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In what started out as a meeting in the Rathkeale house Hotel back in 2004 to discuss the possibility of beginning ladies soccer in the area, the Limerick Desmond Ladies League since formed has gone from strength to strength and it can now claim to be the strongest junior ladies league in the country, bar none. Niamh Spratt, an Ireland international at the time, hosted the meeting that night but even she will raise an eyebrow at how far the games has developed since then.
The first official organised games were an inter club blitz at the Demesne Newcastlewest that season where hundreds of female players got the opportunity to play adult soccer against other sides from West Limerick.
In a matter of a mere 5 seasons, the league can now boast 2 All Ireland Junior title winners (St. Ita's and Abbeyfeale) and put itself up there with the best in the nation in terms of organisation, talent and interest. If one were to roll back the clock to that inaugural season the first committee was made up of Steve May (Chair), Pat King (Secretary), Maurice Fitzgerald (Fixtures Secretary), Noel Murphy (PRO) and Deirdre Hough/Damien Brouder (joint Treasurers). These individuals were responsible for setting out the fixtures, making the tough decisions and ensuring the league was run with as little fuss as possible.
On the playing front, in the six seasons of play, Abbeyfeale became the first club to win the first division three times, Killeaney winning the first title, St. Ita's the second title, Abbey the third, Balingarry the fourth and Abbey back to backt titles in 2009 & 2010. In the second division, Newcastle West, Glin Rovers, Killeaney are amongst its winners which is now sponsored by Premier Packages. Carrig Celtic are the current holders.
On the cup front, Ballingarry were the first winners, depriving St. Ita's of the double in 2006 with a nail biting penalty kick victory in the final in Clounreask, Askeaton. Killeaney have won the cup twice, Abbyfeale United once & Ballingarry are the current holders of the cup beating Newcastle West in the final.
In the Shield Carrig Celtic were the first winners, Rathkeale the following year. The Shield was renamed the League Cup after this with Ballingarry getting their hands on it next. Glin rovers are the current holders beating Adare FC in the final.
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