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 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 champions UCC
Most championships Cobh Ramblers (15 titles)
Website Munster Senior League
Current: 2020 Munster Senior League

The Munster Senior League is an association football league organised by the Munster Football Association. It organises 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]

Contents

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

2022-23 Senior Premier Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Avondale United Carrigaline/Ballintemple Avondale Park
Blarney United Blarney O'Shea Park
Carrigaline United Carrigaline Ballea Park
Castleview
Cobh Wanderers Cobh Oldchurch Park
College Corinthians Douglas Corithians Park
Midleton Midleton Knockgriffin Park
Rockmount Whitechurch Rockmount Park
Ringmahon Rangers Blackrock, Cork Ringmahon Road
UCC University College Cork The Mardyke/The Farm

Source: [7]

2022-23 Senior Division Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Bandon Bandon, County Cork Town Park
Douglas HallDouglasMoneygourney
EvertonTogher, Cork CityEverton Park
Leeds Ballyvolane, Cork Leeds Park
Leeside Little Island, Cork Little Island Sports Complex
MayfieldMayfieldLotamore Grounds
Park United
Riverstown Glanmire The Cliff
St Mary’s
Wilton United Cork Lee Road

Source: [8]

2022-23 Senior Second Division Clubs

TeamHome town/suburbHome ground
Ballincollig Ballincollig Coolroe
Ballinhassig Ballinhassig Gortnaglough
Buttevant
Carrigtwohill United
Casement CelticTogher, Cork City
Fermoy Fermoy Carrig Park
Kanturk AFC
Kilworth Celtic
Kinsale Kinsale Madden Park
Lakewood Athletic
Macroom
Mallow United Mallow, County Cork Town Park
Pearse Celtic
Tramore Athletic Douglas, County Cork Tramore Park
Youghal United

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]

2022-23 season

Senior Premier Division

PosTeamPldWDLPtsQualification or Relegation
1 Carrigaline United 941413Champions
2 College Corinthians 640212
3 Midleton 632111
4 Rockmount 431010
5Ringmahon Rangers531110
6 Cobh Wanderers 63039
7 Avondale United 72147
8 UCC 51225
9Blarney United50232Relegation to First Division
10Castleview30030

Related Research Articles

The Munster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organized by the Munster Football Association. Entrants include League of Ireland clubs such as Cork City, Cobh Ramblers and Waterford who are affiliated to the MFA, as well as clubs from the Munster Senior League.

Cork Bohemians F.C. was an Irish association football club based in Cork. The club played in the League of Ireland for two seasons in 1932–33 and 1933–34. After Fordsons/Cork F.C., they became the second club from Cork city to join the league. Of the eight Cork city clubs to play in the league, Bohemians had the shortest stay. The club was successful at intermediate level both before and after its short spell in the League of Ireland, winning the Munster Senior League, the Munster Senior Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup.

Albert Rovers F.C. were an Irish association football club based in Cork. Between 1976–77 and 1981–82 the club played in the League of Ireland. During this time the club also played under the names Cork Albert, Cork Alberts and Cork United. The club has also fielded teams in the Munster Senior League and the Cork Athletic Union League. Throughout their history, the club colours were red and black and occasionally white. They were used in various combinations, including stripes and hoops.

Cork Football Club was an Irish association football club based in Cork. They were founded as Fords F.C. and later became known as Fordsons F.C.. They played in the League of Ireland between 1924–25 and 1937–38. Like several fellow early League of Ireland clubs, such as St James's Gate, Jacobs, Midland Athletic and Dundalk, the club had their origins as a factory or works team. They were initially the football team of the Ford Motor Company, a major employer in the city at the time. In 1930, however, Ford ended its association with the club and they were renamed Cork. The club folded in 1938 and were replaced in the League of Ireland by a new club, Cork City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">League of Ireland</span> Football league

The League of Ireland (LOI), is a league of professional football clubs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland along with the Football Association of Ireland. It is the top-level football league in the Republic of Ireland from its foundation in 1921-22 but the term was originally used to refer to a single division league. However today the League of Ireland features five divisions – the Premier Division, the First Division, U19 Division, U17 Division, U15 Division and starting U13 Division. The League of Ireland has always worked closely with the FAI and in 2006 the two bodies formally merged. All the divisions are currently sponsored by Airtricity and as a result the league is also known as the SSE Airtricity League. In 2007, it became one of the first leagues in Europe to introduce a salary cap.

The FAI Intermediate Cup, also known as the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup and the Pat O'Brien Intermediate Challenge Cup, is a cup competition organized by the Football Association of Ireland for intermediate association football clubs from the Republic of Ireland. These include clubs competing in the Leinster Senior League, the Munster Senior League and the Ulster Senior League. It was originally known as the FAI Qualifying Cup and from the beginning it has been used as a qualifying competition for the senior FAI Cup. It is currently sponsored by Umbro and has previously been sponsored by Carlsberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leinster Senior League (association football)</span> Football league

The Leinster Senior League is an association football league organised by the Leinster Football Association. In 2015–16 the Leinster Senior League operated twenty divisions. It also organises various cup competitions. Its Senior Division is a third level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. Leinster Senior League teams also compete in the Leinster Senior Cup, the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. In recent seasons the winners of the Senior Division have also qualified to play in the League of Ireland Cup. The vast majority of its member clubs are based in the Greater Dublin Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Senior League (association football)</span> Football league

The Ulster Senior League is an association football league featuring amateur, intermediate, and League of Ireland reserve teams. Together with the Leinster Senior League Senior Division and the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division, it forms the third level of the Republic of Ireland football league system. Ulster Senior League teams also compete in the FAI Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup. The winners of the Ulster Senior League have also been invited to play in the League of Ireland Cup. Despite using the Ulster name in its title, almost all of its clubs are based in County Donegal and the City of Derry. The most successful club in the league has been Fanad United who have won fourteen league titles and ten league cups. Since 2006 the USL has operated as a summer league with the season typically operating from April to October.

The Connacht Senior League was an association football league featuring amateur, intermediate, and League of Ireland reserve teams affiliated to the Connacht Football Association. It was a third level league in the Republic of Ireland football league system. An earlier provincial league, the Western League, had been active, on and off, since the 1930s before the Connacht Football Association decided to establish a more permanent league. The CSL was active between 1981 and 2000. In 2013 discussions were held about relaunching the league.

The Munster Football Association (MFA) is the governing body for association football in the Irish province of Munster. It is affiliated to the Football Association of Ireland and is responsible for organising the Munster Senior Cup and the Munster Senior League as well as numerous other leagues and cup competitions for junior teams. There are 13 leagues and approximately 800 teams affiliated with the MFA.

The Republic of Ireland football league system currently consists of 12 levels. Traditionally association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland have been classified as either senior, intermediate or junior. These leagues are effectively national, provincial and district leagues respectively. The two highest level leagues/divisions, the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division are both national leagues. Together they make up the League of Ireland. The third level currently consists of three provincial leagues – the Leinster Senior League Senior Division, the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division and the Ulster Senior League Senior Division.

Tramore Athletic F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Douglas, County Cork. Their senior men's team currently plays in the Munster Senior League. The club has previously played in the Cork Athletic Union League. They have also entered teams in the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup, the FAI Youth Cup and the Munster Senior Cup

The Cork Athletic Union League, also known as the Cork AUL, is an association football league featuring amateur and junior clubs from County Cork. Its top division, the Premier League, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. The Cork AUL is currently sponsored by Murphy's Irish Stout. It is affiliated to the Munster Football Association. Clubs in the Cork AUL also compete in the FAI Junior Cup. Three League of Ireland clubs – Cobh Ramblers, Cork Hibernians and Albert Rovers – were originally members of the Cork AUL.

The Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division is the top division of the Munster Senior League. It is organized by the Munster Football Association. Together with the Leinster Senior League Senior Division and the Ulster Senior League Senior Division, it forms the third level of the Republic of Ireland football league system. Clubs from this division play in the Munster Senior Cup, the FAI Cup, and the FAI Intermediate Cup. In recent seasons the winners of the Senior Division have also been invited to play in the League of Ireland Cup. Avondale United and UCC represented the division in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Caulfield (Irish footballer)</span>

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Avondale United F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Carrigaline, County Cork. Their senior team play in the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division. They also regularly compete in the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the Munster Senior Cup. Avondale has won the FAI Intermediate Cup a record eight times and have been Munster Senior League champions on eight occasions. After winning the 2012–13 Munster title, they were also invited to play in the 2014 League of Ireland Cup. The club also fields reserve, intermediate, junior, youth and schoolboy teams in the Munster Senior League, the Cork Schoolboys League and the Cork City & County Youths League.

College Corinthians A.F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Douglas, County Cork. Their senior men's team play in the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division. They also regularly compete in the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the Munster Senior Cup. Corinthians also fields a reserve team and an over 35 team in the lower divisions of the Munster Senior League. In addition the club operates a large youth and schoolboy section and enters teams in the Cork Schoolboys League and schoolgirl teams in the Cork Women's and Schoolgirls Soccer League.

Rockmount Association Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Whitechurch, County Cork.

Mark O'Sullivan is an association footballer who played for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City as a striker for several years. O'Sullivan spent four years with Munster Senior League side Avondale United before signing for Cork City Foras in 2010. He later returned to Avondale United, before returning to Cork City in 2014. He signed for Waterford in 2017. He then joined Limerick in 2018, before returning to Avondale United in the summer of 2018, and rejoined Cork City in 2019.

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.