Munster Senior League (association football)

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. Its 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. [3]

Munster Senior League
Country Ireland
Region Munster [1]
DivisionsSenior Premier Division
Senior 1st Division
Senior 2nd Division
Junior Premier Division
Junior 1st Division
Junior 2nd Division
Floodlit Over 35
Number of teams62 (2015–16) [2]
Domestic cup(s)Munster Senior Cup
FAI Cup
FAI Intermediate Cup
FAI Junior Cup
League cup(s)Keane Cup
Donie Forde Cup
Beamish Cup
Current championsUCC
Most championshipsCobh Ramblers (15 titles)
WebsiteMunster Senior League

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 Fusiliers in the final played at Turner's Cross. [4] Cahir Park F.C. was founded in 1910 and by 1912–13 they were the Munster Senior League second division champions.[5] 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.[6] 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

Senior Premier

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
Avondale UnitedCarrigaline/BallintempleAvondale Park
Cobh WanderersCobhOldchurch Park
College CorinthiansDouglasCorithians Park
Douglas HallDouglasMoneygourney
Leeds A.F.C.Ballyvolane, Cork CityMeelick Park
Mayfield UnitedMayfield, CorkLotamore Grounds
MidletonMidletonKnockgriffin Park
RockmountWhitechurchRockmount Park
Ringmahon RangersBlackrock, CorkRingmahon Road
UCCUniversity College CorkThe Mardyke/The Farm

Source: [7]

Senior Division 1

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
BandonBandon, County CorkTown Park
Blarney UnitedBlarneyO'Shea Park
Carrigaline UnitedCarrigalineBallea Park
EvertonTogher, Cork CityEverton Park
LeedsBallyvolane, Cork CityLeeds Park
LeesideLittle Island, CorkLittle Island Sports Complex
MidletonMidletonKnockgriffin Park
PassagePassage WestRockenham Park
RiverstownGlanmireThe Cliff
Wilton UnitedCorkLee Road

Source: [8]

Senior 2nd Division

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
BallincolligBallincolligCoolroe
BallinhassigBallinhassigGortnaglough
Casement CelticTogher, Cork City
FermoyFermoyCarrig Park
GlasheenGlasheen
Kilreen CelticBallyphehaneBallyphehane Park
KinsaleKinsaleMadden Park
Mallow UnitedMallow, County CorkTown Park
Tramore AthleticDouglas, County CorkTramore Park

Source: [9]

Representative team

A Munster Senior League representative team competes in the FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament against teams representing the Ulster Senior League, the Leinster Senior League and Connacht. [10]

References
  1. "Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016". www.munsterfa.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. "List of Teams Affiliated to the Munster Senior League". www.munsterfa.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. www.munsterseniorleague.ie
  4. various. Highland Light Infantry Chronicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910).
  5. www.cahirparkafc.ie
  6. Carey, Tadhg (2009). When We Were Kings: The Story of Athlone Town's 1924 FAI Cup Triumph. Athlone: Temple Printing.
  7. "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  8. "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Division 1". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  9. "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Division 2". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  10. "League Table 2016 FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament". www.uslfootball.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
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