From this weekend, Irish football will have a new third division.
History will be made on Saturday when Mervue United and Cockhill Celtic face each other in the first-ever FAI National League match, achieving a goal that has been several years in the making for the Irish game.
Ireland’s football pyramid will be another tier deeper from this weekend.
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The new third tier is launching with 15 teams in the hope that more clubs will be invited into the fold over the coming seasons.
If all goes to plan, this weekend could be viewed as a landmark moment in the reshaping of Irish domestic football at a time when the national game needs a new direction.
What are the chances that the new National League will be a success? Or will it only further highlight some of the issues in Irish football?
