Ulster Senior League
Founded1986
CountryRepublic of Ireland Ireland
RegionCounty Donegal
Number of teams5
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)FAI Cup
FAI Intermediate Cup
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup
League cup(s)Ulster Senior League Cup
Current championsCockhill Celtic
Most championshipsFanad United (14)
Websiteuslfootball.com

The Ulster Senior League was an association football league featuring amateur, intermediate, and League of Ireland reserve teams. Together with the Leinster Senior League Senior Division and the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division, it forms the third level of the Republic of Ireland football league system. Ulster Senior League teams also compete in the FAI Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup. The winners of the Ulster Senior League have also been invited to play in the now defunct League of Ireland Cup. Despite using the Ulster name in its title, almost all of its clubs are based in County Donegal and the City of Derry. The most successful club in the league has been Fanad United who have won fourteen league titles and ten league cups. Since 2006 the USL has operated as a summer league with the season typically operating from April to October. Currently, there are five teams competing in the league.

History

The Ulster Senior League was formed in 1986. The driving force behind the establishment of the league was Fr. Michael Sweeney, a pioneer of junior and intermediate association football in County Donegal. In addition to founding the USL, Sweeney had earlier been instrumental in both establishing the Donegal League and forming Fanad United.[1][2] Fanad United were the inaugural USL champions in 1986–87 and they subsequently went on to become the league's most successful club, winning fourteen league titles and ten league cups. In more recent seasons, Cockhill Celtic have challenged Fanad United's dominance, winning their first title in 2010 and then nine consecutive titles between 2013 and 2022.[3][4] The winners of the Ulster Senior League have regularly been invited to participate in the League of Ireland Cup. In 1987–88 Fanad United were semi-finalists. Cockhill Celtic, Culdaff and Swilly Rovers have all represented the USL in the League of Ireland Cup.[2][5] Fanad United have also won the FAI Intermediate Cup twice while Letterkenny Rovers were finalists in 2015–16.[6][7]

September 2020 saw the leagues most successful club, Fanad United, announce their withdrawal from the USL to join the Donegal Junior League[8]

2021 saw Monaghan United F.C., a former League of Ireland club, join the Ulster Senior League, the first club from Counties Cavan or Monaghan to do so.[9] They withdrew from the league after just one season.[10]

2022-23 teams

Team Home town/suburb Home ground
Bonagee UnitedLetterkennyDry Arch Park
Cockhill CelticBuncranaCharlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds
Derry City ReservesDerryBrandywell Stadium
Finn Harps U21BallybofeyFinn Park
Letterkenny RoversLetterkennyLeckview Park

Source: [11]

Champions

List of winners by season

Season Winner Runner-up
2022-23 Cockhill Celtic Bonagee United
2021-22Cockhill CelticBonagee United
2019-20Cockhill CelticBonagee United
2018-19Cockhill Celtic
2017–18Cockhill Celtic
2016–17Cockhill CelticLetterkenny Rovers
2016Cockhill CelticDerry City Reserves
2015Cockhill CelticBonagee United
2014Cockhill CelticDerry City Reserves[12]
2013Cockhill CelticDrumkeen United[13]
2012Derry City ReservesCockhill Celtic[14]
2011Fanad UnitedCockhill Celtic
2010Cockhill Celtic
2009Letterkenny RoversKildrum Tigers
2008Kildrum TigersFanad United
2007Kildrum TigersFanad United
2006–07Fanad UnitedKildrum Tigers
2005–06Fanad UnitedKildrum Tigers
2004–05Letterkenny RoversKildrum Tigers
2003–04Kildrum TigersLetterkenny Rovers
2002–03Quigley's Point SwiftsLetterkenny Rovers
2001–02Quigley's Point Swifts
2000–01Fanad UnitedQuigley's Point Swifts
1999–00Swilly RoversKeadue Rovers
1998–99Finn Harps ReservesSwilly Rovers
1997–98Fanad UnitedSwilly Rovers
1996–97Fanad United
1995–96Fanad UnitedDerry City Reserves
1994–95Fanad United
1993–94Fanad United
1992–93Fanad UnitedFinn Harps Reserves
1991–92Buncrana HeartsFanad United
1990–91Fanad United
1989–90Fanad United
1988–89CuldaffFanad United/Letterkenny Rovers
1987–88Fanad UnitedLetterkenny Rovers
1986–87Fanad United

Source:[3]

List of winners by club

Club Titles Seasons
Fanad United 14 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011
Cockhill Celtic 11 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23
Kildrum Tigers 3 2003–04, 2007, 2008
Letterkenny Rovers 2 2004–05, 2009
Quigley's Point Swifts 2 2001–02, 2002–03
Buncrana Hearts 1 1991–92
Culdaff 1 1988–89
Derry City Reserves 1 2012
Finn Harps Reserves 1 1998–99
Swilly Rovers 1 1999–00

Source:[3]

Ulster Senior League Cup

The Ulster Senior League Cup has had four different sponsors since first being played for in 1986–87. Initially, the competition was sponsored by the Hotel Glenveagh in Gweedore before being sponsored by Hydro Seafoods and then Marine Harvest. It is now known as the Donegal News Ulster Senior League Cup.[4]

Finals

Season Winner Score Runner-up Venue
1986–87Carndonagh1–0Culdaff
1987–88Fanad United4–4Buncrana Hearts
ReplayFanad United1–0Buncrana Hearts
1988–89Fanad United3–0Derry City Reserves
1989–90St Catherine's4–3Swilly Rovers
1990–91Derry City Reserves0–0Fanad United
ReplayDerry City Reserves0–0Fanad United
2nd ReplayDerry City Reserves2–0Fanad United
1991–92Letterkenny Rovers3–0Bonagee United
1992–93Fanad United1–0 [note 1]Buncrana Hearts
1993–94
1994–95Fanad United3–1Buncrana Hearts
1995–96Fanad United2–1Drumoghill Celtic
1996–97Derry City Reserves2–0Drumkeen United
1997–98Swilly Rovers5–0 [note 2]Derry City Reserves
1998–99Swilly Rovers2–1Fanad United
1999–00Drumoghill Celtic3–0Fanad United
2000–01Derry City Reserves2–0Quigleys Point Swifts
2001–02Letterkenny Rovers3–0Swilly Rovers
2002–03Bonagee United2–0Fanad United
2003–04Letterkenny Rovers4–0Keadue Rovers
2004–05Fanad United3–0Swilly Rovers 0
2005–06Fanad United1–1 [note 3]Killea
2006–07Kildrum Tigers2–0Fanad United
2007Fanad United1–0Swilly Rovers
2008Fanad United2–0Buncrana Hearts
2009Drumkeen United2–2 [note 4]Fanad United
2010Cockhill Celtic3–0Derry City Reserves
2011Fanad United2–1Cockhill Celtic
2012Letterkenny Rovers5–3Drumkeen United
2013Cockhill Celtic1–0Drumkeen United
2014Cockhill Celtic1–0Swilly Rovers
2015Cockhill Celtic2–1Bonagee United
2016Cockhill Celtic2–0Letterkenny Rovers

Source:[4]

Notes
  1. After extra time
  2. Final abandoned with Swilly Rovers leading Derry City Reserves 5–0 at half-time
  3. After extra time. Fanad United win 4–2 on penalties
  4. After extra time. Drumkeen United win 4–2 on penalties

Representative team

An Ulster Senior League representative team competes in the FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament against teams representing the Leinster Senior League, the Munster Senior League and Connacht.[15]

Notable former players

Republic of Ireland internationals
Northern Ireland U21 international
League of Ireland First Division Top Scorer
League of Ireland manager

References

  1. "USL founder member and Fanad United legend Fr Mick honoured". uslfootball.com. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 "'Fr Mick': Founding Father, guiding light and history maker". donegalsporthub.com. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ulster Senior League – Roll of Honour". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ulster Senior League – League Cup". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  5. "Ireland – Ireland League Cup 1973/74-2006". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. "Ireland – FA Intermediate Cup Winners and Runners-up". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  7. "Crumlin United retain FAI Intermediate Cup". fai.ie. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  8. "Fanad United withdraw from Ulster Senior league it has been confirmed".
  9. Monaghan United join the Ulster Senior League by David Hooper, Northern Sound, northernsound.ie, April 30, 2021.
  10. oisinkelly (1 September 2022). "Blow to USL as Monaghan United withdraw from league". Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  11. "League Table 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League". finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  12. "(2014) League Table Ulster Senior League". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  13. "(2013) League Table Ulster Senior League". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  14. "(2012) League Table Ulster Senior League". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  15. "League Table 2016 FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
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