The team that finishes bottom of the Premier Division is automatically relegated to the First Division,[7] while the team that finishes top of the First Division is promoted.[8] The team that finishes 11th in the Premier Division will compete in a promotion/relegation play-off against the winner of a previous play off between the teams who finish 2nd and 3rd in the First Division. Each play off takes place over the course of two legs.[9]
Third level
The next highest levels of football in Ireland are the Leinster Senior League, Munster Senior League and Ulster Senior League. Teams from these leagues often compete against League of Ireland sides in the FAI Cup[10][11] and the League of Ireland Cup.[12][13] Many former League of Ireland clubs have reverted to or joined the Leinster Senior League since leaving senior football.[14]
If all the leagues of the Republic of Ireland are put together, regardless of promotion or relegation, the pyramid looks like this:
|
Level |
League(s)/Division(s) |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
League of Ireland Premier Division |
|||||||||||
|
2 |
League of Ireland First Division |
|||||||||||
|
Connacht |
Leinster |
Munster |
Ulster |
|||||||||
|
3 |
No League at this Level |
14 clubs - 2 relegations |
(Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division) |
(Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League Senior Division) |
||||||||
|
4 |
No League at this Level |
14 clubs - 2 promotions, 2 relegations
|
(Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Senior 1st Division) |
No League at this Level |
||||||||
|
5 |
No League at this Level |
14 clubs - 2 promotions, 2 relegations |
(Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Senior 2nd Division) |
No League at this Level |
||||||||
|
6 |
No League at this Level |
14 clubs - 2 promotions, 2 relegations |
No League at this Level |
No League at this Level |
||||||||
|
7 |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
||||||||
|
8 |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
||||||||
|
9 |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
|
||||||||
|
10 |
(All divisions run in parallel) |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
No League at this Level |
||||||||
|
11 |
(All divisions run in parallel) |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
No League at this Level |
||||||||
|
12 |
(All divisions run in parallel)
|
|
No League at this Level |
|||||||||
|
13 |
No League at this Level |
|
No League at this Level |
No League at this Level |
||||||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]<
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
