{{Infobox football league season | competition = Newstalk A Championship | season = 2009 | winners = Shamrock Rovers A | promoted = Salthill Devon | relegated = | matches = | total goals = | league topscorer = | biggest home win = | biggest away win = | highest scoring = | longest wins = | longest unbeaten = | longest losses = | highest attendance = | lowest attendance = | average attendance = | prevseason = 2008 | nextseason = 2010 | }}
The '''2009 A Championship''' was the second season of the A Championship in Ireland. The season was sponsored by Newstalk. The league featured 18 teams. Shamrock Rovers A were the champions while the runners up, Salthill Devon, were promoted to the First Division.
{{Location map+ |Ireland |float=right |width=250 |caption=Location of teams in '''2009 A Championship''' |places= <!--DUBLIN TEAMS--> {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=53.361877 |long=-6.275012 |label=<!--Bohemians A--> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=53.340922 |long=-6.316619 |label=<!--St Patrick's Athletic A--> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=53.283517 |long=-6.373744 |label=<!--Shamrock Rovers A--> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=53.401115 |long=-6.244912 |label=<!--Sporting Fingal A--> }} <!--GROUP 1 TEAMS--> {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.85201 |long=-9.297931 |label=<small>Castlebar Celtic</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=54.990633 |long=-7.336 |label=<small>Derry City</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.723336 |long=-6.357222 |label=<small>Drogheda United A</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.998943 |long=-6.416547 |label=<small>Dundalk A</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=54.798100 |long=-7.780316 |label=<small>Finn Harps A</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.284658 |long=-9.056258 |label=<small>Galway United A</small> |position=bottom }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.263239 |long=-9.084103 |label=<small>Salthill Devon</small> |position=left }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=54.270016 |long=-8.487247 |label=<small>Sligo Rovers A</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=Blue pog.svg |lat=53.273908 |long=-7.494548 |label=<small>Tullamore Town</small> |position=top }} <!--GROUP 2 TEAMS--> {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=53.205714 |long=-6.102889 |label=<small>Bray Wanderers A</small> |position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=51.852177 |long=-8.301297 |label=<small>Cobh Ramblers</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=51.885528 |long=-8.46775 |label=<small>Cork City A</small> |position=left }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=52.8306 |long=-6.9317 |label=<small>F.C. Carlow</small> }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |lat=52.2675 |long=-9.6962 |label=<small>Tralee Dynamos</small> }} <!--DUBLIN TEXT IN UPPER LEFT CORNER--> {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=53.3000 |long=-6.23 |label=Dublin }} {{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=55.43 |long=-10.93 |label='''Dublin teams'''<br> <small> Sporting Fingal A<br/> Bohemians A<br/> St Patrick's Athletic A<br/> Shamrock Rovers A </small>}} }}
==Overview== 18 teams participated in the 2009 A Championship. 12 of these were the reserve teams of League of Ireland clubs. The 2008 champions UCD A and Limerick 37 A did not enter teams for the 2009 season. They were replaced by Sporting Fingal A and Dundalk A. The six non-reserve teams included Salthill Devon and Tullamore Town, both of whom played in the 2008 season. Cobh Ramblers had been relegated from the 2008 Premier Division but were demoted directly to the A Championship after being refused a First Division licence.<ref name="rte">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0323/soccer.html |title=April kick-off for Newstalk A Championship |publisher=rte.ie |accessdate=2011-12-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408121257/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0323/soccer.html |archivedate=2010-04-08 }}</ref><ref name="rsssf2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier09.html|title=Ireland 2009|accessdate=27 July 2016|website=RSSSF|date= }}</ref><ref name="rsssfireland2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier3-09.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406073200/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier3-09.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2009|title=Ireland Third Level 2009|publisher=www.rsssf.com|accessdate=29 August 2016|date= }}</ref><ref name="rsssf2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier08.html|title=Ireland 2008|accessdate=25 July 2016|website=RSSSF|date= }}</ref> Castlebar Celtic, F.C. Carlow and Tralee Dynamos were making their debut at senior national level. They were the first clubs from their respective counties of Mayo, Carlow and Kerry to play at this level.<ref name="rte">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0323/soccer.html |title=April kick-off for Newstalk A Championship |publisher=rte.ie |accessdate=2011-12-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408121257/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0323/soccer.html |archivedate=2010-04-08 }}</ref><ref name="extratime1">{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/1708/ |title=Newstalk A Championship Spotlight - Castlebar Celtic |publisher=www.extratime.ie |accessdate=18 April 2016 |date=22 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427041046/http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/1708/ |archivedate=27 April 2016 }}</ref><ref name="traleedynamos">{{cite web|url=http://traleedynamos.com/Dynamos.htm|title=Tralee Dynamos Football Club|publisher=traleedynamos.com|accessdate=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312080642/http://traleedynamos.com/Dynamos.htm|archive-date=12 March 2016|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The regular season started on 4 April and was completed by early November. The format saw the 18 teams split into two groups of nine, divided roughly into southern and northern groups. The two groups used a traditional round-robin format. The two group winners, Shamrock Rovers A and Salthill Devon, then played off in a final. Shamrock Rovers emerged as champions. As the highest placed non-reserve team, Salthill Devon also qualified for a promotion/relegation play-off. However they were subsequently promoted directly to the 2010 First Division after their opponents, Kildare County, withdrew from the League of Ireland before the play-off could be played.<ref name="rsssf2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier09.html|title=Ireland 2009|accessdate=27 July 2016|website=RSSSF|date= }}</ref><ref name="rsssfireland2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier3-09.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406073200/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier3-09.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2009|title=Ireland Third Level 2009|publisher=www.rsssf.com|accessdate=29 August 2016|date= }}</ref><ref name="sham2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/latest-news/57-a-championship-news/1106-rovers-newstalk-a-champions-winner-2009 |title=Rovers - Newstalk A Champions Winner 2009 |publisher=www.shamrockrovers.ie |accessdate=19 August 2016 |date=2 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821094011/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/latest-news/57-a-championship-news/1106-rovers-newstalk-a-champions-winner-2009 |archivedate=21 August 2016 }}</ref><ref name="fai2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/hoops-claim-newstalk-a-championship-title|title=Hoops claim Newstalk A Championship title|publisher=www.fai.ie|accessdate=19 August 2016|date=31 October 2009}}</ref>
==Group 1==
===Teams=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team ! Base ! Stadium |- | Castlebar Celtic || Castlebar ||Celtic Park |- | Derry City A || Derry ||Brandywell Stadium |- | Drogheda United A || Drogheda ||United Park |- | Dundalk A || Dundalk ||Oriel Park |- | Finn Harps A || Ballybofey ||Finn Park |- | Galway United A || Galway ||Athenry |- | Salthill Devon || Salthill ||Drom Soccer Park |- | Sligo Rovers A || Sligo||Showgrounds |- | Tullamore Town ||Tullamore ||Leah Victoria Park |}
===Final table=== {{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |res_col_header=P |sortable_table=y
|team1=SAL|name_SAL=Salthill Devon |team2=DRO|name_DRO=Drogheda United A |team3=FHA|name_FHA=Finn Harps A |team4=CAS|name_CAS=Castlebar Celtic |team5=DER|name_DER=Derry City A |team6=TUL|name_TUL=Tullamore Town |team7=DUN|name_DUN=Dundalk A |team8=SLI|name_SLI=Sligo Rovers A |team9=GAL|name_GAL=Galway United A |win_SAL=11|draw_SAL=3|loss_SAL=2|gf_SAL=37|ga_SAL=17|status_SAL=P |win_DRO=10|draw_DRO=2|loss_DRO=4|gf_DRO=39|ga_DRO=18 |win_FHA=9|draw_FHA=3|loss_FHA=4|gf_FHA=37|ga_FHA=17 |win_CAS=8|draw_CAS=1|loss_CAS=7|gf_CAS=31|ga_CAS=31 |win_DER=7|draw_DER=2|loss_DER=7|gf_DER=32|ga_DER=21 |win_TUL=5|draw_TUL=3|loss_TUL=8|gf_TUL=13|ga_TUL=19 |win_DUN=5|draw_DUN=3|loss_DUN=8|gf_DUN=24|ga_DUN=34 |win_SLI=4|draw_SLI=3|loss_SLI=9|gf_SLI=16|ga_SLI=32 |win_GAL=1|draw_GAL=4|loss_GAL=11|gf_GAL=8|ga_GAL=48
|col_P=#00FF00|text_P=Promoted to First Division |result1=P |class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Note: Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion. |update=complete |source=[http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/newstalk-a-championship/league-tables loi.ie] }}
===Results=== {{#invoke:sports results|main |matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey |team1=CAS|team2=DER|team3=DRO|team4=DUN|team5=FHA |team6=GAL|team7=SAL|team8=SLI|team9=TUL
|name_CAS=Castlebar Celtic |match_CAS_DER=1–2 |match_CAS_DRO=2–3 |match_CAS_DUN=5–0 |match_CAS_FHA=2–5 |match_CAS_GAL=3–0 |match_CAS_SAL=3–2 |match_CAS_SLI=3–1 |match_CAS_TUL=0–0
|name_DER=Derry City A |match_DER_CAS=6–1 |match_DER_DRO=0–1 |match_DER_DUN=3–1 |match_DER_FHA=1–1 |match_DER_GAL=6–0 |match_DER_SAL=1–3 |match_DER_SLI=2–0 |match_DER_TUL=1–2
|name_DRO=Drogheda United A |match_DRO_CAS=1–2 |match_DRO_DER=1–0 |match_DRO_DUN=1–2 |match_DRO_FHA=3–1 |match_DRO_GAL=10–0 |match_DRO_SAL=2–2 |match_DRO_SLI=1–3 |match_DRO_TUL=3–2
|name_DUN=Dundalk A |match_DUN_CAS=2–3 |match_DUN_DER=2–5 |match_DUN_DRO=2–1 |match_DUN_FHA=3–3 |match_DUN_GAL=4–1 |match_DUN_SAL=0–1 |match_DUN_SLI=2–1 |match_DUN_TUL=1–1
|name_FHA=Finn Harps A |match_FHA_CAS=5–1 |match_FHA_DER=3–0 |match_FHA_DRO=1–2 |match_FHA_DUN=2–0 |match_FHA_GAL=3–0 |match_FHA_SAL=3–1 |match_FHA_SLI=0–0 |match_FHA_TUL=0–1
|name_GAL=Galway United A |match_GAL_CAS=0–3 |match_GAL_DER=1–1 |match_GAL_DRO=0–3 |match_GAL_DUN=1–1 |match_GAL_FHA=0–4 |match_GAL_SAL=1–3 |match_GAL_SLI=0–0 |match_GAL_TUL=0–0
|name_SAL=Salthill Devon |match_SAL_CAS=3–0 |match_SAL_DER=2–0 |match_SAL_DRO=1–1 |match_SAL_DUN=3–0 |match_SAL_FHA=2–1 |match_SAL_GAL=4–2 |match_SAL_SLI=3–3 |match_SAL_TUL=2–0
|name_SLI=Sligo Rovers A |match_SLI_CAS=1–0 |match_SLI_DER=1–4 |match_SLI_DRO=0–5 |match_SLI_DUN=1–3 |match_SLI_FHA=1–3 |match_SLI_GAL=3–1 |match_SLI_SAL=0–1 |match_SLI_TUL=1–0
|name_TUL=Tullamore Town |match_TUL_CAS=0–2 |match_TUL_DER=1–0 |match_TUL_DRO=0–1 |match_TUL_DUN=2–1 |match_TUL_FHA=0–2 |match_TUL_GAL=0–1 |match_TUL_SAL=0–4 |match_TUL_SLI=4–0
|match_DRO_DUN_note=Originally reported 1-2, www.loi.ie has 1-3. |match_FHA_GAL_note=The match was awarded to Finn Harps A with a score of 3-0 due to Galway United A failing to show up. |match_GAL_CAS_note=The match was awarded to Castlebar Celtic with a score of 3-0 due to Galway United A failing to show up. |match_GAL_DRO_note=The match was awarded to Drogheda United A with a score of 0–3 due to Galway United A being unable to field a team. |match_SAL_DUN_note=The match was awarded to Salthill Devon with a score of 0–3 due to Dundalk A failing to travel to the match. |match_SLI_GAL_note=Originally reported 3-1, www.loi.ie has 2-1, Galway United official site has 3-1.
|update=complete |source=[http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/newstalk-a-championship/results loi.ie] }}
==Group 2==
===Teams=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team ! Base ! Stadium |- | Bohemians A || Phibsborough ||AUL Complex |- | Bray Wanderers A || Bray || Jackson Park |- | F.C. Carlow || Ballon || The Valley |- | Cobh Ramblers || Cobh ||St Colman's Park |- | Cork City A || Cork ||Turner's Cross |- | Sporting Fingal A || Fingal || ALSAA Sports Complex |- | St Patrick's Athletic A||Inchicore ||Richmond Park |- | Shamrock Rovers A || Tallaght ||Tallaght Stadium |- | Tralee Dynamos || Tralee|| Cahermoneen |- |}
===Final table=== {{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |res_col_header=Q |sortable_table=y
|team1=SHA|name_SHA=Shamrock Rovers A |team2=BOH|name_BOH=Bohemians A |team3=BRW|name_BRW=Bray Wanderers A |team4=SFI|name_SFI=Sporting Fingal A |team5=TRA|name_TRA=Tralee Dynamos |team6=COR|name_COR=Cork City A |team7=STP|name_STP=St Patrick's Athletic A |team8=CAR|name_CAR=F.C. Carlow |team9=COB|name_COB=Cobh Ramblers |win_SHA=11|draw_SHA=3|loss_SHA=2|gf_SHA=29|ga_SHA=10|status_SHA=C |win_BOH=10|draw_BOH=1|loss_BOH=5|gf_BOH=26|ga_BOH=21 |win_BRW=8|draw_BRW=4|loss_BRW=4|gf_BRW=30|ga_BRW=21 |win_SFI=8|draw_SFI=2|loss_SFI=6|gf_SFI=32|ga_SFI=21 |win_TRA=8|draw_TRA=1|loss_TRA=7|gf_TRA=20|ga_TRA=21 |win_COR=7|draw_COR=3|loss_COR=6|gf_COR=20|ga_COR=19 |win_STP=3|draw_STP=6|loss_STP=7|gf_STP=16|ga_STP=18 |win_CAR=3|draw_CAR=3|loss_CAR=10|gf_CAR=14|ga_CAR=35 |win_COB=1|draw_COB=3|loss_COB=12|gf_COB=11|ga_COB=32
|col_C=#00FF00|text_C=A Championship winners |result1=C |class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Note: Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion. |update=complete |source=[http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/newstalk-a-championship/league-tables loi.ie] }}
===Results=== {{#invoke:sports results|main |matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey |team1=BOH|team2=BRW|team3=COB|team4=COR|team5=CAR |team6=StP|team7=SHA|team8=SFI|team9=TRA
|name_BOH=Bohemians A |match_BOH_BRW=0–3 |match_BOH_COB=3–1 |match_BOH_COR=1–5 |match_BOH_CAR=2–1 |match_BOH_StP=2–0 |match_BOH_SHA=2–3 |match_BOH_SFI=0–0 |match_BOH_TRA=0–1
|name_BRW=Bray Wanderers A |match_BRW_BOH=0–2 |match_BRW_COB=4–2 |match_BRW_COR=5–0 |match_BRW_CAR=4–0 |match_BRW_StP=2–2 |match_BRW_SHA=0–1 |match_BRW_SFI=1–7 |match_BRW_TRA=1–0
|name_COB=Cobh Ramblers |match_COB_BOH=0–1 |match_COB_BRW=2–5 |match_COB_COR=0–2 |match_COB_CAR=0–0 |match_COB_StP=1–0 |match_COB_SHA=1–1 |match_COB_SFI=1–4 |match_COB_TRA=0–1
|name_COR=Cork City A |match_COR_BOH=0–1 |match_COR_BRW=0–0 |match_COR_COB=2–0 |match_COR_CAR=2–0 |match_COR_StP=1–0 |match_COR_SHA=0–2 |match_COR_SFI=3–0 |match_COR_TRA=2–1
|name_CAR=F.C. Carlow |match_CAR_BOH=0–5 |match_CAR_BRW=1–2 |match_CAR_COB=1–0 |match_CAR_COR=1–1 |match_CAR_StP=2–0 |match_CAR_SHA=0–3 |match_CAR_SFI=2–4 |match_CAR_TRA=3–1
|name_StP=St Patrick's Athletic A |match_StP_BOH=4–0 |match_StP_BRW=2–0 |match_StP_COB=1–1 |match_StP_COR=0–0 |match_StP_CAR=3–3 |match_StP_SHA=0–0 |match_StP_SFI=2–0 |match_StP_TRA=2–2
|name_SHA=Shamrock Rovers A |match_SHA_BOH=1–2 |match_SHA_BRW=1–1 |match_SHA_COB=2–0 |match_SHA_COR=1–0 |match_SHA_CAR=3–0 |match_SHA_StP=1–0 |match_SHA_SFI=2–1 |match_SHA_TRA=5–0
|name_SFI=Sporting Fingal A |match_SFI_BOH=1–3 |match_SFI_BRW=0–0 |match_SFI_COB=2–1 |match_SFI_COR=6–2 |match_SFI_CAR=2–0 |match_SFI_StP=2–0 |match_SFI_SHA=1–2 |match_SFI_TRA=1–2
|name_TRA=Tralee Dynamos |match_TRA_BOH=1–2 |match_TRA_BRW=1–2 |match_TRA_COB=3–1 |match_TRA_COR=1–0 |match_TRA_CAR=3–0 |match_TRA_StP=1–0 |match_TRA_SHA=2–1 |match_TRA_SFI=0–1
|match_BOH_BRW_note=The match originally finished 4–0, but it was later awarded 3-0 to Bray Wanderers A due to Bohemians A having fielded an ineligible player. |match_SHA_StP_note=Originally reported 1-0, www.loi.ie has 2-0, Shamrock Rovers official site has 1-0.
|update=complete |source=[http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/newstalk-a-championship/results loi.ie] }}
==Final== {{football box collapsible |date = 31 October 2009 |time = 14:00 GMT |team1 = Salthill Devon |score = 0 – 1 |report = |team2 = Shamrock Rovers A |goals1 = |goals2 = Cowan {{goal|90+7}} |stadium = Drom Soccer Park<ref name="sham2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/latest-news/57-a-championship-news/1106-rovers-newstalk-a-champions-winner-2009 |title=Rovers - Newstalk A Champions Winner 2009 |publisher=www.shamrockrovers.ie |accessdate=19 August 2016 |date=2 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821094011/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/latest-news/57-a-championship-news/1106-rovers-newstalk-a-champions-winner-2009 |archivedate=21 August 2016 }}</ref><ref name="fai2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/hoops-claim-newstalk-a-championship-title|title=Hoops claim Newstalk A Championship title|publisher=www.fai.ie|accessdate=19 August 2016|date=31 October 2009}}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }}
==See also== * 2009 League of Ireland Premier Division * 2009 League of Ireland First Division * 2009 League of Ireland Cup
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{A Championship}} {{2009 in Republic of Ireland association football}} {{2008–09 in European Football (UEFA)}} {{2009–10 in European Football (UEFA)}}
Category:2009 A Championship 3 Category:A Championship seasons Ireland Ireland