Mayo FC accepted into League of Ireland Academy fold

Mayo will compete in some of the 2024 League of Ireland Academy competitions.

The League of Ireland have today announced that Mayo FC will enter the the MU14, MU15 and WU17 academy leagues for the 2024 season.

The National Leagues committee accepted an application from the newly launched club after representatives of Mayo Football League worked together closely over recent months

The Mayo Schoolboys League had participated in the National Underage Leagues between 2017 and 2022 at MU14 and MU15 level, and the establishment of the new club sees a return to this level as well as entry to WU17 football for the first time.

Kerry and Mayo enter League of Ireland academy teams.

Kerry FC, meanwhile, are expanding their current structures to incorporate football for women and girls for the first time.

This new venture will create a pathway for young players in the region to sit alongside the impressive work that taken place in men’s football since Kerry FC was established last year.

Kerry FC are currently competing in the League of Ireland First Division, and, although results have been hard to come by, they have enjoyed regular sell-outs at Mounthawk Park in Tralee.

Both applications were approved by National Leagues Committee (NLC) earlier this month, meaning that 22 clubs will compete at MU14 and and 23 will play at MU15 level next season while 20 Clubs are set to line-up in the WU17 competitions.

LOI continues to expand.

The entry of academy teams appears to be the first ambitious step on Mayo FC’s  road to one day entering a senior League of Ireland side into the First Division.

They would become the third Connacht side to have a League of Ireland club, following in the footsteps of Galway United and Sligo Rovers.

The Football Association of Ireland and the League of Ireland say they are ‘looking forward to working with both clubs and all stakeholders on the continued development of football in their regions.’