The Limerick Desmond Football League (LDFL) 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 (meaning "South Munster").See also the Kingdom of Desmond and the Earl of Desmond
The headquarters of the league are located at Mick Hanley Park in Clounreask, Askeaton.
History The Limerick Desmond Football League (LDFL) was founded in January 1955 following a meeting at Desmond Castle in Newcastle West. In its early years, the league also included teams from County Kerry. Originally called the Desmond League – Desmond meaning South Munster in Irish – the 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. They were joined by Killarney Athletic at the start of 1966.
The Desmond League was re-organised following a meeting in October 1966. Attended by the general secretary of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Joe Wickham, the reforms aimed to improve the league's structures and help increase its independence from the Limerick District Management Committee (LDMC), who ran the Limerick District League. By 1969, the league featured twenty teams including Celtic Rangers, Kilcolman Rovers and Glin Rovers. In 1971, Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Athletic left the Desmond League to become founder members of the Kerry District League. Celtic Rangers and Foynes became the two clubs who dominated the league in the early seventies. The league then lost both Newcastle West and Foynes to the LDMC's league.
Between 1978 and 1981, Kilcolman won four league titles in a row.
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 (Premier Division, Division One, Division Two). 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 Level League(s) / division(s)1Premier Division 8 clubs – 2 relegations2Division One 8 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations3Division Two 8 clubs – 2 promotions, 1 relegation4Division Three 5 clubs – 1 promotion
Source:
Teams
List of winners by season As of 2022, former winners included: Season Winner Runners-up2021-22 Abbeyfeale Utd Rathkealehttps://limerickdesmondfootballleague.com/2021-2022-season-honours/2020-21 2018-19 Rathkealehttps://www.limerickleader.ie/gallery/sport/428845/slideshow-rathkeale-and-breska-secure-desmond-titles.html 2017–18 Abbeyfeale Utd Rathkeale2016–17 Rathkeale Broadford Utd2015–16 Abbeyfeale Utd Broadford Utd2014–15 Abbeyfeale Utd Newcastle West Rovers2013–14 Broadford Utd Rathkeale2012–13 Newcastle West AFC 2011–12 Broadford Utd 2010–11 Abbeyfeale Utd Shannonside F.C.2009–10 Rathkeale Newcastle West 2008–09 Newcastle West Abbyefeale Utd2007–08Newcastle West Glin Rovers2006–07 Abbeyfeale United Kildimo United2005–06 Newcastle West Glin Rovers2004–05 Rathkeale Newcastle West 2003–04 Ballingarry Rathkeale2002–03 BroadfordRathkeale2001–02 Newcastle West Broadford2000–01 Newcastle West AFC 1999–00 AbbeyfealeNewcastle West 1998–99 RathkealeNewcastle West 1997–98 Foynes Rathkeale1996–97 Rathkeale Newcastle West 1995–96 Rathkeale Newcastle West 1994–95 Rathkeale St.Bens1993–94 Askeaton Abbey United1992–93 Newcastle West Askeaton1991–92 Newcastle West Villa Rovers1990–91 Newcastle West 1989–90 Newcastle West 1988–89 Rathkeale 1987–88 Askeaton 1986–87 Park Utd 1985–86 Glin Rovers 1984–85 Askeaton 1983–84 Askeaton 1982–83 Kilcolman Rovers 1981–82 Askeaton 1980–81 Kilcolman Rovers 1979–80 Kilcolman Rovers 1978–79 Kilcolman Rovers 1977–78 Kilcolman Rovers 1976–77 Shannon United 1975–76 Broadford 1974–75 Foynes 1973–74 Foynes
Notes
References
External links ldfl.leaguerepublic.com