Inishowen Football League

Inishowen Football League

Sport	Football
Founded	1988
No. of teams	18
Country	Ireland
Most recent champion(s)	Clonmany Shamrocks
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 league and the reserves league. 18 teams compete in the league, 11 in the Premier Division, 6 in the First Division and 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 Clonmany Shamrocks who won in the 2012/2013 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]}

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
Killea FC	1962	Red	Garshooey, Killea
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 11 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 (2013/14 Season)

• Aileach FC
• Buncrana Hearts
• Carndonagh FC
• Clonmany Shamrocks
• Culdaff FC
• Dunree United
• Glengad United
• Killea FC
• Moville Celtic
• Quigley's Point Swifts
• Redcastle United

Strand Hotel First Division (2013/14 Season)

• Carrowmena FC
• Cockhill Celtic Youths
• Gleneely Colts
• Greencastle FC
• Illies Celtic
• Rashenny FC

Inishowen Engineering Reserves Premier Division (2013/14 Season)

• Aileach Reserves
• Buncrana Hearts Reserves
• Clonmany Reserves
• Cockhill Celtic Reserves
• Culdaff Reserves
• Glengad Reserves
• Moville Celtic Reserves
• Quigley's Point Swifts Reserves
• Rashenny Reserves
• Redcastle United Reserves

Inishowen Engineering Reserves First Division (2013/14 Season)

• Carndonagh Reserves
• Cockhill Colts
• Dunree United Reserves
• Greencastle Reserves
• Illies Celtic Reserves
• Moville Youths
• Rashenny Rovers
• Sea Rovers

Club	Titles[1]
Clonmany Shamrocks	6
Cockhill Celtic	5
Redcastle United	4
Illies Celtic	3
Quigley's Point Swifts	3
Aileach 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.

• 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 which ever 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

• Stephen McLaughlin

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 were these games are held. Maginn Park is located in Buncrana, and is serving as one of the most important pitches in the league.

References

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