The Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises three tiers: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division[1] (which together form the League of Ireland) and the A Championship. The A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs.[2] It is split into two groups and promotion to the First Division is potentially achieved through it.
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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.[2] This is split into two groups, North and South.[3] Though the A Championship is not considered part of the League of Ireland it is the only league from which promotion can be achieved to it.[2]
Both the League of Ireland and the A Championship are 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 and A Championship 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] The A Championship is split into two regionalised groups which run parallel to each other. Group 1 consists of the northern based teams while Group 2 contains southern based teams, including Dublin based sides.
The 10 teams of the Premier Division play each other 4 times[5], while First Division teams play each other 3 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 teams that finish 8th and 9th in the Premier Division then play off to decide who must face the winner of a play off between the teams who finish 2nd and 3rd in the First Division. The winner of this final play off takes their place in the Premier Division the next season. The play off final takes place over the course of two legs while in the case of the previous play offs, the team that finished higher in the league gets home advantage for the one legged encounter.[9]
Promotion may also be achieved from the A Championship to the First Division should one of the non reserve sides that competes finish high enough in their group. In this case, the team plays a two legged play off against the team that finishes bottom of the First Division. This occurred in 2008 when Mervue United gained promotion at the expense of Kildare County.[10]
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League(s)/Division(s) |
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1 |
League of Ireland Premier Division |
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2 |
League of Ireland First Division |
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3 |
A Championship Pool 1 |
A Championship Pool 2 |
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Republic of Ireland junior football league systems, Though there is currently no promotion to the A Championship, clubs may apply to the FAI if they wish. 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 and A Championship sides in the FAI Cup[11][12] and the League of Ireland Cup.[13][14] Many former League of Ireland clubs have reverted to or joined the Leinster Senior League since leaving senior football.[15]
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