Limerick Desmond League
Introduction 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.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.
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 (Premier Division, Division One, Division Two). The league has also seen a couple of club mergers. Killeany AFC merged with Bally Rovers to form Killeany/Bally Rovers FC, 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 remain separate entities.On the pitch Chris Smith of Abbeyfeale United, Daniel Power and Mark Doherty if Newcastle West A.F.C have represented the Republic of Ireland amateur level, while Broadford United Youths and Newcastle West Rovers youths have reached a Munster Youths Cup semi-final, something which the league hasn't regularly seen.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.
2015–16 teams
List of winners by season  Season WinnerRunners-up-15B.C2017–18  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 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