Irish premier Micheál Martin has said he would like to see opportunities to grow football on an all-island basis.

He also said he believes there could be potential to develop an all-island competition, hailing Derry City FC’s winning of the FAI League Cup last weekend as a reminder of how competition can enhance football.

Currently the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) operates in the Republic of Ireland, while the Irish Football Association (IFA) operates in Northern Ireland, although Derry City FC plays in the FAI system.

Mr Martin was speaking ahead of an event at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday evening, which was part of the centenary celebrations of his Fianna Fáil party to reflect on the intersection between sport and politics in Ireland.

There have been three Fianna Fáil Football Association of Ireland (FAI) presidents over the years, including former Belfast Celtic goalkeeper Oscar Traynor as well as Donogh O’Malley and Neil T Blaney.

Asked about football across the island, Mr Martin said he believes the two associations could work together to look at potential initiatives.

Narrow Water Point and Warrenpoint Port seen from from Flagstaff Viewpoint on the hills outside Newry where the Newry River flows out to Carlingford Lough, the UK and Republic of Ireland share a border through the lough (Liam McBurney/PA)

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He said he thought the evolution of how soccer developed across the island predated politics, and partition in 1921.

“Soccer was very working class, strongly supported by working class communities.

“Belfast would have been probably the industrial capital at that particular time, and so you would have had a significant Unionist and Loyalist participation in soccer and in the IFA, so in many ways, the divide almost predated independence, or it became a natural occurrence with the Football Association of Ireland being established,” he said.

“But I think I think Derry’s win last week does remind us of the degree to which competition can enhance the standard of football and enhance teams with opportunities to players on both sides of the border.

“I’d like to see opportunities to grow football on an all-island basis, but to do it in an agreed way through work between the two associations, whilst they retain their traditions and their various competitions.

“There must be opportunities to develop this more effectively.”

Asked would he support the re-established of a cross-border championship following the ending of the Setanta Sports Cup, Mr Martin suggested there was potential.

He also noted he attended the last Setanta Cup final in Dundalk in 2014.

“I think there is potential for us to explore competitions or some development of football on an all-island basis, and the Shore Island Unit stands ready to support any initiatives of that kind,” he added.