League of Ireland U19 Division
CountryRepublic of Ireland (20 teams)
Other club(s) fromNorthern Ireland (1 team)
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams21
Domestic cup(s)FAI Youth Cup
League cup(s)Dr Tony O'Neill Cup
Enda McGuill Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Youth League
Current championsShamrock Rovers U19
(2nd title)
Most championshipsCork City (7)
Websitewww.sseairtricityleague.ie

The League of Ireland U19 Division is the under-19 division of the League of Ireland. The current division is the successor of earlier U21 and U20 divisions. Like the Premier Division and First Division, the U19 Division is currently sponsored by Airtricity and as a result it is also known as the SSE Airtricity U19 League. The earlier U21 and U20 divisions were sponsored by Eircom and as a result were referred to as the Eircom U21 League or the Eircom U20 League. The division is also sometimes referred to as the Dr Tony O'Neill League because the winners are awarded the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup. In 2016 Cork City became the first team to represent the division in the UEFA Youth League.

History

Eircom U21 League

The inaugural season of the U21 division took place in 2000–01 and St Patrick's Athletic finished as the first champions. In 2001–02 Waterford United won the title before Cork City won their first title in 2002–03. City then retained the title in 2003–04. UCD subsequently won three of four remaining titles during the U21 era.[1][2][3][4] As well as featuring the youth teams of contemporary League of Ireland clubs, the division also featured the representative teams of junior leagues such as the Kerry District League, the Mayo Association Football League and the Sligo/Leitrim League. In 2004 Sligo/Leitrim reached the final of the Enda McGuill Cup.[5][6] In addition to featuring UCD, the division also featured three other university teams – NUI Galway, the University of Limerick and Dublin University.[2][5] The division was also used by the League of Ireland as an avenue for future members of its senior divisions. Both Salthill Devon and Mervue United began their League of Ireland careers in the U21 division. In 2003 Mervue United were Enda McGuill Cup finalists and in 2006 Salthill Devon became the first club to win the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup without having a team in the senior divisions.[7][8][9] In addition to competing for the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup and the Enda McGuill Cup, teams in the U21 division also played in several other competitions including pre-season tournaments in 2006 and 2007 and a futsal league in 2007 which was won by Shamrock Rovers. This latter competition evolved into the FAI Futsal Cup.[10][11][12][13][14]

Eircom U20 League

In 2008, as part of a restructuring of the League of Ireland that also saw the introduction of the A Championship, the U21 division was relaunched as a U20 division. The new division featured the youth teams of the 22 clubs in the Premier Division and First Division plus four other teams – F.C. Carlow, Kilkenny City, Salthill Devon and Mervue United.[4][15][16] Cork City were the first U20 champions in 2008–09 followed by UCD in 2009. In 2010 Andrew Myler guided Shamrock Rovers to their first title.[17][18][19]

Airtricity U19 League

During the U19 era Cork City have established themselves as the dominant team, winning the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup four seasons out of five and winning the Enda McGuill Cup on three occasions.[3][20] In 2016 Cork City also became the first team to represent the division in the UEFA Youth League.[21][22]

Format

During the U21 and U20 eras teams playing in the division were divided into four regionalised groups, more or less corresponding to North and South Leinster, Munster and Connacht/Ulster. The top two teams from each group then qualified for the quarter-finals and the remainder of the competition was decided on a knock-out basis.[2][15] Between 2011–12 and 2013–14 teams playing in the division were divided into the three groups. One of these groups, the Elite Division, was a national division. The remaining teams were divided into Southern and Northern divisions. During these three seasons the winners of the Elite Division were awarded the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup. The 2014–15 season saw the introduction of two regional divisions known as the Northern Elite Division and the Southern Elite Division and a play-off system was again used to decide the overall champions. The 2015 season featured three regional groups simply numbered one to three. The 2016 season saw the return of the Northern Elite Division and the Southern Elite Division format.[20][23][24]

Teams

Northern Elite Division

Team Location Stadium
Athlone Town U19AthloneLissywollen
Bohemians U19PhibsboroughIT Blanchardstown
Derry City U19DerryBrandywell Stadium
Drogheda United U19DroghedaUnited Park
Dundalk U19DundalkOriel Park
Finn Harps U19BallybofeyKillygordon
Longford Town U19LongfordCity Calling Stadium
Monaghan United Cavan Football Partnership U19MonaghanGortakeegan
Shelbourne U19Drumcondra, DublinAUL Complex
Sligo Rovers U19SligoThe Showgrounds
St Patrick's Athletic U19InchicoreIT Blanchardstown

Southern Elite Division

Team Hometown/Suburb Ground
Bray Wanderers U19BrayCarlisle Grounds
Cabinteely U19CabinteelyAUL Complex
Cobh Ramblers U19CobhSt. Colman's Park
Cork City U19CorkBishopstown Stadium
Galway United U19GalwayEamonn Deacy Park
Limerick U19LimerickJackman Park
Kerry U19TraleeMounthawk Park
Shamrock Rovers U19TallaghtTallaght Stadium
Wexford Youths U19CrossabegFerrycarrig Park
Waterford United U19WaterfordWaterford RSC
UCD U19Belfield, DublinUCD Bowl

Source:[25][26][27]

Dr Tony O'Neill Cup

The main league championship trophy is named after Dr Tony O'Neill, the former general manager of University College Dublin A.F.C. O'Neill was a founding member of the Irish Universities Football Union, a former general secretary of the FAI and a member of various UEFA committees. He also served as Director of Sport at UCD and was credited with revitalising sport at the university following the introduction of a scholarship scheme.[28][29][30] This competition should not be confused with the other Dr Tony O'Neill Cup, a national competition organised by the FAI for schools teams.[31]

Season Winner Score Runners-up Venue
2000–01 St Patrick's Athletic U21 1–0 Longford Town U21
2001–02 Waterford United U21[2] 2–2 (Note 1) Athlone Town U21
2002–03 Cork City U21 2–1 Bohemians U21
2003 Cork City U21 2–1 St Patrick's Athletic U21
2004 UCD U21 3–2 Cork City U21
2005 UCD U21 2–1 Shelbourne U21
2005–06 Salthill Devon U21[7][8] 2–1 Cork City U21
2007 UCD U21[4] 0–0 (Note 2) St Patrick's Athletic U21 Belfield Park
2008–09 Cork City U20[17] 1–0 Bohemians U20 O’Shea Park, Blarney
2009 UCD U20[18] 5–3 [32] Salthill Devon U20 UCD Bowl[33]
2010 Shamrock Rovers U20[19] 1–1 (Note 3) Bohemians U20 Tallaght Stadium[34]
2011–12 Cork City U19 (Note 4) Shamrock Rovers U19 n/a
2012–13 Cork City U19 (Note 4) Shelbourne U19 n/a
2013–14 Cork City U19[35][36] (Note 4) Shamrock Rovers U19 n/a
2014–15 St Patrick's Athletic U19[37] 3–2 Derry City U19 Maginn Park, Buncrana

Source:[1][3][20]

Notes
  • ^1 Waterford United U21 won 5–4 on penalties.
  • ^2 UCD U21 won 4–2 on penalties.
  • ^3 Shamrock Rovers U20 won 6−5 on penalties.
  • ^4 Title decided using league format only. No play-off final.

Enda McGuill Cup

The Enda McGuill Memorial Cup is the division's league cup. It is named after Enda McGuill, a former chairman of Dundalk F.C. and a former president of the League of Ireland.[38][39]

Season Winner Score Runners-up Venue
2001–02 Waterford United U21 0–0 (Note 1) Shelbourne U21
2002–03 Longford Town U21 4–2 Mervue United U21[9]
2003 Shelbourne U21 4–3 St Patrick's Athletic U21
2004 Cork City U21 3–0 Sligo/Leitrim League [6]
2005 Bray Wanderers U21 1–1 (Note 2) St Patrick's Athletic U21
2006 Cork City U21 1–0 Kildare County U21
2007 Derry City U21 1–0 Bray Wanderers U21
2011–12 Cork City U19[40] 3–2 Dundalk U19 Oriel Park
2012–13 Cork City U19[41] 3–1 Shelbourne U19 Turners Cross
2013–14 Cobh Ramblers U19[42] 3–2 Drogheda United U19 St Colman's Park
2014–15 UCD U19[43][44] 3–2 Derry City U19 UCD Bowl
2016 Cork City U19[45][46] 2–0 St Patrick's Athletic U19 Turners Cross
2017 Dundalk U19 2-1 a.e.t. UCD U19 Richmond Park
2018 Bohemians U19 2-1 St Patrick's Athletic U19 UCD Bowl
2019 Shamrock Rovers U19 4–1 Bohemians U19 Dalymount Park
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
2021 [47] Derry City U19 1–1 a.e.t. (Note 3) Bohemians U19 Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
2022 Bohemians U19 1–0 St Patrick's Athletic U19 Dalymount Park
Notes

Source:[1][3][20]

League of Ireland U19 Champions

Year Winner Runner Up Result Venue
2015 [48] Cork City Limerick 2-1 Markets Field
2016 [49] UCD Galway United 4-1 UCD Bowl
2017 [50] Bohemians St Patrick's Athletic 1-0 Dalymount Park
2018 [51] Bohemians Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Tallaght Stadium
2019 Waterford Galway United 3–1 Eamonn Deacy Park
2020 [52] St Patrick's Athletic Bohemians 2–1 (a.e.t.) UCD Bowl
2021 Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers 2-1 Tallaght Stadium

Player Of The Season

Year Winner Team
2018 [53] Andy Lyons Bohemians

Selected former teams

The vast majority of teams that have competed in the division have been the youth teams of League of Ireland clubs. The following clubs and representative teams have also competed without ever having entered a team in either the Premier Division or the First Division.

Team Hometown/Suburb Years
F.C. CarlowCounty Carlow2008, 2011–12
Castlebar Celtic[54]Castlebar2007
Dublin UniversityTrinity College Dublin
Fanad UnitedFanad2011–13
Garda2002–
NUI Galway[55]NUI Galway
Letterkenny Rovers[56]Letterkenny2006–07, 2012–15
University of LimerickLimerick 2003–
Mayo Association Football League
Mullingar Athletic [57]Mullingar2002–
Sligo/Leitrim League [6]–2005
Tralee Dynamos[58]Tralee

Source:[2][5][23][58][59]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "List of Winners". foot.ie. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "2002-2003 eircom League Under-21 kicks off". www.breakingnews.ie. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "History – Cork City Football Club Honours List". www.corkcityfc.ie. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Students Make It Three In A Row". www.irishtimes.com. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Eircom U21 League , 2002 & 2003". www.kerrydistrictleague.ie. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "Sligo/ Leitrim team withdraws from eircom Under 21 League". www.independent.ie. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Long is on learning curve with Salthill Devon". connachttribune.ie. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Salthill Devon U21 League Winners". www.salthilldevon.ie. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Mervue United Club Role of Honour". www.mervueunited.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Under 21 season 2006". foot.ie. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "eircom Under 21 Elite Cup". foot.ie. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Under-21 Roll of Honour 2007". foot.ie. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Eircom FAI U21 Futsal League". www.futsalplanet.com. 5 March 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Rovers' Futsal team celebrate in Tallaght". www.shamrockrovers.ie. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Under-20 League Set For Weekend Kick-off". www.stpatsfc.com. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Soccer heading in right direction". www.independent.ie. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Cork City 1-0 Bohemians: Dr. Tony O'Neill Under 20 League Final". www.corkcityfc.ie. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  18. 1 2 "UCD v Salthill Devon - Under-20 Dr. Tony O'Neill League of Ireland Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Roll of Honour". www.shamrockrovers.ie. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Roll of Honour". loi19.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Cork City to become first Irish club to play in Uefa Youth League". www.the42.ie. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  22. ↑ "Cork City U-19s land place in UEFA Youth League". www.independent.ie. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Cork the team to beat as SSE Airtricity U19 League kicks-off". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  24. ↑ "U-19 New Format Released". www.mervueunited.com. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  25. ↑ "SSE Airtricity League U19 Southern Elite Division". inform.fai.ie. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  26. ↑ "U19 Southern Elite Division Table 2016". extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  27. ↑ "2016 U19 Southern Elite Division". extratime.ie. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  28. ↑ "Dr. Tony O'Neill, former general secretary of the FAI, dies". www.rte.ie. 3 October 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  29. ↑ "Death of Dr Tony O'Neill". www.irishtimes.com. 4 October 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Irish Third Level Football - Irish Universities Football Union - About IUFU". thirdlevelfootball.ie.
  31. ↑ "Summerhill College retain Dr Tony O'Neill Cup". www.faischools.ie. April 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  32. ↑ "UCD claim U20 crown". www.fai.ie. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  33. ↑ "UCD and Salthill Devon compete for U20 title". www.fai.ie. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  34. ↑ "Shamrock Rovers U20 results". www.shamrockrovers.ie. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  35. ↑ "City U19s capture league title". www.eveningecho.ie. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  36. ↑ "Three-in-a-row for Cork City U19s". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  37. ↑ "St Pat's claim Under-19 League title". www.rte.ie. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  38. ↑ "Dundalk mourn passing of McGuill". www.uefa.com. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  39. ↑ "Irish soccer loses a great servant". www.irishtimes.com. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  40. ↑ "Cork City win U19 Enda McGuill Cup final". blackandwhitetown.tumblr.com. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  41. ↑ "Enda McGuill Cup Final: Cork City v Shelbourne". loi19.com. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  42. ↑ "Cobh Ramblers U19s win Enda McGuill Cup". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  43. ↑ "UCD claim Enda McGuill U19 Cup". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  44. ↑ "UCD v Derry City - SSE Airtricity U19 League Enda McGuill Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  45. ↑ "Under 19s win Enda McGuill Cup". www.corkcityfc.ie. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  46. ↑ "With the cup in the bag Cork City's talented U19 squad are off to Finland". www.eveningecho.ie. 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  47. ↑ "REPORT | DERRY CITY 1-1 BOHEMIANS (5-4 PENS) - DERRY LIFT ENDA MCGUILL CUP". SSE Airtricity League. SSE Airtricity League. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  48. ↑ "Cork City clinch SSE Airtricity U19 League title". Football Association of Ireland. Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  49. ↑ "REPORT: UCD 4-1 Galway United - UCD crowned U19 Champions after dominant final display". SSE Airtricity League. SSE Airtricity League. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  50. ↑ "REPORT: BOHEMIANS LIFT U19 TITLE AFTER NARROW VICTORY OVER ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC". SSE Airtricity League. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  51. ↑ "REPORT: BOHEMIANS DEFEND THEIR SSE AIRTRICITY U19 TITLE IN TALLAGHT". SSE Airtricity League. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  52. ↑ "Darragh Burns hits the winner as Saints claim U19 League of Ireland crown". 22 December 2020.
  53. ↑ "SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE UNDERAGE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED". SSE Airtricity League. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  54. ↑ "Celtic boss resigns". www.mayonews.ie. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  55. ↑ "First Team News". www.nuigalway.ie. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  56. ↑ "Letterkenny Rovers Set For Under 19 Airtricity League Debut". www.donegaldaily.com. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  57. ↑ "Club History". mullingarathleticafc.com. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  58. 1 2 "League of Ireland Under 19 table". traleedynamos.com/wordpress. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  59. ↑ "Divisional Formations - 2012/13". loi19.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
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