Gary Rogers: First Division bye week 'not a good look' and fact it's nine teams is 'most disappointing aspect'

If goals are your currency, the opening night of SSE Airtricity League First Division action was a rich one.

Nineteen goals went in across the three matches that went ahead - Longford Town's home fixture against Cobh Ramblers falling foul of the stormy weather - but they were all one-sided.

Cork City, Waterford and Treaty United all scored five-plus goals as they thrashed Bray Wanderers (6-0), Athlone Town (5-2) and Wexford (5-1) respectively away from home as the second tier already appeared to separate the potential upper echelon teams from those that will be towards the lower reaches.

Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers concurred that 'two divisions within a division' is likely to take shape in the second tier.

But another aspect of the First Division disappointed the five-time league winner. With Bray Wanderers joining forces with Cabinteely, it's a nine-team competition now meaning a bye week for one side each round. The odd one out on the opening weekend were Galway United.

"The most disappointing fact about the First Division is the fact that it is nine teams," said Rogers.

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can watch Gary Rogers and Karl Sheppard's full review of the opening weekend below as well as an in-depth interview with Zack Elbouzedi:

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"We're looking at a bye week in senior professional football. It's just not a really good look to be honest with you.

"I think that if we have