West Cork League

Last updated

West Cork League
Founded 1978 [1]
Country Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland
Confederation Munster Football Association [2]
DivisionsPremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division
O'Brien Water Services.com Division 1
WCL Womens 7s Tournament [3]
Number of teams22 (2024-25) [4]
Level on pyramid7–10
League cup(s)Beamish Cup [note 1]
Current championsClonakilty Soccer Club
Website www.westcorkleague.com

The West Cork League is an association football league featuring amateur and junior clubs from West Cork. Its top division, the PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. It is affiliated to both the Munster Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland.

Contents

History

The West Cork League was formed in 1978. Before 1978 clubs from West Cork, including Bandon A.F.C. and Clonakilty AFC, played in the Cork Athletic Union League. The founding members of the league included Crookstown, Castletown Celtic, Kileady, Ballinhassig, Our Ladies Hospital and Brinny. In 1990 discussions were held with the Cork Athletic Union League about a possible merger. However the two leagues could not agree. Between 1991 and 1993 the WCL was affiliated with the Munster Senior League. In 1992 Beamish began sponsoring the league. During the 1980s and 1990s membership of the league expanded and by 1997 the WCL featured approximately twenty three clubs. In addition schoolboy, under–18 and ladies leagues were added in the 1990s. The current Ladies League was revived in 2004–05 after a period of inactivity. [1] Drinagh Rangers have been the most successful club since the turn of the century, winning 11 Premier Division titles (and finishing in the top 2 on 15 occasions) and 4 Beamish Cups, with the clubs B team also winning the Division 2 title in the 2018–19 season and 2019-20 season.

Representative team

In 2005–06 the West Cork League representative team reached the final of the Oscar Traynor Cup but lost 5-0 to the Athletic Union League (Dublin). [1] In 2015 the West Cork League representative team featured Cork GAA player Colm O'Driscoll. [5]

2024-25 teams

Premier HiSpecCars.com Premier Division

[6]

List of winners

Premier Division

SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2023-24Clonakilty Soccer ClubDrinagh Rangers
2022-23Drinagh RangersDunmanway Town
2021-22Drinagh RangersDunmanway Town
2020–21Cancelled Due To Covid
2019–20Drinagh RangersDunmanway Town
2018–19Dunmanway TownBallydehob
2017–18Drinagh RangersLyre Rovers
2016–17Dunmanway TownDrinagh Rangers
2015–16Riverside AthleticDrinagh Rangers
2014–15Drinagh RangersClonakilty AFC
2013–14SkibbereenDrinagh Rangers
2012–13Drinagh RangersDunmanway Town
2011–12Dunmanway TownSkibbereen
2010–11Bunratty UnitedSkibbereen
2009–10SkibbereenDrinagh Rangers
2008–09Drinagh RangersDunmanway Town
2007–08SkibbereenClonakilty AFC
2006–07Drinagh RangersSkibbereen
2005–06CrossmahonBantry Gunners
2004–05Drinagh RangersCrossmahon [note 2]
2003–04Drinagh RangersCrossmahon
2002–03Drinagh RangersBunratty United
2001–02Bunratty UnitedDrinagh Rangers
2000–01TimoleagueBunratty United
1999–2000Bunratty United
1998–99Timoleague
1997–98Bunratty United
1996–97Bunratty United
1995–96Crossmahon
1994–95Togher Celtic

[6]

Division 1

SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2023-24Castletown CelticDrinagh Rangers B
2022-23SullaneBeara United
2021-22Bunratty UnitedCastletown Celtic
2020-21Cancelled Due To Covid
2019–20Spartak MossgroveMizen AFC
2018–19DurrusMizen AFC
2017–18Bunratty UnitedClonakilty Town
2016–17Spartak MossgroveLyre Rovers
2015–16BallydehobBay Rovers
2014–15Bunratty UnitedLeeside
2013–14Mizen AFCClonakilty Town
2012–13CrookstownCloughduv
2011–12Togher CelticSullane
2010–11Bay RoversCrookstown
2009–10Molaga CelticDroumree Dynamos
2008–09Togher CelticBunratty United
2007–08Aultagh CelticArdfield
2006–07CrookstownClonakilty AFC
2005–06Dunmanway TownSkibbereen B
2004–05Old Chapel CelticLyre Rovers
2003–04Bantry GunnersDurrus
2002–03Dunmanway TownSullane
2001–02BallydehobIlen Celtic

[6]

Division 2

SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2021-PresentMerged With Division 1
2020-21Cancelled Due To Covid
2019–20Drinagh Rangers BCastletown Celtic
2018–19Drinagh Rangers BBaltimore
2017–18Lyre Rovers BSullane
2016–17Clonakilty TownDurrus
2015–16Lyre RoversSpartak Mossgrove
2014–15BallydehobBay Rovers
2013–14Kilmichael RoversBunratty United
2012–13Mizen AFCCastletown Celtic
2011–12Lyre RoversRosscarbery
2010–11SullaneCloughduv
2009–10BaltimoreCrookstown
2008–09Molaga CelticRosscarbery
2007–08Castletown CelticDroumree Dynamos
2006–07ArdfieldRosscarbery
2005–06Clonakilty AFCAultagh Celtic
2004–05CourtmacsherryCastlelack
2003–04Lyre RoversBay Rovers
2002–03Caheragh CelticLissarda
2001–02Gurrane CelticBantry Gunners

[6]

Beamish Cup

SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2023-24Clonakilty Soccer ClubDrinagh Rangers
2022-23Dunmanway TownBunratty United
2021-22Lyre RoversClonakilty Soccer Club
2020-21Dunmanway TownClonakilty Soccer Club
2019–20Dunmanway TownClonakilty Town
2018–19Togher CelticDrinagh Rangers
2017–18Drinagh RangersLyre Rovers
2016–17Drinagh RangersBay Rovers
2015–16CrookstownDunmanway Town
2014–15Dunmanway TownCrookstown
2013–14Drinagh RangersCrookstown
2012–13Riverside AthleticClonakilty AFC
2011–12RosscarberySkibbereen
2010–11Bunratty UnitedMizen AFC
2009–10Bunratty UnitedDrinagh Rangers
2008–09BallydehobArdfield
2007–08Clonakilty AFCBunratty United
2006–07Drinagh RangersAultagh Celtic
2005–06Bantry GunnersBunratty United
2004–05LeesideArdfield
2003–04Dunmanway TownGurrane Celtic
2002–03Dunmanway TownTimoleague
2001–02CrossmahonDrinagh Rangers

[6]

Number of Trophies Won By Club

The following list displays the number of trophies won by each West Cork club since the turn of the century:

ClubNo. of Trophies
Drinagh Rangers27
Bunratty United15
Dunmanway Town14
Crookstown8
Skibbereen8
Ballydehob7
Bantry Gunners6
Castletown Celtic6
Togher Celtic5
Mizen AFC5
Drinagh Rangers B5
Lyre Rovers5
Ardfield4
Bay Rovers4
Durrus4
Molaga Celtic3
Clonakilty AFC3
Leeside3
Clonakilty Town3
Clonakilty Soccer Club3
Crossmahon2
Kilmichael Rovers2
Riverside Athletic2
Courtmacsherry2
Spartak Mossgrove2
Sullane2
Gurrane Celtic1
Aultagh Celtic1
Lyre Rovers B1
Old Chapel Celtic1
Castlelack1
Rosscarbery1
Baltimore1
Dunmanway Town B1
Caheragh Celtic1

[6]

List of Defunct Clubs

The following displays a list of clubs who have become defunct or have left the West Cork League:

Club
Ballydehob
Bantry Gunners
Belgooly
Bridge Side Celtic
Caheragh Celtic
Clonakilty AFC
Clonakilty Town
Cloughduv
Crookstown
Crossmahon
Droumree Dynamos
Durrus
Gurrane Celtic
Harbour United
Ilen Celtic
Knockavilla
Leeside
Molaga Celtic
Old Chapel Celtic
Pike Rovers
Rosscarbery
Timoleague

[6]

Notes

  1. Previously known as the Flor Crowley Cup and the MyGaff.ie Cup
  2. After play-off

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "A history of the West Cork League". westcorkpeople.ie. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. "Details of Affiliated Leagues & Clubs 2015/2016". munsterfa.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. "West Cork League" (PDF). westcorkleague.com. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  4. "List of Teams Affiliated to the West Cork League". munsterfa.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  5. "GAA star named in West Cork Leagues Oscar Traynor Squad". thejuniorsoccerportal.info. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "see Honours History section". westcorkleague.com. Retrieved 20 March 2016.