Salthill and Mervue enter big time

Date Published: 20-Jun-2008

SALTHILL Devon and Mervue United take their first step this weekend towards what could result in
promotion to full League of Ireland status when they get their campaigns underway in the new FAI League of Ireland A Championship.

The two city clubs have been drawn in Group 1 of the new national competition, which is made up of two groups of eight featuring sides from the 12 Premier Division clubs including Galway United Limerick 37 and Tullamore Town. The winners of each group will meet in a final to decide the A Championship winners.

Should one of the three non-league clubs (Devon, Mervue and Tullamore) finish in the top four positions in the A Championship in their respective group, they will qualify for a play-off against the club that finishes bottom of the First Division. The winner of this play-off will compete in the 2009 eircom League of Ireland First Division.

If Devon or Mervue finish, for example, fourth in Group 1, and Tullamore Town finish fourth in Group 2, then the two sides will meet in a playoff to see who goes forward to the play-off against the bottom
First Division club. Clubs with teams already playing in the Premier Division or First Division will not be eligible for promotion from the A Championship.

Both junior Galway clubs have been handed home fixtures for the opening weekend of the league, with Mervue United hosting Drogheda United in Fahy’s Field on Saturday (kick-off 4.30pm), while
earlier in the day, Salthill Devon host Sligo Rovers in Drom (kick-off 2pm). The other four teams in Group 1 are Finn Harps, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians, making it the more difficult of the two groups.

While there is great interest in the season opener, the games both sides are looking forward to come are obviously the…