What a Kerry On! League of Ireland 2023

[Discordant Resonance]

Pretty much the ideal inaugural league fixture for Kerry FC, as a home Munster derby against Cobh should ensure a bumper attendance:



That said, one would expect Waterford to start as second-tier title favourites, narrowly edging out Harps and Galway, while Kerry, Cobh and Longford look to battle it out to avoid the wooden spoon.

St Pat's v Derry is the standout Premier fixture, while Cork will fancy an upset at home to Bohs:

[elguapo4]

Bohs lose centre back Ciaran Kelly to Bradford City. Not one I would have seen going to England, but apparently Mark Hughes is keen

[Discordant Resonance]

Early league predictions:

Premier Division:

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Derry City
3. St Pats
4. Dundalk
5. Sligo Rovers
6. Bohemians
7. Cork City
8. Shelbourne
9. Drogheda United
10. UCD

First Division:

1. Waterford
2. Finn Harps
3. Galway United
4. Wexford
5. Treaty United
6. Athlone Town
7. Bray Wanderers
8. Longford Town
9. Kerry
10. Cobh Ramblers

[Discordant Resonance]

And the Women's PD fixtures:

[elguapo4]

Early league predictions:

Premier Division:

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. Derry City
3. St Pats
4. Dundalk
5. Sligo Rovers
6. Bohemians
7. Cork City
8. Shelbourne
9. Drogheda United
10. UCD

First Division:

1. Waterford
2. Finn Harps
3. Galway United
4. Wexford
5. Treaty United
6. Athlone Town
7. Bray Wanderers
8. Longford Town
9. Kerry
10. Cobh Ramblers

I don't think you're far off, but I'll wait until closer to the time to give my tuppence worth

[Patrick Thistle]

If you've never been to a game in Ireland, where would be a good place to start?

[elguapo4]

The most choice is Dublin, with five Premier division clubs. Tickets are generally easy to get, although Bohemians games tend to sell out. If you're thinking of coming over, let me know, I should be able to sort out something.

[ursus arctos]

It was a very long time ago, but I very much enjoyed my trip to Dalymount Park

[Discordant Resonance]

Both Cork and Waterford have decent grounds, with tickets in plentiful supply, so can also recommend either if you're visiting that end of the country for a weekend.

[Discordant Resonance]

The League seem determined to annoy everyone by dripfeeding fixture rounds, the Patrick's Day set being published today:

https://twitter.com/LeagueofIreland/status/1602634438776483840

The fact that the First Division is a round behind the Premier rather surprisingly suggests that there might only be 27 matches per team in that division.

[George C.]

If you've never been to a game in Ireland, where would be a good place to start?

Anywhere on the East Coast, as in clubs from Bray to Belfast...

Plus further afield of course.

But public transport is highly mediocre/variable...

[elguapo4]

Public transport is bad as compared to where? Bohs and Rovers are next door to Luas stops. Pat's UCD and Shelbourne are short bus journeys from the city centre and everyone else is on a mainline railway line.

[Discordant Resonance]

It seems the Premier discrepancy is more likely due to a midweek round, and the second tier will catch up during the top-flight's midsummer break.

[George C.]

Public transport is bad as compared to where? Bohs and Rovers are next door to Luas stops. Pat's UCD and Shelbourne are short bus journeys from the city centre and everyone else is on a mainline railway line.

Outside the Dublin hinterland most grounds are a pain, Cork & Waterford are a good distance out from their stations/city centre and Harps accessible via mediocre public transport?
Hmm.

[Discordant Resonance]

Compared with say, Austin Stack Park, Kerry's ground is more distant from the town centre, but still just a 30-minute walk from the station along the adjacent greenway, or roughly ten minutes by taxi, so about a mile.

[George C.]

Tralee?
Useful to know...

[Discordant Resonance]

Indeed.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Good god, but that documentary about pat's and bohs heading off to Libya is one of the best things rte have ever done

[Belhaven]

How do you pronounce Cobh? Just straight forward with the h mute?

[Discordant Resonance]

Literally the same as the English word "Cove", it was once known as the Cove of Cork.

[Nesta]

Compared with say, Austin Stack Park, Kerry's ground is more distant from the town centre, but still just a 30-minute walk from the station along the adjacent greenway, or roughly ten minutes by taxi, so about a mile.

So about 0.7 Shrewsburys

[Discordant Resonance]

elguapo4 can prepare for a Dublin derby in the round immediately after the midseason break:

https://twitter.com/LeagueofIreland/status/1602996833306943488

[elguapo4]

If they are making it a day of local derbies, I would have thought that Derry City should play Sligo Rovers. Cork City have no local rivals this year, so they would have to play one of the Dublin clubs in that scenario.

[Discordant Resonance]

That appears to have been what they've largely done for Patrick's Day above (except where that was impossible for Cork, of course).

[Discordant Resonance]

Largely cogged from elsewhere, but line-ups for a putative All-Ireland League, following the 2022 and 2021-22 seasons in both jurisdictions:

Premier Division (16 teams):
Ballymena
Bohemian FC
Cliftonville
Coleraine
Crusaders
Derry City
Drogheda United
Dundalk
Glenavon
Glentoran
Larne
Linfield
St Patrick's Athletic
Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne
Sligo Rovers

First Division (14 teams):
Annagh United
Carrick Rangers
Cork City
Dungannon Swifts
Finn Harps
Galway United
Longford Town
Loughall
Newry City
Portadown
Treaty United
UCD
Warrenpoint
Waterford

Second Division (14 teams):
Ards
Athlone Town
Ballinamallard United
Ballyclare Comrades
Bray Wanderers
Cobh Ramblers
Dergview
Dundela
Harland and Wolff Welders
Institute
Kerry
Knockbreda
Queen's University
Wexford