| Founded | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2000 |
| Country |  Ireland |
| Level on pyramid | 2 (1964–1985) 3 (1985–2000) |
| Domestic cup(s) | FAI Cup FAI Intermediate Cup |
| League cup(s) | Blackthorn Trophy See Note 1 Castrol Trophy Egan C&C Trophy |
TheLeague of Ireland B Division is a former league within theRepublic of Ireland football league system. Its debut season was 1964–65. It was originally a second level league. However following the emergence of theLeague of Ireland First Division in1985–86 it became a third level league. Like the laterA Championship, the League of Ireland B included a mixture ofLeague of Irelandreserve teams and the first teams of emerging clubs. There was norelegation and promotion to and from the senior League of Ireland division. However a number of B Division teams, includingHome Farm,Athlone Town,UCD,Longford Town andMonaghan United, were subsequently elected to the senior division. In later seasons the league was usually referred to as theReserve Division. In 2000 it was replaced by theLeague of Ireland U21 Division.[1]
The ten founding members in 1964–65 includedHome Farm,Bray Wanderers,Athlone Town,Shamrock Rovers B plus the reserve teams ofShelbourne,Bohemians,St Patrick's Athletic,Dundalk,Drumcondra andDrogheda.[2] The 1965–66 season saw the league expanded to include twelve teams. Bray Wanderers dropped out, while Dalkey United, Ormeau andTullamore Town all joined.[3] Early sponsors of the league includedBlackthorn Cider andCastrol. During the early seasons teams competed for two trophies. The Blackthorn Trophy was initially awarded to the overall winners of the league. The Castrol Trophy was awarded to the winners of a single round league. The 1967–68 season saw Belgrove replace Ormeau, Athlone Town win the Castrol Trophy and Shamrock Rovers B win the Blackthorn Trophy. In 1968–69 Athlone Town won both the Castrol Trophy and Blackthorn Trophy, finishing six points clear of St Patrick's Athletic. The following season,1969–70, saw Athlone Town take up a place in the League of Ireland senior division.[4][5] In 1970UCD were elected to the League of Ireland B Division. Their senior team would continue to play in the B Division until1979–80 when they were elected to join the Senior Division. Among the players who played for UCD during this time wereKevin Moran andHugo MacNeill. A popular myth also alleges thatSócrates may have played for UCD during time.[6][7][8]
In 1975,Dublin University A.F.C., the oldest club in the Republic of Ireland and based inTrinity, was elected to the B Division with a team coached byLiam Tuohy. Hugo MacNeill would also play for Dublin University.[9][10][11]
During the mid-1970s Dalkey United enjoyed moderate success while playing in the B Division. In 1973–74 they won theFAI Intermediate Cup and between 1975 and 1976 and 1977–78 they won the Blackthorn Trophy three times in a row. However their time in the league would end in controversial circumstances. Frank Mullen described the B Division as the "most incompetent" league Dalkey United had ever been involved with. Clubs without a senior team in theLeague of Ireland "were treated very unfairly". It was not uncommon for Dalkey United to travel to away games againstWaterford United orDundalk only to find the game postponed. No compensation for travel expenses would be offered either. In the 1977–78 season Dalkey United were due to travel to Dundalk to play in the quarter-final of the Blackthorn Trophy. However a few days before the game was due to be played the Dundalk manager,Jim McLaughlin, phoned the Dalkey United chairman to request the game be postponed due to heavy snow. Dalkey United agreed and Dundalk subsequently informed the league the match was cancelled. However a few weeks later the semi-final draw was made and Dalkey United found themselves excluded. The club informed the league that the quarter-final against Dundalk had not been played, only to be told that the semi-finals were going ahead regardless. Dundalk were ordered to play the semi-final or face expulsion from the competition. Dalkey United opted to take legal action and the case was heading for theHigh Court when the league decided to declare semi-final results null and void. After winning the rescheduled quarter-final against Dundalk, Dalkey United then won the semi-final and went on to defeatBohemians in the final atDalymount Park. Having won the Blackthorn Trophy for a third time in a row, Dalkey United resigned from the league immediately afterwards and never applied to rejoin. They subsequently joined theLeinster Senior League.[12][13]
In 1983–84Athlone Town Reserves won the B Division title, now known as the Egan C&C Trophy. Other teams in the B Division this season includedDublin University,Monaghan United,Longford Town,St Brendan's, Belgrove,Shamrock Rovers B and the reserve teams ofWaterford United,Dundalk,Shelbourne,Drogheda,St Patrick's Athletic,Bohemians andUCD. The Athlone Town team includedFran Hitchcock,John Caulfield andTurlough O'Connor, who was their highest goalscorer. O'Connor had earlier played for Town in the same division back in its debut season of 1964–65.[4]
In 1997–98, after 28 years of membership,UCD won its first ever B Division title. Their B team finished their 24-match campaign unbeaten.[14]