Inishowen Football League
 |
|
| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1988 |
| No. of teams | 17 |
| Country |  Ireland |
| Most recent champion(s) | Glengad United |
| Official website | http://www.inishowenfl.ie |
The Inishowen Football League (IOFL) is an amateur league for football clubs. There are two divisions in the main leagues and the reserves leagues. 17 teams compete in the league, 9 in the Premier Division, 6 in the First Division with Gleneely Colts & Sea Rovers in the Reserve League operating a promotion and relegation system. The season runs from September to May time. The league is featured in much of Inishowen's media like the Inish Times and the Inishowen Independent.
The divisions are sponsored by different companies and corporations. The top division is called the Jackie Crossan Premier, and the lower division is called the Strand Hotel First Division. The current champions are Glengad United who won in the 2015/2016 season. Many teams compete in the North West Champions League and the FAI Junior Cup. People of Inishowen enjoy the league, and games have usually good attendance. The league has been growing in popularity and is known as one of the best football leagues in County Donegal and Ulster.[citation needed]
Contents
History
The Inishowen Football league was formed in 1988 with people representing their towns to play in small tournaments and of course the main league itself. The league gave people a great chance to socialise and have fun on weekends. The league has grown a lot since its founding and is known as one of the most successful leagues in County Donegal.
Clubs
| Club | Founded | Team Colours | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aileach FC | 1993 | Blue & Yellow | Lakeside, Inch Road, Burnfoot |
| Buncrana Hearts | 1961 | White & Navy | Youth Club, Castle Avenue, Buncrana |
| Carndonagh FC | 1976 | Red | St. Patrick's Park, Carndonagh |
| Carrowmena FC | 1993 | Orange & Black | The Warren, Tremone, Carrowmena |
| Clonmany Shamrocks | 1951 | White & Green | Shamrock Park, Clonmany |
| Cockhill Celtic F.C. Youths | 1970 | Green & White Hoops | Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds, Cockhill |
| Culdaff FC | 1972 | White & Red | Caratra Park, Culdaff |
| Dunree United | 1974 | Black & Yellow | St. Egney's Park, Glebe, Linsfort |
| Gleneely Colts | 1980 | Blue & Navy | Glenview Park, Gleneely |
| Glengad United | 1976 | Yellow & Black | The Crua, Glengad |
| Greencastle FC | 1986 | Blue | Chapel Lane, Ballybrack, Greencastle |
| Illies Celtic | 1977 | Green & Navy | Stranaclea Road, Illies |
| Moville Celtic | 1904 | Green & White Hoops | Glencrow, Moville |
| Quigley's Point Swifts | 1970 | Dark Blue | School Field, Muff |
| Rashenny FC | 1976 | Black & Navy Strips | Trawbreaga, Isle of Doagh |
| Redcastle United | 1969 | Red & Black Strips | Foyle Park, Tullyally, Redcastle |
| Sea Rovers FC | Red & White Strips | Gortnamullin, Malin Head |
League Format
The league is split up into 4 divisions, 2 divisions in the first team leagues, and 2 divisions in the reserves league. The top league is called the Jackie Crossan Premier Division, and the first division is called the Strand Hotel First. The 2 reserve leagues are sponsored by Inishowen Engineering. There are 9 clubs in the Jackie Crossan Premier, and 6 in the Strand Hotel First. The divisions are aided with a promotion and relegation system. The first and second placed teams of the Strand Hotel First is promoted to the Premier Division, while the two bottom teams of the Jackie Crossan Premier are relegated to the Strand Hotel First.
Jackie Crossan Premier Division (2015/16 Season)
- Aileach FC
- Buncrana Hearts
- Clonmany Shamrocks
- Culdaff FC
- Glengad United
- Greencastle FC
- Illies Celtic
- Moville Celtic
- Quigley's Point Swifts
Strand Hotel First Division (2015/16 Season)
- Carndonagh FC
- Carrowmena FC
- Cockhill Celtic Youths
- Dunree United
- Rashenny FC
- Redcastle United
Inishowen Engineering Reserves Premier Division (2015/16 Season)
- Aileach Reserves
- Buncrana Hearts Reserves
- Clonmany Shamrock Reserves
- Cockhill Colts
- Gleneely Colts
- Glengad Reserves
- Illies Celtic Reserves
- Moville Celtic Reserves
- Quigley's Point Swifts Reserves
- Sea Rovers
Inishowen Engineering Reserves First Division (2015/16 Season)
- Aileach Youths
- Carrowmena Reserves
- Carndonagh Reserves
- Culdaff Reserves
- Dunree United Reserves
- Greencastle Reserves
- Rashenny Reserves
- Redcastle United Reserves
| Club | Titles[1] |
|---|---|
| Clonmany Shamrocks | 6 |
| Cockhill Celtic | 5 |
| Redcastle United | 4 |
| Illies Celtic | 3 |
| Quigley's Point Swifts | 3 |
| Glengad United | 2 |
| Aileach FC | 1 |
| Carndonagh FC | 1 |
| Culdaff FC | 1 |
| Moville Celtic | 1 |
| Newtown FC | 1 |
Honours - Premier League Winners
Clonmany Shamrocks have won the most titles with six championships.
- 2015/16 - Glengad United
- 2014/15 - Glengad United
- 2013/14 - Carndonagh FC
- 2012/13 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 2011/12 - Aileach FC
- 2010/11 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 2009/10 - Redcastle United
- 2008/09 - Redcastle United
- 2007/08 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 2006/07 - Redcastle United
- 2005/06 - Redcastle United
- 2004/05 - Cockhill Celtic
- 2003/04 - Illies Celtic
- 2002/03 - Illies Celtic
- 2001/02 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 2000/01 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 1999/2000 - Cockhill Celtic
- 1998/99 - Culdaff FC
- 1997/98 - Moville Celtic
- 1996/97 - Quigley's Point Swifts
- 1995/96 - Newtown FC
- 1994/95 - Clonmany Shamrocks
- 1993/94 - Quigley's Point Swifts
- 1992/93 - Quigley's Point Swifts
- 1991/92 - Cockhill Celtic
- 1990/91 - Cockhill Celtic
- 1989/90 - Illies Celtic
- 1988/89 - Cockhill Celtic
Cup Competitions
West End League Cup
This cup competition is fought out between the Premier and First Division teams in a mini league and then knockout format. This competition begins prior to the start of the league and played out through the season.
Credit Union Cup
This cup competition is played between teams from the Premier and First Divisions in a knockout format only.
Hannon Greene Father O'Gara Cup
The Father O'Gara Cup is one of the most famous and historic competition in the league. The format is every team from the Strand Hotel first division, and the two Reserve Divisions compete against one another in a knockout format. The first teams reserve squad may compete against one another if they are drawn to play. Mainly it has been the Strand Hotel division teams that make the final. The competition lasts all the way through the season and is very popular throughout the peninsula.
Reserve League Shield
This competition is played between the Reserves Premier and Reserve First Division teams in a mini league and then knockout format. It is not taken as seriously as the O'Gara Cup, but many teams show great fight to get ready for the upcoming season.
FAI Junior Cup
Teams from the Premier and First Divisions take part in the FAI Junior Cup, which features 600-plus teams from around the country. Teams who do well in the Jackie Crossan Premier are invited to compete against other clubs from around Ulster. Teams from the Inishowen Football League have been competing in the cup for a long time and continue still.
Northwest Champions League
The top four teams in the Inishowen Premier League and the Northwest Saturday Morning League from the Derry and District League compete in a league and knockout format competition that runs prior to the start of the league season. The final has been hosted at Maginn Park and the Brandywell Stadium
Players
The players of the league consist of many people from around Inishowen. The league also has its own ladies league. Players are free to join whichever team they want before the season starts. Players cannot switch teams during the regular season unless they request a transfer from the league. There have been a lot of local people that have a reputation for playing in the league. Most of these people stay in the league after their playing careers, and move on to management of a club.
The league has some of the finest players in Ulster, most of these include goalkeepers and strikers. Some of the leagues young talent have also appeared in try outs for playing in the Irish youth teams.
Notable Former Players
Football Pitches
Facilities for playing football matches in the league have improved rapidly over the last number of years. The most improved is Culdaff F.C's Caratra Park. After the addition of floodlights, Culdaff now play their home games on Saturday nights. The new addition saw a high attendance in Caratra Park on the first game they were played under them. Club houses with changing rooms and showers have been added to nearly every park. The club houses also provide a great place for local community events and team events such as meetings and local lotteries. For cup finals or any other tournament the league is involved with, Maginn Park is where these games are held. Maginn Park is located in Buncrana, and is serving as one of the most important pitches in the league.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ <http://www.inishowenfl.ie
