Leinster Senior League Senior Division


The Leinster Senior League Senior Division is the top division of the Leinster Senior League. It is organized by the Leinster Football Association. Together with the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division and the Ulster Senior League Senior Division, it forms the third level of the Republic of Ireland football league system. Formed in 1896, it is the oldest association football league in what is now the Republic of Ireland. Shelbourne have won the most titles. However, in more recent seasons Crumlin United, Cherry Orchard, Wayside Celtic and Bangor Celtic have been the divisions strongest teams. In 2014–15 Bluebell United were Leinster Senior League champions, 27 years after winning their previous title.
Clubs from this division play 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 been invited to play in the League of Ireland Cup.
From 1896–97 until 1964–65 the league was the de facto second level league in what is now the Republic of Ireland. Initially the Irish Football League was the top level. Then for one season, 1920–21, the Leinster Senior League was briefly the top level league. However this status was short lived and ended with the establishment of the League of Ireland in 1921–22. The Leinster Senior League remained a second level league until 1964–65 when it was effectively replaced by the League of Ireland B Division. With the establishment of the A Championship in 2008 it became a fourth level league. However, since the demise of the A Championship in 2011, it has reverted to third level status.

2016–17 teams

Promotion and Relegation

A promotion and relegation system operates within the Leinster Senior League structure itself. However, there is no formal promotion and relegation relationship with the League of Ireland. Teams can only be "promoted" by sending an application to the FAI. In the past successful and prominent members of the Leinster Senior League have regularly been invited and/or elected to join the League of Ireland. Current League of Ireland clubs Bohemians, Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Bray Wanderers are all former Leinster Senior League champions. While Bohemians and Shelbourne were founding members of the League of Ireland, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic were all effectively "promoted" to the League of Ireland after winning the Leinster Senior League Senior Division title. Incidentally both Rovers and St Pats won successive Leinster Senior League and League of Ireland titles in 1921-22 and 1922-23 and 1950–51 and 1951–52 respectively.
Throughout its history the Leinster Senior League Senior Division has regularly featured the reserve teams of League of Ireland teams. The reserve teams of Shelbourne, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic, Brideville, Drumcondra and Dolphins have all been Senior Division champions in their own right. The reserve team of Cabinteely currently plays in the lower levels of the Leinster Senior League.

History

Foundation

Within a few seasons of the Leinster Football Association been formed in 1892, the Leinster Senior League was established. Ciarán Priestley highlights a printed notice in the September 4, 1894 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. 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 where the inaugural winners while Shelbourne were runners up.

Bohemians and Shelbourne era

Up until the 1920s the league was dominated by Bohemians and Shelbourne. These two clubs still remain the league's two most successful teams based on titles they won in this era. Even when Bohemians and Shelbourne joined the Irish Football League in 1902 and 1904 respectively, their reserve teams continued to win titles regularly. Initially only St James's Gate and British Army regimental teams challenged the Bohemians/Shelbourne monopoly. During the First World War the Irish Football League was suspended and the senior teams of both Bohemians and Shelbourne rejoined the Leinster Senior League. Meanwhile, their northern counterparts competed in the Belfast & District League. The 1919–20 saw a return to an all-Ireland
league. However further disruption caused by the Irish War of Independence meant this was short lived and at the end of this season Bohemians and Shelbourne withdrew from the Irish Football League permanently. They subsequently rejoined the Leinster Senior League and for the 1920–21 season. The league now briefly became the top level league in what is now the Republic of Ireland. 1920–21 also saw Shelbourne United emerge as champions, becoming only the fourth civilian team to win the title.

1920s

The 1921–22 season saw the establishment of the League of Ireland and this had a considerable impact on the Leinster Senior League. All eight founding League of Ireland members – Shelbourne, Bohemians, St James's Gate, Jacobs, Olympia, Dublin United, Frankfort and YMCA – had all spent the previous season playing in the Leinster Senior League. The emergence of the League of Ireland thus created a number of vacancies in the Senior Division and among the clubs who filled them were Shamrock Rovers. For the 1921–22 season Rovers were joined in the Senior Division by Bohemians B, St James's Gate B, Bray Unknowns, Midland Athletic, Pioneers, Brooklyn, Shelbourne United, Merrion, Glasnevin, CYMS and Richmond. With a team that included John Joe Flood, William Glen, Bob Fullam and Dinny Doyle, Rovers won the Senior Division and reached the 1921–22 FAI Cup final. The 1922–23 season saw the League of Ireland expand to twelve teams. After Frankfort and YMCA dropped out, six new teams – Shamrock Rovers, Midland Athletic, Pioneers, Shelbourne United, Athlone Town and Rathmines Athletic – were invited to join. Once again the Leinster Senior League provided most of the League of Ireland's newest members. Further vacancies in the Senior Division were now created and among the clubs who subsequently filled them were Brideville, Dolphins, Dundalk and Drumcondra. Like Shelbourne United and Shamrock Rovers before them, Bray Unknowns, Brideville, Drumcondra and Dolphins all won the Leinster Senior League title and were then invited to join the League of Ireland. Brooklyn were also elected to the League of Ireland for the 1923–24 season. Dundalk joined the Leinster Senior League in 1922–23. They were runners up in 1923–24 and then finished third in 1925–26 before making their League of Ireland debut in 1926–27. While playing in Leinster Senior League, Drumcondra also won an FAI Intermediate Cup / FAI Cup double in 1926–27.

1930s

During the 1930s three more Leinster Senior League champions made the step up to the League of Ireland. These included Sligo Rovers, Brideville and Reds United. At the end of the 1931–32 League of Ireland season Brideville dropped out. However 1932–33 saw them win their second Leinster Senior League title. 1932–33 also Sligo Rovers join the Leinster Senior League. In their first season they finished third. During the season they had twice beaten the champions Brideville and also defeated Bohemians B. In 1933–34 Sligo Rovers achieved a treble, winning the Leinster Senior League, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the LFA Metropolitan Cup. On the back of this success, they joined the League of Ireland for the 1934–35 season. The following season, 1935–36 saw Brideville return to the League of Ireland along with the 1934–35 Leinster Senior League champions, Reds United. During the late 1930s and 1940s the Leinster Senior League's most successful team was Distillery. They won the title five times during period. However unlike some of their contemporaries, Distillery never moved up the League of Ireland.

St Patrick's Athletic era

During the late 1940s and 1950s the strongest team in the Leinster Senior League was St Patrick's Athletic. During this period they won the league title on six occasions. This included four successive titles between 1947–48 and 1950–51. In 1947–48 St Pat's completed a treble after also winning both the FAI Intermediate Cup and Leinster Senior Cup. The 1948–49 season would see St Pat's win a Leinster Senior League / FAI Intermediate Cup. In 1950–51 a young Shay Gibbons helped St Pat's win the Leinster Senior League title for a fourth time. St Pat's were subsequently invited to join the 1951–52 League of Ireland and went on to win their first League of Ireland title at their first attempt. With St Pat's first team now in the League of Ireland, their reserve team won two further Leinster Senior League titles in 1955–56 and 1956–57.

List of winners by club

TeamTitlesSeasons won
Shelbourne121902–03, 1903–04,,,,, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1918–19,,,
Bohemians81899–00, 1900–01, 1901–02,,,, 1917–18,
Bluebell United71981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
Cherry Orchard61993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07
St. James Gate61909–10, 1911–12, 1914–15, 1919–20, 1987–88, 1988–89
TEK United61964–65, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1977–78
St. Patrick's Athletic61947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51,,
Crumlin United62007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018–19
Wayside Celtic51997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2010–11
Distillery 51935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1941–42
St. Francis41989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96
Jacobs41952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1967–68
Drumcondra41927–28,,,
Bray Wanderers31957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60
Pegasus31975–76, 1978–79, 1980–81
Shamrock Rovers/B31921–22,,
British Army31897–98, 1898–99, 1905–06
Bangor Celtic22004–05, 2008–09
Hammond Lane21979–80, 1982–83
Rialto21969–70, 1972–73
Home Farm21960–61, 1963–64
Transport21946–47, 1962–63
Brideville2, 1932–33
Dolphin21929–30,
St. Mochta's FC12016-17
Newbridge Town11998–99
Glanmire Celtic11990–91
St. Mary's 11984–85
Aer Lingus11976–77
CYM Terenure11973–74
St. Brendan's11971–72
Glebe North Athletic11966–67
Workman's Club 11961–62
Bradmola11944–45
Fearons Athletic11936–37
Reds United11934–35
Sligo Rovers11933–34
Bendigo11926–27
Shelbourne United11920–21
Bray Unknowns11922–23

List of winners by season


SeasonWinnerRunners-up
2018-19Crumlin UnitedKillester United
2017-18Bluebell United F.C.Crumlin United
2016-17St. Mochta’s F.C.Bluebell United A.F.C
2015–16Bluebell UnitedFirhouse Clover
2014–15Bluebell UnitedDrumcondra
2013–14Crumlin UnitedTolka Rovers
2012–13Crumlin UnitedCherry Orchard
2011–12Crumlin UnitedBluebell United
2010-11Wayside CelticBluebell United
2009-10Crumlin UnitedBluebell United
2008-09Bangor CelticTolka Rovers
2007-08Crumlin UnitedBangor Celtic
2006-07Cherry OrchardBangor Celtic
2005-06Wayside CelticMalahide United
2004-05Bangor Celtic
2003-04Wayside Celtic
2002-03Wayside Celtic
2001-02Cherry Orchard
2000-01Cherry Orchard
1999-00
1998-99Newbridge TownCherry Orchard
1997-98Wayside CelticCherry Orchard
1996-97Cherry Orchard
1995-96St. FrancisCherry Orchard
1994-95Cherry OrchardAshtown Villa
1993-94Cherry OrchardGlanmire Celtic
1992-93St. FrancisGlanmire Celtic
1991-92St. FrancisBallyfermot United
1990-91Glanmire CelticSt. Francis
1989-90St. FrancisSt. James Gate
1988-89St. James GateBluebell United
1987-88St. James GateBluebell United
1986-87Bluebell UnitedTEK United
1985-86Bluebell UnitedTEK United
1984-85St. Mary's Bluebell United
1983-84Bluebell UnitedDun Leary Celtic
1982-83Hammond Lane
1981-82Bluebell UnitedSt. Joseph's Boys
1980-81PegasusRailway Union
1979-80Hammond LaneAIB
1978-79PegasusBray Wanderers
1977-78TEK UnitedWorkman's Club
1976-77Aer LingusBluebell United
1975-76PegasusParkvilla
1974-75TEK UnitedCYM Terenure
1973-74CYM TerenureTransport
1972-73RialtoTEK United
1971-72St. Brendan'sTEK United
1970-71TEK UnitedSt. James Gate
1969-70Rialto
1968-69TEK United
1967-68Jacobs
1966-67Glebe North Athletic
1965-66TEK United
1964-65TEK United
1963-64Home Farm
1962-63Transport
1961-62Workman's Club Ormeau
1960-61Home FarmShelbourne Reserves
1959-60Bray WanderersChapelizod
1958-59Bray Wanderers
1957-58Bray Wanderers
1956-57St Patrick's Athletic ReservesWorkman's Club
1955-56St Patrick's Athletic Reserves
1954-55Jacobs
1953-54JacobsLongford Town
1952-53Jacobs
1951-52Drumcondra Reserves
1950-51St. Patrick's Athletic
1949-50St. Patrick's Athletic
1948-49St. Patrick's Athletic
1947-48St. Patrick's AthleticTransport
1946-47Transport
1945-46Drumcondra Reserves
1944-45BradmolaDrumcondra Reserves
1943-44Shelbourne Reserves
1942-43Shelbourne Reserves
1941-42Distillery
1940-41Distillery
1939-40Shamrock Rovers B
1938-39Distillery
1937-38Distillery
1936-37Fearons Athletic
1935-36Distillery
1934-35Reds United
1933-34Sligo RoversDistillery
1932-33BridevilleBohemians Reserves
1931-32Bohemians Reserves
1930-31Dolphin
1929-30Dolphin
1928-29Drumcondra ReservesEdenville
1927-28Drumcondra
1926-27Bendigo
1925-26Brideville
1924-25Shamrock Rovers B
1923-24Shelbourne ReservesDundalk GNR
1922-23Bray Unknowns
1921-22Shamrock Rovers
1920-21Shelbourne United
1919-20St. James Gate
1918-19Shelbourne
1917-18BohemiansShelbourne
1916-17Shelbourne
1915-16Shelbourne
1914-15St. James Gate
1913-14Bohemians Reserves
1912-13Bohemians Reserves
1911-12St. James Gate
1910-11Shelbourne Reserves
1909-10St. James Gate
1908-09Shelbourne Reserves
1907-08Shelbourne Reserves
1906-07Shelbourne Reserves
1905-06British Army
1904-05Bohemians Reserves
1903-04Shelbourne
1902-03Shelbourne
1901-02Bohemians
1900-01Bohemians
1899-00Bohemians
1898-99British Army
1897-98British ArmyShelbourne