Limerick Desmond League

Limerick Desmond League
Founded1955
CountryRepublic of Ireland Ireland
Provincial FAMunster Football Association[1]
DivisionsPremier Division
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Youth Division 1
Youth Division 2
Under 17 Division 1
Under 17 Division 2
Number of clubs58 (2017–18) [2]
Level on pyramid7–10
Domestic cup(s)FAI Junior Cup
FAI Youth Cup
League cup(s)Desmond Cup
Richard Hogan Cup
Riedy Cup
Websitelimerickdesmondfootballleague.com

The Limerick Desmond Football League (LDFL) is one of two association football leagues in County Limerick, along with the Limerick District League. Featuring amateur and junior clubs located west of the N20, the league also runs divisions at youth and Under-17 levels.[3][4] Its top division, the Premier Division, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. The name Desmond is historically associated with both Limerick and Munster, as it is derived from an anglicisation of the Irish place-name Deas-Mhumhna (meaning "South Munster").[note 1]

The headquarters of the league are located at Mick Hanley Park in Clounreask, Askeaton.[5]

History

The Limerick Desmond Football League (LDFL) was founded in January 1955 following a meeting at Desmond Castle in Newcastle West. In its early years, the league also included teams from County Kerry.[6] Originally called the Desmond League – Desmond meaning South Munster in Irish[7] – the founding members included Killonan F.C., Newcastle West A.F.C., Tralee Dynamos and A.F.C. Askeaton. These four teams contested the first league championship which was won by Killonan.[6] They were joined by Killarney Athletic at the start of 1966.[8][9]

The Desmond League was re-organised following a meeting in October 1966. Attended by the general secretary of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Joe Wickham, the reforms aimed to improve the league's structures and help increase its independence from the Limerick District Management Committee (LDMC), who ran the Limerick District League.[6] By 1969, the league featured twenty teams including Celtic Rangers, Kilcolman Rovers and Glin Rovers. In 1971, Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Athletic left the Desmond League to become founder members of the Kerry District League.[6][10][8] Celtic Rangers and Foynes became the two clubs who dominated the league in the early seventies. The league then lost both Newcastle West and Foynes to the LDMC's league.[6]

Between 1978 and 1981, Kilcolman won four league titles in a row.[6]

Recent seasons has seen the number of teams affiliated to the league and as a result, the number of divisions. The 2018/19 season saw the league reduced to three divisions (Premier Division, Division One, Division Two). The league also saw a number of club mergers. Killeany AFC merged with Bally Rovers to form Killeany/Bally Rovers FC. Also, Newcastle West Rovers and Newcastle West AFC merged to form Newcastle West Town. Adare United and Kilcornan merged at underage but at junior level AK United and Adare United remained separate entities.

In 2019/20, just three divisions of ten teams affiliated. Ferry Rangers, Ballysteen, Feenagh, Rockhill Rovers and Killeaney/Bally Rovers all withdrew from junior football. Mountcollins and a number of B teams took their place.

The league also entered the Oscar Traynor Trophy after a number of years absence.

League pyramid

The league forms a division based on the number of applications from clubs. The aim is to create divisions with an even number of teams, therefore the format can be subject to change each year. Below is the format for the 2023–24 season:

County Level League(s) / division(s)
1 Premier Division

8 clubs – 2 relegations

2 Division One

8 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations

3 Division Two

8 clubs – 2 promotions, 1 relegation

4 Division Three

5 clubs – 1 promotion

Source:[11][12][13][14][15]

Teams

Premier Division (as of 2024/2025 season)[16]

Team Home town/suburb Ground
Ballingarry A.F.C.Ballingarry, County LimerickAstropark Ballingarry
Breska Rovers A.F.C.Clarina, County Limerick
Broadford UnitedBroadford, County Limerick
Creeves CelticNewbridge, County Limerick
Glin RoversGlin, County Limerick
Newcastle WestNewcastle WestBallygowan Park
Rathkeale A.F.C.Rathkeale
St. ItasAshford, Kileedy

List of winners by season

As of 2022, former winners included:

Season Winner Runners-up
2021-22Abbeyfeale UtdRathkeale[17]
2020-21
2018-19Rathkeale[18]
2017–18Abbeyfeale UtdRathkeale
2016–17RathkealeBroadford Utd
2015–16Abbeyfeale UtdBroadford Utd[19]
2014–15Abbeyfeale UtdNewcastle West Rovers
2013–14Broadford UtdRathkeale
2012–13Newcastle West AFC
2011–12Broadford Utd
2010–11Abbeyfeale UtdShannonside F.C.
2009–10RathkealeNewcastle West
2008–09Newcastle WestAbbyefeale Utd
2007–08Newcastle WestGlin Rovers
2006–07Abbeyfeale UnitedKildimo United
2005–06Newcastle WestGlin Rovers
2004–05RathkealeNewcastle West
2003–04BallingarryRathkeale
2002–03BroadfordRathkeale
2001–02Newcastle WestBroadford
2000–01Newcastle West AFC
1999–00AbbeyfealeNewcastle West
1998–99RathkealeNewcastle West
1997–98FoynesRathkeale
1996–97RathkealeNewcastle West
1995–96RathkealeNewcastle West
1994–95RathkealeSt.Bens
1993–94AskeatonAbbey United
1992–93Newcastle WestAskeaton
1991–92Newcastle WestVilla Rovers
1990–91Newcastle West
1989–90Newcastle West
1988–89Rathkeale
1987–88Askeaton
1986–87Park Utd
1985–86Glin Rovers
1984–85Askeaton
1983–84Askeaton
1982–83Kilcolman Rovers
1981–82Askeaton
1980–81Kilcolman Rovers
1979–80Kilcolman Rovers
1978–79Kilcolman Rovers
1977–78Kilcolman Rovers
1976–77Shannon United
1975–76Broadford
1974–75Foynes
1973–74Foynes

Source:[20]

Notes

  1. ↑ See also the Kingdom of Desmond and the Earl of Desmond

References

  1. ↑ "Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016". www.munsterfa.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "List of Teams Affiliated to the Limerick Desmond Football League". www.munsterfa.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "About Us". limerickdesmondleague.ie. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Stafford, Tom. "The Irish Football Pyramid – or lack of (part 1 - Munster)". extratime.com. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ↑ O'Connor, Rory (29 March 2019). "Desmond League rename Clounreask HQ in honour of Mick Hanley". www.limerickleader.ie. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Us - History". limerickdesmondleague.ie. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Desmond : Meaning and Origin of First Name | Ancestry.com". www.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Killarney Athletic – Club History". www.killarneyathletic.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Club's History | Killarney Athletic A.F.C." www.killarneyathletic.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Soccer in the Kingdom – a story of success and unprecedented growth". www.kerrydistrictleague.ie. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "League Tables - Limerick Desmond Football League". limerickdesmondfootballleague.com. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "Premier Division (2025-26) - Limerick Desmond Football League". limerickdesmondfootballleague.com. 26 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Limerick Desmond FL Premier Division 2024/25 – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Archived from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "League Tables 2023/24 Season - Limerick Desmond Football League". 14 August 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "League Tables 2022/23 - Limerick Desmond Football League". 8 September 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "League Table - Weekly Observer Premier Division (2024-25)". limerickdesmondfootballleague.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025.
  17. ↑ https://limerickdesmondfootballleague.com/2021-2022-season-honours/
  18. ↑ https://www.limerickleader.ie/gallery/sport/428845/slideshow-rathkeale-and-breska-secure-desmond-titles.html
  19. ↑ "Limerick Desmond Football League - Premier Division". ldfl.leaguerepublic.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "List of Champions | 1973 to 2011". limerickdesmondleague.ie. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
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