Limerick is the third-most populous urban area in the Republic of Ireland, but the city's football clubs have historically struggled for prominence against rugby and Gaelic games, particularly hurling.
However, the city maintained a club in the senior leagues from 1937-2019 and again since 2021.
Clubs/Names:
Limerick FC (1937-1979), Limerick United (1979-1982), Limerick City (1982-1992), Limerick (1992-2006), Limerick 37 (2007-2008), Limerick (2009-2019), Limerick United (2020, name rejected), Treaty United (2020-date)
League History:
League of Ireland A Division [I] (1937/38-1984/85); Premier Division [I] (1985/86-1990/91); First Division [II] (1991/92); Premier Division [I] (1992/93-1993/94); First Division [II] (1994/95-2012); Premier Division [I] (2013-2015); First Division [II] (2016); Premier Division [II] (2017-2018); First Division [II] (2019); [no club in senior football in 2020, only in youth and women's league); First Division [II] (2021-date)
Senior Honours:
- League of Ireland Champions (2) 1959/60, 1979/80; Runner-Up (2) 1943/44, 1944/45
- League of Ireland First Division Champions (3) 1991/92, 2012, 2016
- FAI Cup Winner (2) 1970/71, 1981/82; Runner-Up (3) 1964/65, 1965/66, 1976/77
- League of Ireland Cup Winner (3) 1975/76, 1992/93, 2001/02; Runner-Up (2) 1990/91, 2016
- League of Ireland Shield Winner (2) 1953/54, 1983/84
- Dublin City Cup Winner (2) 1958/59, 1969/70
European Record:
- European Champions Cup entrants (2) 1959/60, 1980/81
- European Cup Winners' Cup entrants (3) 1965/66, 1971/72, 1982/83
- UEFA Cup entrants (1) 1981/82
Ground History:
The Markets Field hosted it's first match on 7th November 1891 when the Black Watch Regiment hosted Linfield Rangers in the Irish Cup, recording a 5-2 win in a run that would take them to the final.
Markets Field, Garryowen (to 1984); Lansdowne Road, Dublin (European match 1980); Hogan Park, Rathbane (1984-2000); Pike Rovers FC, Crossagalla (2001-2002); Hogan Park, Rathbane (2001-2006); Jackman Park (2007-2012); Thomond Park (2013-2015); Markets Field, Garryowen (2015-date)
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Colours:
The Northern Ireland Connections:
- It is fitting we start with a Limerick-native, Bud Aherne, who switched from hurling to soccer and helped Limerick to a Munster Senior Cup win in their very first season. Although further medals escaped him he did represent the League of Ireland four times. A versatile player, it was at left-back that he starred, and in early-1946 he moved to Belfast Celtic. It was while at Paradise that he earned the first of 16 Eire caps and 4 Northern Ireland caps. He enjoyed a lengthy career in England with Luton Town.
- When Waterford resigned from the League of Ireland in 1941 Limerick bought their kits! A year later they returned east to sign one of the area's most gifted young players, Dave Walsh. Walsh's 13 goals saw him finish as second top scorer in the League of Ireland. He too moved north, joining Linfield. While with the Blues he won the first of 20 Eire caps and shortly after joining West Brom won the first of 9 Northern Ireland caps. He continued his prolific career with Aston Villa.
- A native of Newry, Jimmy D'Arcy's early footballing career started in Waterford before his three seasons with Limerick where he impressed as a powerful centre or inside-forward, scoring 29 goals from 1943-1946 as they twice finished runners-up in the league. Keen to return closer to home he had a trial with Dundalk in 1944, finally signing for the Lilywhites in 1946. He then played for Ballymena, Charlton, Chelsea and Brentford and won 5 Northern Ireland caps between 1952-53.
- Another Limerick-native, Rory Keane got his opportunity at left-back following the departure of Bud Aherne. He quickly got a move to Swansea where he earned 1 Northern Ireland cap and 4 Eire caps. A tough player, he came through two leg breaks and earned winner's medals in the Welsh Cup and Division Three South.
- Paddy Duffy earned 1 Northern Ireland Amateur cap while with home-town, Newry and was a Mid-Ulster Cup winner in 1936/37. He enjoyed most of his club successes while playing in the League of Ireland, firstly with Sligo, then Cork where he claimed four league titles in five seasons! An enthusiastic defender, he finished his senior career with two seasons at Limericj.
- In early-1987 Martin O'Neill was heavily touted to join Limerick as player-manager - how different could history have been had bad weather and media commitments not delayed that potential appointment? Instead, another man who's career in England had been ended by injury, 41 times Northern Ireland international Billy Hamilton was appointed. Hamilton had been released by Oxford a few months earlier, but he soon returned to the field and finished as the League of Ireland's top scorer in 1988/89 with 21 goals. He resigned early the following season citing lack of investment and joined Sligo as a player. He was player-manager at Distillery and manager at Glenavon through to 1998.
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| (that's Billy Hamilton and Brian Flynn!) |
- One player Hamilton was able to sign was ex-international teammate, Terry Cochrane. Cochrane had won 26 Northern Ireland caps during his time with Coleraine, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Gillingham but his career was on the wind-down by the time he made three appearances for Limerick City during the 1987/88 season.
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