Munster Senior League (association football)

Last updated
Munster Senior League
MunsterSeniorLeague.png
Country Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland
Region Flag of Munster.svg Munster [1]
Divisions Senior Premier Division
Senior First Division
Senior Second Division
Number of clubs62 (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 champions Midleton F.C.
Most championships Cobh Ramblers (15 titles)
Website Munster Senior League
Current: 2024 Munster Senior League

The Munster Senior League (MSL) is an association football league organised by the Munster Football Association. The league consists of three senior divisions and is responsible for a further six divisions as well as various cup competitions. [3] 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.

Contents

Despite including the word 'Munster' and referencing senior football in its title, as of 2024, the league is considered to be at intermediate level with all participating clubs based solely in County Cork. [4] However, in the past it has included clubs from County Limerick, County Waterford, County Kerry and County Tipperary. [3]

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. [5] Cahir Park F.C. was founded in 1910 and by 1912–13 they were the Munster Senior League second division champions. [6] 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. [7] [3] 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.

League pyramid

The Munster Senior League has three league sections: the Senior League (3 intermediate divisions), the Junior League (5 junior divisions) and the Floodlit League (over 35s division). [3]

The Junior League consists of reserve teams that belong to the Senior League clubs. However, as of 2024, three clubs have their main team competing in the Junior League; Ballincollig AFC, Brideview United and Crosshaven AFC. The most recent member is Brideview United of Tallow, having joined in August 2024 after the demise of the West Waterford East Cork junior league. Brideview are also the only non-Cork club in the Munster Junior League. [4] [8]

As of November 2024, there is no promotion or relegation system in place between the League of Ireland First Division (Level 2 of the national league system) and the intermediate provincial leagues (Level 3 of the system), which includes Munster. Additionally, while any junior club in Munster can apply to join the intermediate ranks if they feel they are capable, there is no formal promotion or relegation between the junior leagues and the Munster intermediate ranks. [4]

The divisions of the league are decided by the Management Committee each season, based on the number of clubs available and on any vacancies that may have arisen in the off-season. As such, the number of teams in each division may vary. Below is the format for the 2024/25 season, which employs 3rd place playoffs for relegation & promotion. [9] [10]

Colour-coding key
Intermediate (levels 3–6)
Junior (level 7)

Pyramid Level

League(s) / division(s)

3

 Munster Senior League
Senior Premier Division

10 clubs – 2 or 3 relegations

4

Munster Senior League
Senior First Division

10 clubs – 2 or 3 promotions, 2 or 3 relegations [11]

5

Munster Senior League
Senior Second Division

12 clubs – 2 or 3 promotions [12]

6

None


7

Multiple Junior Leagues
including Junior Premier Division, Junior First, Second, Third & Fourth Divisions


Teams

Intermediate Leagues

2024-25 Senior Premier Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Avondale United Carrigaline/Ballintemple, Cork Avondale Park
Cobh Wanderers Cobh, County Cork Oldchurch Park
College Corinthians Douglas, Cork Corinthians Park
Douglas Hall Douglas, Cork Moneygourney
Leeds AFC Ballyvolane, Cork Leeds Park
Midleton Midleton, County Cork Knockgriffin Park
Ringmahon Rangers Blackrock, Cork Ringmahon Park
Rockmount Whitechurch, County Cork Rockmount Park
St. Mary's AFC Whites Cross, CorkSt. Mary's Park
UCC University College Cork The Mardyke/The Farm

Source: [13]

2024-25 Senior First Division Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Bandon AFC Bandon, County Cork Town Park
Blarney United Blarney O'Shea Park
Carrigaline United Carrigaline Ballea Park
Castleview AFC Cork O'Sullivan Park
Everton AFCTogher, Cork CityEverton Park
Lakewood Athletic Ballincollig Lakewood Sports and Social Club
Leeside United Little Island, Cork Little Island Sports Complex
Mayfield UnitedMayfieldLotamore Grounds
Riverstown Glanmire The Cliff
Wilton United Wilton, Cork Pat Bowdren Park

Source: [14]

2024-25 Senior Second Division Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Ballinhassig Ballinhassig Gortnaglough
Buttevant Buttevant Abbeyview
Carrigtwohill United Carrigtwohill Ballyadam
Fermoy FC Fermoy Carrig Park
Kanturk AFC Kanturk Gurteenard
Kinsale AFC Kinsale Madden Park
Macroom FC Macroom Murrayfield
Mallow United AFC Mallow Town Park
Park United Mitchelstown Brigown Park
Passage AFC Passage West Rockenham
Temple United Cork Temple Park
Youghal United Youghal Ardrath Park

Source: [15]

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. [16]

2024-25 season

Senior Premier Division

End of Season Table

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Midleton (C)18134143Champions
2Ringmahon Rangers18114337
3Avondale United1895432
4College Corinthians1866624
5St. Mary's FC1855820
6Rockmount AFC1855820
7Cobh Wanderers1855820
8UCC (O)1854919Playoff with First Division
9Douglas Hall (R)1854919Relegation to First Division
10Leeds AFC (R)18421214

Source: [17] [10]

(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Table at Christmas

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Midleton971122Champions
2Avondale United861119
3Ringmahon Rangers761019
4Rockmount AFC841313
5College Corinthians831410
6Douglas Hall83059
7UCC92258
8Leeds AFC92167
9St. Mary's FC81346Relegation to First Division
10Cobh Wanderers81164


Senior First Division

End of Season Table

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Mayfield United (C)18133242Promotion to Premier Division
2Carrigaline United18106236Promotion to Premier Division
3Castleview AFC1886430Playoff with Premier Division
4Bandon AFC1884628
5Riverstown1873824
6Wilton United1857622
7Blarney United1864822
8Everton AFC (O)1845917Playoff with Second Division
9Leeside AFC (R)1845917Relegation to Second Division
10Lakewood Athletic (R)1815128

Source: [18] [10]

(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Table at Christmas

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Mayfield United1062220Champions/Promotion to Premier Division
2Carrigaline United1054119Promotion to Premier Division
3Bandon AFC1853318
4Riverstown1151516
5Blarney United1143415
6Castleview842214
7Wilton United1025311
8Leeside United92349
9Everton AFC92258Relegation to Second Division
10Lakewood Athletic111376


Senior Second Division

End of Season Table

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Passage AFC (C)22182256Promotion to First Division
2Mallow United22181355Promotion to First Division
3Ballinhassig AFC22143545Playoff with First Division
4Fermoy FC22131840
5Youghal United22115638
6Carrigtwohill United22103933
7Park United22921129
8Kanturk AFC22731224
9Kinsale AFC22541319
10Temple United22371216
11Macroom FC22361315
12Buttevant2221197No Formal Relegation to Junior Leagues

Source: [19] [10]

(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Table at Christmas

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1Passage AFC1081125Champions/Promotion to First Division
2Mallow United1071222Promotion to First Division
3Fermoy FC1161419
4Youghal United1154219
5Ballinhassig952217
6Kanturk AFC1141613
7Park United1041513
8Temple United933312
9Kinsale AFC1132611
10Carrigtwohill United831410
11Buttevant101184
12Macroom FC100464


References

  1. ↑ "Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016". www.munsterfa.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "List of Teams Affiliated to the Munster Senior League". www.munsterfa.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "About Us | Content Page – Munster Senior League". Munster Senior League. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  4. 1 2 3 Stafford, Tom (21 November 2024). "The Irish Football Pyramid – or lack of (part 1 - Munster)". extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  5. ↑ various. Highland Light Infantry Chronicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910).
  6. ↑ www.cahirparkafc.ie
  7. ↑ Carey, Tadhg (2009). When We Were Kings: The Story of Athlone Town's 1924 FAI Cup Triumph. Athlone: Temple Printing.
  8. ↑ "Brideview United – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  9. ↑ "Munster Senior Football League | Rules Book 2024-25" (PDF). www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "MSL Playoff Results Fri 23rd May - Wed 4th June" . Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  11. ↑ "Munster Senior League Senior First Division". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Munster Senior League Senior Second Division". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  14. ↑ "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Division 1". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "League Table Munster Senior League Senior Division 2". www.munsterseniorleague.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "League Table 2016 FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament". www.uslfootball.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  18. ↑ "Munster Senior League Senior First Division – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  19. ↑ "Munster Senior League Senior Second Division – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.