(Crests all © of club and LSL. Graphic: Daryl O’Connor)
Starting in August 2024, we have reached midpoint of the LSL Senior Sunday division with some cracking games played and some surprising results along the way. With still so much to play for, a quick glance at the league table shows how tight things are currently and how easy things could change very quickly.
Before looking at the table, we’ll go through the very basic format of the league. Coming first in the league wins the title (Obviously), whereas the bottom three teams get relegated to the LSL Senior Sunday 1 division (Tier 2 in LSL/Tier 4 in Ireland). This league is the highest division in the LSL and intermediate football in the province (Tier 1 in LSL/Tier 3 in Ireland). Teams in this league cannot be promoted any further – have a look at my other piece on this site on the Irish pyramid system for better understanding on this (I Suppose a Pyramid is off the Table).
SEE ALSO: Opinion: I Suppose A Pyramid Is Off The Table?
(League Table correct of 27 February 2025. Crests all © of club and LSL. Graphic: Daryl O’Connor)
Leading the way currently is my very own Kilbarrack United with a gap of 9 points between Kilbarrack and Lucan United in second place. Lucan does have one game in hand on Kilbarrack, but where things get interesting is the amount of games Usher Celtic and St. Mochtas have played. With five and four games in hand, respectively, both teams have the potential to leapfrog Kilbarrack, who has led the league from the very start.
Malahide United also cannot be ruled out who have hit perfect form recently winning their last five games in the league and definitely looking to shake things up in the top end of the table with their four games in hand.
This season has been tough for newly promoted side Glebe North who haven’t found life easy back in the top-tier. Struggling to add any points on the board, only a few weeks ago registered their first win of the season over fellow relegation rivals Maynooth. All the bottom three can take motivation of how tight things are in the bottom half of the table with a couple of wins being capable of lifting any of them to safety. There really is so much to play for.
Bangor Celtic
(Iveagh Grounds, Drimnagh, Dublin 12). Form: WDWLL
In league terms for Bangor, this season has been a mixed bag so far. Slightly inconsistent to date but certainly capable of capitalising on those around them in the league with just 12 games played. Still involved in the Metro Cup after coming back from 2-0 to knock Kilbarrack out winning 3-2 in ET in the Round of 16, they now face Montpelier in the Quarter Final in which they’ll be favourites to win.
Bluebell United
(Red Cow, Dublin 22). Form: DWLLL
Bluebell’s poor start to the season, marked by three consecutive defeats, set the tone for a challenging first half of the campaign. However one stand out victory for the southside club came against league contenders St. Mochtas, with Bluebell convincingly winning 3-0 back in October. Bluebell also have a Quarter Final to look forward to against Finglas United from the league below in the Metro Cup – a game that will in no way be easy. They’ll need to turn their slow league form around to ensure top flight status next season.
Glebe North
(Market Green, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin). Form: DLWDL
After what was a historical season for Glebe in 2023/24, not only winning the LSL Senior Sunday 1 division and earning promotion to the top flight but essentially becoming champions of Ireland winning the FAI Intermediate Cup by beating Cork juggernauts Ringmahon Rangers 3-2 (AET) in the process. The hangover has certainly kicked in. The Balbriggan side have yet to hit the ground running as of yet with only one win away to Maynooth meaning their supporters have yet to see their side win at home in Market Green. Survival is still most definitely possible on paper but with away games against Kilbarrack and St. Mochtas on the horizon, they urgently need to pick up points elsewhere.
Kilbarrack United
(Greendale Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5). Form: LDWDD
Ross Carrig’s men got off to an excellent start to their second consecutive campaign in the top flight going the first 11 games unbeaten, winning 8 of those and drawing 3 before losing to Lucan 3-1 in November. This remains their only loss in league terms to date but the four games since have ended up in just 1 win and 3 draws. Not turning these draws into 3 points could prove costly for Kilbarrack with Mochtas and Usher looking to capitalise on this with their games in hand but with the northside outfit now out of all cups, winning the league is the main focus.
Killester Donnycarney
(Hadden Park, Killester, Dublin 5). Form: WDWWW
Getting their first win at their fourth time of asking at home to Glebe in September, Killester have only since won one more game at Hadden Park against UCD earlier on this month. Despite big losses to Mochtas and Tolka, they’ve had better luck on the road this season. Killester will look to crack on with their impressive form of late in league terms while still having a Quarter Final in the Charlie Cahill Cup against Home Farm to look forward to.
Lucan United
(Lucan, Co. Dublin). Form: WWDDL
The reigning champions of the LSL, Lucan United, will be disappointed recently to have dropped arguably 7 points against teams from the bottom half of the table in their last three games (St. Francis, Wayside Celtic and Maynooth Uni. Town). In a similar position to St. Mochtas and Usher, Lucan had a chance to go above Kilbarrack if they achieved maximum points with their games in hand and failing to do so would put them in a worse off position to make it two in a row champions for the West Dublin club.
Malahide United
(Gannon Park, Malahide, Co. Dublin). Form: WWWWW
In superb form currently, taking a maximum 15 points from their last five games, Malahide will have hoped to put themselves into the conversation for a title charge. Although three of those five wins have come from weaker teams in the bottom three (Bluebell, Glebe North and Maynooth) and these games have been spread out back as far as November, Malahide will still have confidence coming into the second half of the season.
Maynooth University Town
(Maynooth, Co. Kildare). Form: DDLDL
The only club from outside the capital will be hoping top flight football will still exist outside the M50 next season. In a very poor run of form lately, Maynooth can be encouraged that there isn’t any major gap from the relegation spots to safety although there is no easy games. Cup runs have been a non-runner for the Kildare outfit this season also, with the side losing both Charlie Cahill and Metro Cup games to Home Farm from the division below.
St. Francis
(John Hyland Park, Baldonnell, Co. Dublin). Form: LDWLW
With an impressive start to life in the top flight last season finishing 4th, St. Francis aren’t exactly where they want to be with the first half of the season completed. Having only managed one win away all season, the club could easily get dragged into a relegation dogfight very quickly. With a very tough tie against St. Mochtas looming in the Charlie Cahill Cup, St. Francis, in league terms they still have a lot to play for.
St. Mochtas
(Porterstown Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15). Form: LWWWD
Looking to make it their third LSL title, last season’s runners up will be a lot of people’s favourites to win the league this season. Unbeaten this season at home, they have won all but one game in Porterstown Road very convincingly with their best result beating Bluebell 6-0. On the flip side, Mochtas haven’t been great on the road losing all their three games lost away from home, as well as picking up two draws and two wins.
Tolka Rovers
(Frank Cooke Park, Glasnevin, Dublin 9). Form: DDWWL
With just the league left to play for now, Tolka have been in decent enough form with the exception of a recent loss to Malahide. The same Malahide side that dispatched them from the Charlie Cahill Cup in January. Tolka will be disappointed not to have gone further in the Metro Cup having lost their first game in this competition against Glenville from two leagues below. However, Tolka have been playing well recently and could easily be in the top six come the end of the season.
UCD
(Belfield, Dublin 4). Form: LLLLW
The Students begin life back in the top flight against their fellow newly promoted side Usher Celtic, a game in which UCD came out on top winning 2-1 (An unexpected result given how the league is currently). UCD also pulled off a big win against St. Mochtas back in November – being the only side in the league to beat St. Mochtas and Usher Celtic together (UCD still have to play these both away). Struggling away from home, UCD have just picked up one win on the road beating Maynooth 4-0.
Usher Celtic:
(TUD, Grangegorman, Dublin 7). Form: WWWLW
Along with Kilbarrack and Mochtas, Usher will be hoping to be lifting that league trophy come the end of the season. Having been unlucky with cups this month, losing on pens to Kilnamanagh in the Metro Cup and being knocked out of the FAI Intermediate Cup Third Round by Cork heavyweights Ringmahon AET, Usher will be determined to not let this affect their title charge. Still in the Charlie Cahill Cup, their game against Finglas United from the league below who is in red hot form and tipped for promotion, is surely the the most exciting draw of the Quarter Finals.
Wayside Celtic:
(Jackson Park, Kilternan, Co. Dublin). Form: DDLLD
In the FAI Intermediate Cup Round 3 last month, Wayside were involved in the only all Dublin affair in a game at home to Liffey Wanderers from the league below, avoiding a tough MSL team from Cork. They ended up losing to Liffey AET which turned their focus now to staying in the top flight. Wayside is yet to win away from home with their away record 0-3-3. With their last league win coming against Maynooth last October, Wayside will be looking to use their two games in hand to create a gap between themselves and Bluebell.
This article is correct as of 27 February 2025.