As Ireland celebrate qualification for Euro 2016, how healthy is our domestic game?

The League of Ireland goes into its winter hiatus after the Premier Division, First Divisions and the FAI Cup finals saw their culminations in the last couple of weeks?

Tonight on Off The Ball, former Shels midfielder Stuart Byrne, Dundalk double winner Stephen O'Donnell and ex-Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk boss Dermot Keely joined us to talk about where domestic soccer is at right now.

"The league is the same as it ever was and I think it will be the same forever. I don't think there's a will from the people - the FAI basically - to change the league. I don't think they have any interest in the league and I think the performances of Dundalk this year put everybody to shame. They've single-handedly increased the standard in the league," said Keely of the situation.

He also wants the "problem child" tag to be cast off the League of Ireland.

"[FAI chief executive] John Delaney's on the record as calling us a problem child. If you don't look after your children, that's what happens. They misbehave or they don't advance as they should do. It's time for people to stop thinking of us as the problem child. We're not. We've got great potential and we need to be encouraged," he said.    

O'Donnell shared the players' perspective, while Stuey gave his take which you can listen to on the League of Ireland podcast.