Limerick Desmond League


The Limerick Desmond Football League 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. 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.
The headquarters of the league are located at Mick Hanley Park in Clounreask, Askeaton.

History

The league was founded in January 1955 following a meeting at the Desmond Castle, Newcastle West. It was agreed to call the league – the Desmond League and its 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. In it early years the league also included teams from County Kerry. In 1966 Joe Wickham initiated reforms that helped modernize the league and by 1969 it featured twenty teams. In 1971 Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Athletic left the Desmond League to become founder members of the Kerry District League.
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. 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 LevelLeague / division
1Premier Division
8 clubs – 2 relegations
2Division One
8 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations
3Division Two
8 clubs – 2 promotions, 1 relegation
4Division Three
5 clubs – 1 promotion

'''Source:'''

List of winners by season

As of 2022, former winners included:
SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2021-22Abbeyfeale UtdRathkeale
2020-21
2018-19Rathkeale
2017–18Abbeyfeale UtdRathkeale
2016–17RathkealeBroadford Utd
2015–16Abbeyfeale UtdBroadford Utd
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