Fixtures confirmed for city sides in new FAI National League
Mervue United and Salthill Devon handed home ties on opening weekend at the end of August
The two Galway sides that will compete in the inaugural FAI National League have both been given home ties on the opening weekend of the new league, which kicks-off on the last weekend in August.
Mervue United and Salthill Devon have both been accepted as founding members of the new third tier of the domestic league, which will feature 15 clubs in total spread across three groups.
Mervue United have been drawn in Group 1 and will begin their campaign in Fahy's Field against Cockhill Celtic from Donegal on Saturday August 29 (3pm). The other Group 1 game sees Bonagee United hosting Home Farm DCU. Lucan United are the fifth team in the group and have a bye-weekend on that opening weekend.
Salthill Devon have been paced in Group 2, and will also begin their campaign at 3pm on Saturday August 29 when they welcome another Donegal side, Letterkenny Rovers, to NFP Park in Drom.
Mayo FC host St Francis of Dublin in the other Group 2 game with TU Dublin the side that is idle on the opening weekend.
The two Galway clubs are away to those respective idle teams in their groups in the second round of games which are scheduled for the following Saturday, September 5.
Group 3 is made up of CK United, Newbridge Town, Villa FC, Killarney Celtic, and UCC Soccer.
The 15 founding clubs will partake in a truncated 2026 season before a fully formatted competition is rolled out in Spring 2027.
The 2026 season will see three groups of five teams play home and away matches across 10 rounds of games before the three group winners advance to the semi-finals, with the fourth spot reserved for the best-placed group runner-up. The winners from the semi-finals ties will face off in the FAI National League Final in November.