| Confed: | Munster Football Association[1] |
| Country: |  Ireland |
| Founded: | 1955 |
| Divisions: | Premier Division Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Youth Division 1 Youth Division 2 Under 17 Division 1 Under 17 Division 2 |
| Teams: | 58 (2017–18) [2] |
| Levels: | 7–12 |
| League Cup: | Desmond Cup Richard Hogan Cup Riedy Cup |
| Website: | http://ldfl.leaguerepublic.com/l/league/738923257.html |
The Limerick Desmond League is an association football league featuring amateur, junior, youth and under-17 teams from the part of County Limerick west of the N20.[3] Its top division, the Premier Division, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. Desmond is a historical name associated with both Limerick and Munster. [4]
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.[5] [6] [7]
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.
As of 2018, former winners included:[8]
| Season | Winner | Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Abbeyfeale Utd | Rathkeale | |
| 2016–17 | Rathkeale | Broadford Utd | |
| 2015–16 | Abbeyfeale Utd | Broadford Utd | |
| 2014–15 | Abbeyfeale Utd | Newcastle West Rovers | |
| 2013–14 | Broadford Utd | Rathkeale | |
| 2012–13 | Newcastle West AFC | ||
| 2011–12 | Broadford Utd | ||
| 2010–11 | Abbeyfeale Utd | Shannonside F.C. | |
| 2009–10 | Rathkeale | ||
| 2008–09 | Abbyefeale Utd | ||
| 2007–08 | Glin Rovers | ||
| 2006–07 | Abbeyfeale United | Kildimo United | |
| 2005–06 | Glin Rovers | ||
| 2004–05 | Rathkeale | ||
| 2003–04 | Rathkeale | ||
| 2002–03 | Broadford | Rathkeale | |
| 2001–02 | Broadford | ||
| 2000–01 | Newcastle West AFC | ||
| 1999–00 | Abbeyfeale | ||
| 1998–99 | Rathkeale | ||
| 1997–98 | Foynes | Rathkeale | |
| 1996–97 | Rathkeale | ||
| 1995–96 | Rathkeale | ||
| 1994–95 | Rathkeale | St.Bens | |
| 1993–94 | Askeaton | Abbey United | |
| 1992–93 | Askeaton | ||
| 1991–92 | Villa Rovers | ||
| 1990–91 | |||
| 1989–90 | |||
| 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 |