NT&DL division changes largely well received

By Gary Culbert

Good things come to those who wait. Just over a month on from the Annual General Meeting of the North Tipperary & District League, clubs were promised that the league committee would conduct a review of the divisions, which would allow for a more streamlined season.

Last weekend they presented their proposals which will see one less team in the premier division, one team more in the first division, and the splitting in two of the second division.

NT&DL Secretary Adrian Cooke explained that the divisions “are formatted to take into consideration the feedback from the recent AGM, that our playing season was too long and disjointed towards the end.”

This demand for change came as a result of last season being one of the longest NT&DL campaigns in recent history, with BT Harps playing their concluding fixture, the Tipp Cup final, 317 days after their season got underway.

The new format consists of eight-team premier and first divisions, plus two tier of six-team groups in the second division. Overall, the shakeup has been positively received by managers and players, however, only after some tweaks made very late in the day to keep everyone satisfied.

Premier Division

Ardcroney, BT Harps, Ballymackey, Holycross, Portumna Town, Moneygall, Rearcross, and Shinrone United will all battle it out in the Premier Division.

Having gained promotion after finishing runners-up to Portumna Town in the first division last season, Grange United were expected to compete at the top table. However, the Laois side were informed that their promotion would no longer be going ahead.

That information will have been warmly received by the management trio of Mark Ryan, Tom Fitzpatrick & Jason McCormack, because Grange have notoriously struggled for numbers at the start of the season due to competing sports.

The only other surprise was that Holycross kept a hold of their top-flight status. Having conceded a staggering 74 goals in 16 league games (5 more than relegated Arra) and recording the worst overall goal difference in the premier division, Holycross’ continued participation in the premier division seems like a pointless exercise. But in the case of the Glenbane side, the league’s hands were likely tied as they had previously stated that only two teams would be relegated from the premier division in the 2025/26 season.

Division 1

Arra Rovers, Borrisoleigh, Borroway Rovers, Borrisokane, Grange United, Knigh United, Moneygall ‘B,’ and Sallypark Odhrans are the eight teams who will compete in the first division, the make-up of which caused the greatest debate.

Clubs were notified that the returning Nenagh Celtic would be placed in the first division and that the previously promoted Moneygall ‘B’ would be stay in the second division. But by Monday night, after taking feedback, the league committee swapped the two clubs around.

Having defied the odds last season by becoming the only ‘B’ team to enter the first division in recent history, Ben Quinlan and Kelvin Coughlan’s Moneygall side would have had good reason to complain at being kept shackled to the second division. But all’s well that ends well, as they were swiftly moved back to their rightful place in the first division, with Celtic moving in the opposite direction.

The only other team in the first division that somewhat catches the eye is Sallypark Odhrans. Given that the Latteragh outfit were suspended from the premier division last season for not fulfilling some games, it was somewhat up in the air as to what division they would start off in on their return from the naughty step.

Division 2

BT Harps ‘B’, Birdhill, Clodiagh Rangers, Nenagh Celtic, and Toomevara Celtic make up the first six-team group in the second division.

On their return, Nenagh Celtic had originally been thrown in at the deep end in the first division. Yes, Celtic have big names rejoining the ranks, but a group of players who have not played together in over four seasons does not magically gel into a cohesive unit overnight.

Furthermore, a precedent had been set by the likes of Grange United and Knigh United, whereby new entrants to the league got the opportunity to start at the bottom to build momentum. The league recognised the need for Celtic to have a grace period to find their feet once more.

Elsewhere, Clodiagh Rangers have found themselves demoted from the first division despite finishing sixth of seven team’s last season. The Drombane men did struggle for numbers at times last season, which culminated in a walkover to Ballymackey in the cup, so their demotion may actually turn out to be a positive.

Each team in the second division will play each other three times, meaning 15 league games as opposed to 22 in the traditional single division format (for a league of 12 teams). The third fixture between clubs in these divisions will be played after the first two rounds of home and away games. The league committee will decide as to who will host the third fixture.

Division 2A

Ardcroney ‘B’, Ballymackey ‘B’, Knigh United ‘B’, Templetuohy, Rearcross ‘B’, and Shinrone United ‘B’

The creation of division 2A has been positively received by both its inhabitants and neutrals alike, because these historically ‘weaker’ teams now have an increased chance of lifting silverware as they are paired against teams of a similar standing.

As is the case for the aforementioned second division, each team in division 2A will play each other three times, with the league deciding on the home venue for the third game.

Start Date

The Shield competitions will act as a curtain raiser for the 2026/27 NT&DL campaign with the first round taking place on the weekend of August 29th & 30th.