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 aspirations to have a third tier in League of Ireland football and we can't fill a second tier at the minute, it's just not good.
"There should have been something done there in order to make it more balanced. I certainly think they missed a trick there.
"A bye week is not ideal for anybody and that's the most disappointing aspect about the First Division for me.
"The First Division last year was so competitive and so interesting and it has the makings of it again this year.
"Treaty were the unknown last year and they've started off really well. It's good to see Cork and they look to have put together a good team, Galway will be there or thereabouts and Waterford will probably be the favourites to win."
Karl Sheppard was also on the podcast and having watched his former side Cork City's thrashing of Bray in which Dylan McGlade notched a hat-trick, and having kept an eye on their off-season business, he is optimistic that Colin Healy's side are capable of making a concerted push for a return to the top flight after a couple of seasons away.
"I think most people would have known that Cork would do well this season," he said of a club he won the double with in 2017.
"They've put a bit more money in than they did last year. They've signed some good players. Ruairí Keating is a good signing. Himself and Cian Murphy up top will be a handful for most teams, even some Premier Division teams.
"Colin Healy's put together a squad that's really competitive this year. They've brought back Kevin O'Connor and have some really good players so I wouldn't be surprised if Cork were there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
"For me, it's themselves and Waterford I could see challenging. I know (Galway United manager) John Caulfield won't be too happy with me saying that but it's them two I can see challenging and in Dylan McGlade they have a player who has never really done it at the highest level in the Premier Division but he really has that knack in the First Division. Colin Healy could build his team around him and he could flourish under Colin Healy this year."
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