Munster Senior League (association football)
 | |
| Country |
 Ireland |
|---|---|
| Confederation | Munster Football Association |
| Divisions |
Senior Premier Division Senior 1st Division Senior 2nd Division Junior Premier Division Junior 1st Division Junior 2nd Division Floodlit Over 35 |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Munster Senior Cup FAI Cup FAI Intermediate Cup FAI Junior Cup |
| League cup(s) |
Keane Cup (Premier-2nd Division) Donie Forde Cup (Top 4 in Premier & 1st Division) Beamish Cup |
| Current champions | Rockmount A.F.C. |
| Most championships | Cobh Ramblers (15 titles) |
| Website | Munster Senior League |
The Munster Senior League is an association football league organized by the Munster Football Association. It currently organizes seven divisions as well as various cup competitions. It's Senior Division is a third level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. Munster Senior League teams also compete in the Munster Senior Cup, the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. In recent seasons the winners of the Senior Division have qualified to play in the League of Ireland Cup. Despite using the Munster name in its title, the vast majority of its member clubs are based in County Cork. However, in the past it has included clubs from County Limerick, County Waterford, County Kerry and County Tipperary. [1]
History
Early years
The original Munster Football Association was founded in 1901 and it is believed that a Munster League was founded within a few years. The 1909–10 season saw six teams representing the Highland Light Infantry, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the Durham Light Infantry, the Sherwood Foresters, the King's Regiment and Haulbowline all played in the Munster League First Division. A Munster Intermediate League featured the reserve teams of all these British Army regiments plus teams representing the Royal Engineers, the Royal Field Artillery and the Royal Army Service Corps. In the Munster Cup the Highland Light Infantry lost 1–0 to the Royal Welsh Fusilers in the final played at Turner's Cross.[2] Cahir Park F.C. was founded in 1910 and by 1912–13 they were the Munster Senior League second division champions.[3] However these leagues were effectively disbanded during the First World War and Irish War of Independence era.
Reformed
In 1921 Harry Buckle, a former Ireland international, settled in Cork and began working for the Ford Motor Company. Finding little or no association football activity in the city, Buckle initially founded Fordsons F.C. and then helped found the County Cork–based South Munster League for the team to play in. In addition to playing and coaching with the new club, Buckle also served as president of the Tipperary/Limerick based – North Munster League and helped reform the Munster Football Association. By 1922–23 the South Munster League and North Munster Leagues had effectively merged to become the Munster Senior League.[4] Barrackton United of the South Munster League became the first post–First World War Munster Senior League champions after defeating Cahir Park F.C. of the North Munster League in a play-off.
Teams
Intermediate Leagues
| Team | Home town/suburb | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| Avondale United | Carrigaline/Ballintemple, Cork | Avondale Park |
| Bandon | Bandon, County Cork | Town Park |
| Carrigaline United | Carrigaline | Ballea Park |
| Castleview A.F.C. | Cork | O'Sullivan Park |
| College Corinthians | Douglas, County Cork | Corithians Park |
| Douglas Hall A.F.C. | Douglas, County Cork | Moneygourney |
| Mayfield United A.F.C. | Mayfield, Cork | Lotamore Grounds |
| Rockmount A.F.C. | Whitechurch, County Cork | Rockmount Park |
| St. Mary's | Kilcully, County Cork | St. Mary's Park |
| UCC | University College Cork | The Mardyke/The Farm |
Senior 1st Division
| Team | Home town/suburb | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| Ballincollig A.F.C. | Ballincollig | Coolroe |
| Blarney United | Blarney | O'Shea Park |
| Cobh Wanderers | Cobh | Oldchurch Park |
| Everton A.F.C. | Togher, Cork City | Everton Park |
| Fermoy F.C. | Fermoy | Carrig Park |
| Leeds A.F.C. | Ballyvolane, Cork City | Leeds Park |
| Midleton F.C. | Midleton | Knockgriffin Park |
| Passage A.F.C. | Passage West | Rockenham Park |
| Ringmahon Rangers A.F.C. | Cork | Ringmahon Road |
| Wilton United F.C. | Cork | Lee Road |
Senior 2nd Division
| Team | Home town/suburb | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| Ballinhassig A.F.C. | Ballinhassig | Gortnaglough |
| Casement Celtic F.C. | Togher, Cork City | |
| Glasheen F.C. | Glasheen | |
| Kinsale A.F.C. | Kinsale | Madden Park |
| Leeside A.F.C. | Little Island, Cork | Little Island Sports Complex |
| Mallow United | Mallow, County Cork | Town Park |
| Riverstown F.C. | Glanmire | The Cliff |
| Temple United A.F.C. | Churchfield | |
| Tramore Athletic | Douglas, County Cork | Tramore Park |
Junior Leagues
|
Junior Premier Division
|
Junior 1st Division
|
Junior 2nd Division
|
Over 35
- Ballincollig
- Cobh Wanderers
- College Corinthians
- Crofton Celtic
- Douglas Hall
- Everton
- Leeds
- Mayfield United
- Ringmahon Rangers
- Rockmount
- Wilton United
References
- ↑ www.munsterseniorleague.ie
- ↑ Highland Light Infantry Chronicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910) pg 62
- ↑ www.cahirparkafc.ie
- ↑ Carey, Tadhg (2009). When We Were Kings: The Story of Athlone Town's 1924 FAI Cup Triumph. Athlone: Temple Printing.
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||