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Leinster Senior League (soccer)

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Leinster Senior League
Founded1896
CountryRepublic of Ireland Ireland
RegionLeinster Leinster
Divisions22
Level on pyramid3–12
Domestic cup(s)Leinster Senior Cup
FAI Cup
FAI Intermediate Cup
FAI Junior Cup
League cup(s)Metropolitan Cup
Charlie Cahill Cup
Current championsSt. Mochta’s F.C.
Most championshipsShelbourne (12 titles)
Websitewww.lsl.ie

The Leinster Senior League is an association football league organised by the Leinster Football Association. The Leinster Senior League operates 22 divisions, 12 of which are played on Saturdays, with 10 divisions played on Sundays.[1][2] It also organises 17 different cup competitions.[3][4] Its Senior Division is on the third level of 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.

History

Foundation

Within a few seasons of the Leinster Football Association having been formed in 1892, the Leinster Senior League was established. Ciarán Priestley highlights a printed notice in the 4 September 2010 edition of The Irish Times. Under the headline "Leinster Football League" there is a report of "a general meeting of the league... held the other evening at 27 D'Olier Street". Priestley also lists Bohemians, Britannia, Dublin University, Leinster Nomads, Phoenix and Montpelier as participants in the first season. The Leinster Senior League website states it was established in 1896.[4] However other sources suggest the league started a little later and was first played for in 1897–98 and that an unidentified British Army regimental team were the inaugural winners while Shelbourne were runners up. See Note 1[5][6]

Modern era

The league was re-organised for the 1988–89 season, with Division 1 and Division 1A replaced by the Senior Division and Division 1 respectively.[7]

League pyramid

The Leinster Senior Football League (LSL) has four intermediate divisions – Senior, Senior 1, 1A and 1B – with promotion and relegation between them. Below this, the LSL also runs junior ranks – played on a Sunday for a club's first team, as well as Saturday divisions for a club's a second team.[8]

As of November 2024, there is no promotion or relegation system in place between the League of Ireland First Division (Level 2 of the national league system) and the intermediate provincial leagues (Level 3 of the system), which includes Leinster.[9][8] However, Leinster junior clubs can achieve promotion up to the intermediate ranks via promotion from the highest junior league (Major Sunday) to the lowest intermediate league (Senior 1B).[1]

Colour-coding key
Intermediate (levels 3–6)
Junior (levels 7–12)

Pyramid Level

 League(s) / division(s)

3

 Leinster Senior League
Senior Division

14 clubs – 3 relegations

4

 Leinster Senior League
Senior 1

14 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations [10]

5

 Leinster Senior League 1A

14 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations [11]

6

 Leinster Senior League 1B

14 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations [12]

7

 Leinster Senior League
Major Sunday

12 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations [13][a]

8

 Leinster Senior League
Major 1 Sunday

10 clubs – 3 promotions, 2 relegations [14][a]

9

 Leinster Senior League
Premier Sunday

10 clubs – 2 promotions, 2 relegations [15][a]

10–14
  • Leinster Senior League Premier 1
  • Amateur Football League [b][16]
  • Athletic Union League
  • Carlow & District Football League
  • Combined Counties Football League[c][17]
  • Drogheda Summer League
  • Dundalk Summer League
  • Kildare & District Football League
  • Kilkenny & District Soccer League
  • Leinster Football League Development League
  • Meath & District League
  • United Churches Football League [d][18]
  • Wexford Football League
  • Wicklow & District Football League

Source:[19]

Senior divisions

The senior divisions of the Leinster Senior League are played on Sundays.[20]

Senior Sunday

Team Home town/suburb Home county Home ground
Bangor CelticCrumlinCounty DublinThe Transport Club
Ballymun United Ballymun County Dublin Ballymun Soccer Complex
Finglas United Finglas County Dublin Larney Park
Inchicore AthleticInchicoreCounty DublinBernard Curtis Park
Kilbarrack UnitedKilbarrackCounty DublinGreendale Road
Killester Donnycarney F.C.Killester & DonnycarneyCounty DublinHaddon Park
Lucan UnitedLucanCounty DublinO'Hanlon Park, Celbridge
Malahide UnitedMalahideCounty Dublin (Fingal)Gannon Park
St. Francis F.C.BaldonnelCounty DublinJohn Hyland Park
St. Mochta's F.C.Porterstown & ClonsillaCounty Dublin (Fingal)Porterstown Road
Tolka RoversGlasnevinCounty DublinFrank Cooke Park
UCD (res.)BelfieldCounty DublinUCD Bowl
Usher CelticDublin quays[21]County DublinWar Memorial Gardens
Wayside CelticKilternanCounty DublinJackson Park

Source: [22] [23]

Senior 1

Team Home town/suburb Home county Home ground
Arklow Town Arklow County Wicklow Travers Insurances Park
Bluebell UnitedBluebellCounty DublinCapco Park
Crumlin United Crumlin County Dublin Pearse Park
Edenderry TownEdenderryCounty OffalyPaddy Maloney Park
Glebe NorthBalbrigganCounty Dublin (Fingal)Old Market Green
Hartstown Huntstown F.C. Hartstown & Huntstown County Dublin (Fingal) Hartstown Park
Home Farm Drumcondra County Dublin Whitehall Stadium
Kilnamanagh A.F.C.KilnamanaghCounty DublinNed Kelly Park
Liffey Wanderers Ringsend County Dublin Irishtown Stadium
Maynooth TownMaynoothCounty KildareNUI Astro Maynooth
Montpelier F.C. Arbour Hill County Dublin Grangegorman Pitch
Sacred Heart Tallaght County Dublin Joe Maughan Park
Skerries TownSkerriesCounty Dublin (Fingal) Park Lane[24]
St. Patrick's C.Y.F.C. Irishtown County Dublin Irishtown Stadium

Source: [25]

Senior 1A

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
Ayrfield United Ayrfield Blunden Drive
Blackrock College A.F.C. Blackrock Stradbrook
Castleknock CelticCastleknock, DublinHartstown Park Astro
Drumcondra FCDrumcondra, DublinBaskin Lane
Dublin Bus FCRonanstownColdcut
Inchicore AthleticInchicore, DublinBernard Curtis Park
Larkview BoysKimmage, DublinWhelan Park
Leixlip UnitedLeixlip, County KildareLeixlip Amenities Sports Centre
Newbridge TownNewbridge, County KildareStation Road, Newbridge
Portlaoise AFCPortlaoise, County LaoisPortlaoise AFC
St. John BoscoDrimnagh, DublinBrickfield Astro
St. Kevin’s BoysSantry, DublinSt. Aidans School Astro
Templeogue UnitedTempleogueSt McDaras School
Usher CelticIslandbridgeWar Memorial Gardens

Source: [26] Senior 1B

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
Ardmore RoversBray, County WicklowWolfe Tone Community Centre
Ballyfermot UnitedBallyfermotCold Cut
Drogheda Town FCDrogheda, County LouthMarian Park
Dublin UniversityTrinity College DublinCollege Park
Dunboyne AFCDunboyne, County MeathDunboyne AFC
Finglas UnitedFinglasLarney Park
Hartstown HuntstownHartstown/HuntstownHartstown Park
Kilmore CelticKilmore, DublinOscar Traynor Centre
Leicester Celtic Rathfarnham, DublinLoreto Park
Oliver Bond CelticDublin 8Grangegorman Grass
Raheny UnitedRaheny, DublinSt. Anne's Park
Rush AthleticRush, County DublinSt. Catherine's Park
Sheriff YCSheriff Street, DublinClontarf All Weather Pitch
Tullamore TownTullamore, County OffalyLeah Victoria Park

Source: [27]

Junior leagues

This is a selection of teams playing in the lower levels of the Leinster Senior League.

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
BeechwoodMilltown, DublinRoyal Hospital, Donnybrook
DundrumDundrum, DublinMeadowbrook Park
Drumcondra/Stella MarisDrumcondra, Dublin
GlenvillePalmerstown, DublinPalmerstown School
Greystones A.F.C.GreystonesArchfield
Manortown UnitedPerrystownGreentrees Park
Phoenix F.C.Scribblestown & AshtownScribblestown Pitch
PioneersDublin AirportALSAA Sports Complex
T.E.K. UnitedBlackrock, DublinStradbrook
Terenure College A.F.C.TerenureBushy Park
TransportCrumlin, DublinWindmill Park

Cup competitions

The Charlie Cahill Cup is contested by the top two divisions in the Leinster Senior League.[28] The competition is named after the league’s former chairman, who stepped down in 2009 and was also president of the Leinster Football Association (LFA) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) during his career as a legislator.[29][30][31] The first Cahill Cup was held in the 1992–93 season and was won by Cherry Orchard.[32][33]

The Noel Ryan Cup is contested by the top four teams from each of the league's four Intermediate divisions.[34] Named after one of the founders of Crumlin United, the inaugural cup was held in 2010 and was won by Wayside Celtic.[35][36]

The Metropolitan Cup is contested by Leinster Senior League teams with the competition first held in 1906.[37] Ashtown Villa won the competition in the 1992–93 season.[33]

Representative team

A Leinster Senior League representative team competes in the FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament against teams representing the Ulster Senior League, the Munster Senior League and Connacht.[38]

Notes

  1. Due to the frequency of club withdrawals at this level, actual number of promotions and relegations can vary greatly.
  2. Features teams from Dublin
  3. Features teams from the Midlands and bordering counties
  4. Features teams from Dublin

References

  1. Stafford, Tom (21 November 2024). "The Irish Football Pyramid – or lack of (part 4 - Leinster)". Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  2. "Competitions". LSL.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  3. "Leinster Senior Football League". www.leinsterfa.ie. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. "Comortais Competition Management". lsl.ie. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  5. Leinster Senior League
  6. Ciarán Priestley: The Bohemian Football Club: The Enduring Legacy of an Idle Youth Archived 4 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Leinster Senior Football League | Division 1 1980-1988". Eirball.ie - Gridiron Football in Ireland Statistics Archive. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  8. "Leinster Senior League – Eirball.ie – Gridiron Football in Ireland Statistics Archive". eirball.ie. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2025. The Leinster Senior Football League has Four Intermediate Divisions – Senior, 1, 1A, 1B – with promotion and relegation between them, although there is no promotion from the Senior Division into the League of Ireland. Below this The LSFL also runs Junior ranks – played on a Sunday for Clubs' first teams, as well as Saturday Divisions for Clubs' Second Teams.
  9. Stafford, Tom (21 November 2024). "The Irish Football Pyramid – or lack of (part 1 - Munster)". extratime.com. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  10. "Leinster Senior League Senior 1 Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  11. "Leinster Senior League Senior 1A Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  12. "Leinster Senior League: Senior 1B Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  13. "Leinster Senior League: Major Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  14. "Leinster Senior League: Major 1 Sunday – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  15. "Leinster Senior League: Premier Sunday – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  16. "Amateur Football League". www.amateurfootballleague.com. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  17. "Combined Counties Football League". ccfl.ie. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  18. "United Churches Football League". www.ucfl.ie. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  19. "Affiliated Leagues – LFA". www.leinsterfa.ie. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  20. "LSL Competitions". lsl.ie. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  21. Gallagher, Fiachra (18 September 2023). "Usher Celtic and boss Wes Doyle aiming to sideline Bohemians in Leinster Senior Cup final". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  22. "Senior Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  23. "LSL Senior Sunday". lsl.ie. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  24. "SKERRIES TOWN FC YOUR CLUB - LOCATION". www.skerriestownfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  25. "Senior 1 Sunday". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  26. "Senior 1A Sunday". lsl.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  27. "Senior 1B Sunday". lsl.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  28. "Glebe do league and cup double over Bluebell". Irish Independent. 2 October 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  29. "Ukek strikes for Bluebell to land Charlie Cahill Cup". Striker Online. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  30. "FAI mourns Charles Cahill". UEFA.com. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  31. "Cahill final to give Charlie a real rousing 'send-off'". Irish Independent. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  32. "CHERRY ORCHARD FC EST 1957 | Our Club Story - OUR HISTORY". www.cherryorchardfc.yourclub.ie. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  33. "Leinster Senior League | Roll of Honour 1992–93". www.facebook.com. Ireland Old and New. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  34. Feery, Niall (30 November 2009). "Crumlin donate cup to honour Noel Ryan". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  35. "Wayside have the Will to see off Crumlin in 'Ryan'". Irish Independent. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  36. "One of Crumlin United's founder members Noel Ryan". www.facebook.com. Crumlin United Football Club. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  37. Feery, Niall (15 November 2008). "'Orchard' ripe for the picking". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  38. "League Table 2016 FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament". uslfootball.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  39. IFA Cup, Rsssf
  40. Where's My Country?, Rsssf