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League of Ireland

The League of Ireland (Irish: Sraith na hÉireann) is a league of professional football clubs from the Republic of Ireland plus Derry City from Northern Ireland. It is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland, along with the Football Association of Ireland. It is also the top-level football league in the Republic of Ireland since its foundation in 1921, but the term was used to refer to a single division league before the introduction of a second division in 1985.

League of Ireland
Founded1921; 103 years ago (1921)
Country Republic of Ireland (19 teams)
Other club(s) from Northern Ireland (1 team)
ConfederationUEFA
DivisionsPremier Division
First Division
U19 Division
U17 Division
U15 Division
U14 Division
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid1–2
Domestic cup(s)FAI Cup
President's Cup
League cup(s)League of Ireland Cup
Current championsShamrock Rovers (21st title) (2023)
Most championshipsShamrock Rovers (21 titles)
Most appearances Al Finucane (612)
Top goalscorer Brendan Bradley (235)
TV partnersRTÉ
Virgin Media Television
LOI TV
Websiteleagueofireland.ie
Current: 2024 League of Ireland

There are currently three divisions in the League – the Premier Division, the First Division and the Women's Premier Division. The League has always worked closely with the FAI, with which it formally merged in 2006. The League is currently sponsored by SSE Airtricity, and as such is known as the SSE Airtricity League for sponsorship reasons. In 2007, it became one of the first leagues in Europe to introduce a salary cap.

The men's League is divided into the Premier Division and the First Division, with ten teams in each division, 20 in total, and promotion and relegation between the highest-placed teams in the First Division and the lowest-placed teams in the Premier Division. Underage divisions include the U19 Division, U17 Division, U15 Division, and most recently the U14 Division. Nineteen teams are located in the Republic of Ireland, while one – Derry City – is located in Northern Ireland. The League also organises two knockout cup competitions: the FAI Cup and the League of Ireland Cup.

History edit

First level edit

The League of Ireland was founded in 1921 as a single division known as the A Division. The inaugural season featured eight teams from County Dublin, all of whom had spent the 1920–21 season playing in the Leinster Senior League: Bohemians, Dublin United, Frankfort, Jacobs, Olympia, St James's Gate, Shelbourne and YMCA.[1][2] Bohemians and Shelbourne had previously played in the 1919–20 Irish League. St James's Gate were the inaugural champions, and also went on to complete a treble, having also won both the FAI Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup.[citation needed]

The League expanded to twelve teams in 1922–23. Among the new members were Shamrock Rovers, who would win the title at the first attempt, and Athlone Town, who became the first team from outside County Dublin to compete in the League. Along with Bohemians and Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers would go on to dominate the League during the 1920s and 1930s.[citation needed]

Bray Unknowns and Fordsons became the second and third teams from outside County Dublin to join the League in 1924–25, the latter also becoming the first team from Munster to play in the league. The League continued to expand both numerically and geographically during its first two decades, with Dundalk being elected in 1926–27 and subsequently becoming the first team from outside County Dublin to win the title in 1932–33. Dundalk were subsequently joined by Waterford in 1930–31, Cork Bohemians in 1932–33, Sligo Rovers in 1934–35 and Limerick in 1937–38. Sligo Rovers became only the second team from outside County Dublin to win the title in 1936–37.[1][2]

Cork United emerged as the strongest team in the League during the Emergency, winning five titles between 1940–41 and 1945–46, three of which in succession. However, they subsequently resigned from the League in 1948.[3]

The 1950s was marked by the emergence of St Patrick's Athletic and the re-emergence of Shamrock Rovers, with the former winning the title at the first attempt in 1951–52 and claiming two more in the middle of the decade, and the latter winning their first title in fifteen years in 1953–54. While Drumcondra and Dundalk won two titles each during the 1960s, Waterford were the dominant team of the decade by winning four titles, including three in succession between 1967–68 and 1969–70. Six different teams won the title during the 1970s, with Bohemians, Dundalk and Waterford each winning two titles. While Athlone Town won two titles at the start of the 1980s, the decade was marked by the four successive titles won by Shamrock Rovers between 1983–84 and 1986–87.

Following the conclusion of the 1984–85 season, the League was restructured and the A Division was replaced by the Premier Division.[1][2]

Second level edit

A second division known as the B Division was introduced in 1964–65, featuring reserve teams and emerging senior teams. While there was no formal promotion and relegation to and from the A Division, a number of B Division teams, including Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers, Home Farm, Longford Town, Monaghan United and UCD, were subsequently elected to the A Division.[4][5]

The B Division was replaced as the second-level division by the First Division in 1985, featuring first teams and promotion and relegation to and from the new Premier Division.[1][6][7]

Third level edit

A third division known as the A Championship was introduced in 2008, and like the former B Division featured reserve teams and emerging senior teams. However, unlike the B Division, there was promotion and relegation between the Premier Division, First Division and A Championship.[8][9]

The A Championship was disbanded following the conclusion of the 2011 season.

Youth leagues edit

A number of youth leagues have also been introduced since the 2000–01 season.

  • The original youth league was an under-21 division, and later became an under-20 division before becoming an under-19 division, the winners of which are awarded the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup.[10][11]
  • An under-17 division was introduced in 2015.[12][13]
  • An under-15 division was introduced with a truncated season in 2017, before fully aligning with the League calendar in 2018.
  • An under-13 division was introduced in April 2019.[14][15][16]

Competition edit

League structure edit

There are 20 teams in the League, organised into two divisions: the Premier Division (formerly the A Division) and the First Division (formerly the B Division), which were renamed in 1985. There are ten teams in each division, and in a given season each team plays the other nine four times: twice at home and twice away, resulting in a total of 36 games per season.

Teams gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. At the end of the season, the last-placed team in the Premier Division is relegated, with the winner of the First Division being promoted in their place. The second- to fourth-placed teams in the First Division compete in a playoff series, the winner of which plays the ninth-placed team in the Premier Division to determine the final place in the Premier Division for the following season.

Division Promotion and relegation
Premier Division 1 direct relegation
0 or 1 relegation via playoffs
First Division 1 direct promotion
0 or 1 promotion via playoffs

Teams edit

2023 Premier Division edit

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Locations of Premier Division teams
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Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams


2023 First Division edit

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Locations of the First Division teams


Former League of Ireland clubs edit

Apart from the current twenty members, at least 38 other clubs have competed in the League of Ireland at one time or another. Some of these clubs are still active, playing in intermediate and junior leagues. The list below only includes teams that played in the A Division, the Premier Division and the First Division.

Team Home town/suburb Home ground Current league
Albert Rovers Cork Flower Lodge
Bray Unknowns Bray Carlisle Grounds
Brideville The Liberties, Dublin Richmond Park
Harold's Cross Stadium
Brooklyn Merchants Quay Chalgrove Terrace
Cork Cork The Mardyke
Cork City Cork The Mardyke
Cork Alberts Cork Flower Lodge
Turners Cross
Cork Athletic Cork The Mardyke
Cork Bohemians Cork Turners Cross
Cork Hibernians Cork The Mardyke
Cork United Cork The Mardyke
Dolphin Dolphin's Barn Dolphin Park
Harold's Cross Stadium
Tolka Park
Drumcondra Drumcondra, Dublin Tolka Park Leinster Senior League
Dublin City Fingal various
Dublin United Donnybrook, Dublin Beech Hill
Anglesea Road
Evergreen United / Cork Celtic Cork Turners Cross
Fordsons Cork Ballinlough Road
Frankfort Drumcondra, Dublin Richmond Road
Home Farm Whitehall, Dublin Tolka Park Leinster Senior League
Jacobs Crumlin, Dublin Rutland Avenue
Kildare County Newbridge, County Kildare Station Road
Kilkenny City Kilkenny Buckley Park
Limerick Limerick Markets Field
Mervue United Galway Fahy's Field Galway & District League
Midland Athletic Whitehall, Dublin The Thatch
Monaghan United Monaghan Gortakeegan Dublin Women's Soccer League
Newcastlewest Newcastle West Ballygowan Park Limerick Desmond League
Olympia The Coombe, Dublin Bellevue Lodge
Pioneers Dublin Strand Hall
The Thatch
Leinster Senior League
Rathmines Athletic Rathmines Rathmines Park
Reds United Ringsend Glenmalure Park
Salthill Devon Salthill Drom Soccer Park Galway & District League
St. Francis The Liberties/Clondalkin John Hyland Park Leinster Senior League
St. James's Gate Crumlin, Dublin Iveagh Grounds Leinster Senior League
Shelbourne United Ringsend Beech Hill
Anglesea Road
Glenmalure Park
Shamrock Rovers B Tallaght Tallaght Stadium
Sporting Fingal Fingal Morton Stadium
Thurles Town Thurles Thurles Greyhound Stadium North Tipperary District League
Transport Bray/Harold's Cross Carlisle Grounds
Harold's Cross Stadium
Leinster Senior League
YMCA Sandymount YMCA Sports Grounds


Champions edit

First level edit

A Division edit

Season Champions Runners-up Third place
1921–22 St. James's Gate (1) Bohemians Shelbourne
1922–23 Shamrock Rovers (1) Shelbourne Bohemians
1923–24 Bohemians (1) Shelbourne Jacobs
1924–25 Shamrock Rovers (2) Bohemians Shelbourne
1925–26 Shelbourne (1) Shamrock Rovers Fordsons
1926–27 Shamrock Rovers (3) Shelbourne Bohemians
1927–28 Bohemians (2) Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers
1928–29 Shelbourne (2) Bohemians Shamrock Rovers
1929–30 Bohemians (3) Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers
1930–31 Shelbourne (3) Dundalk Bohemians
1931–32 Shamrock Rovers (4) Cork Waterford
1932–33 Dundalk (1) Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne
1933–34 Bohemians (4) Cork Shamrock Rovers
1934–35 Dolphin (1) St. James's Gate Sligo Rovers
1935–36 Bohemians (5) Dolphin Cork
1936–37 Sligo Rovers (1) Dundalk Waterford
1937–38 Shamrock Rovers (5) Waterford Dundalk
1938–39 Shamrock Rovers (6) Sligo Rovers Dundalk
1939–40 St. James's Gate (2) Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers
1940–41 Cork United (1) Waterford Bohemians
1941–42 Cork United (2) Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne
1942–43 Cork United (3) Dundalk Drumcondra
1943–44 Shelbourne (4) Limerick Shamrock Rovers
1944–45 Cork United (4) Limerick Shamrock Rovers
1945–46 Cork United (5) Drumcondra Waterford
1946–47 Shelbourne (5) Drumcondra Shamrock Rovers
1947–48 Drumcondra (1) Dundalk Shelbourne
1948–49 Drumcondra (2) Shelbourne Dundalk
1949–50 Cork Athletic (1) Drumcondra Shelbourne
1950–51 Cork Athletic (2) Sligo Rovers Drumcondra
1951–52 St. Patrick's Athletic (1) Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers
1952–53 Shelbourne (6) Drumcondra Shamrock Rovers
1953–54 Shamrock Rovers (7) Evergreen United Drumcondra
1954–55 St. Patrick's Athletic (2) Waterford Shamrock Rovers
1955–56 St. Patrick's Athletic (3) Shamrock Rovers Waterford
1956–57 Shamrock Rovers (8) Drumcondra Sligo Rovers
1957–58 Drumcondra (3) Shamrock Rovers Evergreen United
1958–59 Shamrock Rovers (9) Evergreen United Waterford
1959–60 Limerick (1) Cork Celtic Shelbourne
1960–61 Drumcondra (4) St. Patrick's Athletic Waterford
1961–62 Shelbourne (7) Cork Celtic Shamrock Rovers
1962–63 Dundalk (2) Waterford Drumcondra
1963–64 Shamrock Rovers (10) Dundalk Limerick
1964–65 Drumcondra (5) Shamrock Rovers Bohemians
1965–66 Waterford (1) Shamrock Rovers Bohemians
1966–67 Dundalk (3) Bohemians Sligo Rovers
1967–68 Waterford (2) Dundalk Cork Celtic
1968–69 Waterford (3) Shamrock Rovers Cork Hibernians
1969–70 Waterford (4) Shamrock Rovers Cork Hibernians
1970–71 Cork Hibernians (1) Shamrock Rovers Waterford
1971–72 Waterford (5) Cork Hibernians Bohemians
1972–73 Waterford (6) Finn Harps Bohemians
1973–74 Cork Celtic (1) Bohemians Cork Hibernians
1974–75 Bohemians (6) Athlone Town Finn Harps
1975–76 Dundalk (4) Finn Harps Waterford
1976–77 Sligo Rovers (2) Bohemians Drogheda United
1977–78 Bohemians (7) Finn Harps Drogheda United
1978–79 Dundalk (5) Bohemians Drogheda United
1979–80 Limerick United (2) Dundalk Athlone Town
1980–81 Athlone Town (1) Dundalk Limerick United
1981–82 Dundalk (6) Shamrock Rovers Bohemians
1982–83 Athlone Town (2) Drogheda United Dundalk
1983–84 Shamrock Rovers (11) Bohemians Athlone Town
1984–85 Shamrock Rovers (12) Bohemians Athlone Town

Source:[1][2]

Premier Division edit

Season Champions Runners-up Third place
1985-86 Shamrock Rovers (13) Galway United Dundalk
1986-87 Shamrock Rovers (14) Dundalk Bohemians
1987-88 Dundalk (7) St Patrick's Athletic Bohemians
1988-89 Derry City (1) Dundalk Limerick City
1989-90 St Patrick's Athletic (4) Derry City Dundalk
1990-91 Dundalk (8) Cork City St Patrick's Athletic
1991-92 Shelbourne (8) Derry City Cork City
1992-93 Cork City (1) Bohemians Shelbourne
1993-94 Shamrock Rovers (15) Cork City Galway United
1994-95 Dundalk (9) Derry City Shelbourne
1995-96 St Patrick's Athletic (5) Bohemians Sligo Rovers
1996-97 Derry City (2) Bohemians Shelbourne
1997-98 St Patrick's Athletic (6) Shelbourne Cork City
1998-99 St Patrick's Athletic (7) Cork City Shelbourne
1999-00 Shelbourne (9) Cork City Bohemians
2000-01 Bohemians (8) Shelbourne Cork City
2001-02 Shelbourne (10) Shamrock Rovers St Patrick's Athletic
2002-03 Bohemians (9) Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers
2003 Shelbourne (11) Bohemians Cork City
2004 Shelbourne (12) Cork City Bohemians
2005 Cork City (2) Derry City Shelbourne
2006 Shelbourne (13) Derry City Drogheda United
2007 Drogheda United (1) St Patrick's Athletic Bohemians
2008 Bohemians (10) St Patrick's Athletic Derry City
2009 Bohemians (11) Shamrock Rovers Cork City
2010 Shamrock Rovers (16) Bohemians Sligo Rovers
2011 Shamrock Rovers (17) Sligo Rovers Derry City
2012 Sligo Rovers (3) Drogheda United St Patrick's Athletic
2013 St Patrick's Athletic (8) Dundalk Sligo Rovers
2014 Dundalk (10) Cork City Sligo Rovers
2015 Dundalk (11) Cork City Shamrock Rovers
2016 Dundalk (12) Cork City Derry City
2017 Cork City (3) Dundalk Shamrock Rovers
2018 Dundalk (13) Cork City Shamrock Rovers
2019 Dundalk (14) Shamrock Rovers Bohemians
2020 Shamrock Rovers (18) Bohemians Dundalk
2021 Shamrock Rovers (19) St Patrick's Athletic Sligo Rovers
2022 Shamrock Rovers (20) Derry City Dundalk
2023 Shamrock Rovers (21) Derry City St Patrick's Athletic

Source:[1][2]

List of winners edit

By number of titles edit

Club First level Second level Total
Shamrock Rovers 21 1 22
Dundalk 14 2 16
Shelbourne 13 2 15
Bohemians 11 0 11
St Patrick's Athletic 8 0 8
Waterford 6 4 10
Cork United 5 0 5
Drumcondra 5 0 5
Cork City 3 2 5
Sligo Rovers 3 2 5
Limerick United 2 3 5
Athlone Town 2 2 4
Derry City 2 2 4
Cork Athletic 2 0 2
St James's Gate 2 0 2
Drogheda United 1 5 6
Cork Celtic 1 0 1
Cork Hibernians 1 0 1
Dolphin 1 0 1
Bray Wanderers 0 3 3
UCD 0 3 3
Cobh Ramblers 0 1 1
Dublin City 0 1 1
Finn Harps 0 1 1
Galway United 0 1 1
Kilkenny City 0 1 1
Longford Town 0 1 1
Wexford 0 1 1

By team edit

Club Titles Seasons Runners-up Seasons
Shamrock Rovers
21
1922–23, 1924–25, 1926–27, 1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
15
1925–26, 1932–33, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1981–82, 2009, 2019
Dundalk
14
1932–33, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
12
1930–31, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1947–48, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1988–89, 2013, 2017
Shelbourne
13
1925–26, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1952–53, 1961–62, 1991–92, 1999–2000, 2001-02, 2003, 2004, 2006
9
1922–23, 1923–24, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1997–98, 2001-02, 2002–03
Bohemians
11
1923–24, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1974–75, 1977–78, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2008, 2009
15
1921–22, 1924–25, 1928–29, 1966–67, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2003, 2010, 2020
St Patrick's Athletic
8
1951–52, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2013
5
1960–61, 1987–88, 2007, 2008, 2021
Waterford
6
1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73
4
1937–38, 1940–41, 1954–55, 1962-63
Drumcondra
5
1947–48, 1948–49, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1964–65
5
1945–46, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1956–57
Cork United
5
1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1945–46
0
Cork City
3
1992–93, 2005, 2017
9
1990–91, 1993–94, 1998–99, 1999-2000, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
Sligo Rovers
3
1936–37, 1976–77, 2012
3
1938–39, 1950–51, 2011
Derry City
2
1988–89, 1996–97
6
1989–90, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2005, 2006, 2022
Limerick
2
1959–60, 1979–80
2
1943–44, 1944–45
St James's Gate
2
1921–22, 1939–40
1
1934–35
Athlone Town
2
1980–81, 1982–83
1
1974–75
Cork Athletic
2
1949–50, 1950–51
0
Cork Celtic
1
1973–74
4
1953–54, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961-62
Drogheda United
1
2007
2
1982–83, 2012
Dolphin
1
1934–35
1
1935-36
Cork Hibernians
1
1970–71
1
1971-72
Finn Harps
0
3
1972-73, 1975–76, 1977–78
Cork
0
2
1931-32, 1933–34
Galway United
0
1
1985-86

By county edit

County Titles Most successful club
  Dublin 60 Shamrock Rovers (21)
  Louth 15 Dundalk (14)
  Cork 12 Cork United (5)
  Waterford 6 Waterford (6)
  Sligo 3 Sligo Rovers (3)
  Derry 2 Derry City (2)
  Limerick 2 Limerick (2)
  Westmeath 2 Athlone Town (2)

By season edit

For each season, the number of teams competing (in brackets) are shown.

Team 2020 2021 2022 2023 Years
Bohemians 2nd 5th 6th - 4
Cork City 10th - 2
Derry City 7th 4th 2nd - 4
Drogheda United 7th 8th - 3
Dundalk 3rd 6th 3rd - 4
Finn Harps 8th 8th 10th 3
Longford Town 10th 1
Shamrock Rovers 1st 1st 1st 1st 4
Shelbourne 9th 7th - 3
Sligo Rovers 4th 3rd 5th - 4
St Patrick's Athletic 6th 2nd 4th - 4
UCD 9th - 2
Waterford 5th 9th 2

Media coverage edit

League of Ireland games are broadcast by both RTÉ and Virgin Media Television. It was announced in 2014 that RTÉ would show 78 live Premier Division and FAI Cup games as part of a new agreement with the FAI. The agreement expires in November 2018. RTÉ also broadcast a highlights show, Soccer Republic, throughout the season.[17][18][19][20] In 2015 the FAI agreed a deal with TrackChamp to stream all Premier Division and First Division games outside Ireland, but the deal was criticised by customers as the streaming service required registration for a betting platform.[21]

Attendance edit

European record edit

UEFA Champions League edit

  1. ^ Only one match was played at a neutral venue.

1QR/2QR/3QR = First/Second/Third qualifying round; PO = Playoff

UEFA Europa League edit

1QR/2QR/3QR = First/Second/Third qualifying round; PO = Playoff; Group = Group stage

UEFA Europa Conference League edit

1QR/2QR/3QR = First/Second/Third qualifying round; PO = Playoff

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Figures do not include results from matches played against Dublin City F.C. who withdrew midway through the season". www.researchgate.net. from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Figures include results from matches played against Monaghan United who withdrew midway through the season". www.researchgate.net. from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ "One attendance figure is missing from the 2013 season". www.researchgate.net. from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Four attendance figures are missing from the 2014 season". www.researchgate.net.
  5. ^ "League of Ireland match attendances show encouraging rise for 2015". Newstalk. from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  6. ^ Total attendance and average attendance figures only account for the first four weeks of the season after which no spectators were allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

References edit

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  5. ^ Lynch, Frank (1991). A History of Athlone Town F.C.: The First 101 Years. Athlone: Arcadia.
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  23. ^ "DERRY'S GAME WITH CORK BEST ATTENDED". tribune.ie. from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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  39. ^ "extratime.ie League of Ireland Attendance Report 2018". Extratime.ie. from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  40. ^ a b c d "League of Ireland enjoys huge increase in crowds since last pre-Covid season". the42. from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
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  43. ^ "League Report: Shamrock Rovers 3 - 2 Dundalk". Extratime.ie. from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Tallaght rocks as Rovers collect the trophy - and also Jack Byrne's signature". the42. from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  45. ^ "Rory Gaffney's winner ensures Shamrock Rovers enjoy the party that little bit more in Tallaght". Irish Times. from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  46. ^ a b "League of Ireland attendances up by 20 per cent as nearly 1 million attend domestic matches in 2023". The Irish Times. from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.

External links edit

  • Official Website

league, ireland, irish, sraith, hÉireann, league, professional, football, clubs, from, republic, ireland, plus, derry, city, from, northern, ireland, main, governing, bodies, responsible, organising, association, football, republic, ireland, along, with, footb. The League of Ireland Irish Sraith na hEireann is a league of professional football clubs from the Republic of Ireland plus Derry City from Northern Ireland It is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland along with the Football Association of Ireland It is also the top level football league in the Republic of Ireland since its foundation in 1921 but the term was used to refer to a single division league before the introduction of a second division in 1985 League of IrelandFounded1921 103 years ago 1921 Country Republic of Ireland 19 teams Other club s from Northern Ireland 1 team ConfederationUEFADivisionsPremier DivisionFirst DivisionU19 DivisionU17 DivisionU15 DivisionU14 DivisionNumber of teams20Level on pyramid1 2Domestic cup s FAI CupPresident s CupLeague cup s League of Ireland CupCurrent championsShamrock Rovers 21st title 2023 Most championshipsShamrock Rovers 21 titles Most appearancesAl Finucane 612 Top goalscorerBrendan Bradley 235 TV partnersRTEVirgin Media TelevisionLOI TVWebsiteleagueofireland wbr ieCurrent 2024 League of Ireland There are currently three divisions in the League the Premier Division the First Division and the Women s Premier Division The League has always worked closely with the FAI with which it formally merged in 2006 The League is currently sponsored by SSE Airtricity and as such is known as the SSE Airtricity League for sponsorship reasons In 2007 it became one of the first leagues in Europe to introduce a salary cap The men s League is divided into the Premier Division and the First Division with ten teams in each division 20 in total and promotion and relegation between the highest placed teams in the First Division and the lowest placed teams in the Premier Division Underage divisions include the U19 Division U17 Division U15 Division and most recently the U14 Division Nineteen teams are located in the Republic of Ireland while one Derry City is located in Northern Ireland The League also organises two knockout cup competitions the FAI Cup and the League of Ireland Cup Contents 1 History 1 1 First level 1 2 Second level 1 3 Third level 1 4 Youth leagues 2 Competition 2 1 League structure 3 Teams 3 1 2023 Premier Division 3 2 2023 First Division 3 3 Former League of Ireland clubs 4 Champions 4 1 First level 4 1 1 A Division 4 1 2 Premier Division 5 List of winners 5 1 By number of titles 5 2 By team 5 3 By county 5 4 By season 6 Media coverage 7 Attendance 7 1 Premier Division 7 2 First Division 8 European record 8 1 UEFA Champions League 8 2 UEFA Europa League 8 3 UEFA Europa Conference League 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 External linksHistory editFirst level edit The League of Ireland was founded in 1921 as a single division known as the A Division The inaugural season featured eight teams from County Dublin all of whom had spent the 1920 21 season playing in the Leinster Senior League Bohemians Dublin United Frankfort Jacobs Olympia St James s Gate Shelbourne and YMCA 1 2 Bohemians and Shelbourne had previously played in the 1919 20 Irish League St James s Gate were the inaugural champions and also went on to complete a treble having also won both the FAI Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup citation needed The League expanded to twelve teams in 1922 23 Among the new members were Shamrock Rovers who would win the title at the first attempt and Athlone Town who became the first team from outside County Dublin to compete in the League Along with Bohemians and Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers would go on to dominate the League during the 1920s and 1930s citation needed Bray Unknowns and Fordsons became the second and third teams from outside County Dublin to join the League in 1924 25 the latter also becoming the first team from Munster to play in the league The League continued to expand both numerically and geographically during its first two decades with Dundalk being elected in 1926 27 and subsequently becoming the first team from outside County Dublin to win the title in 1932 33 Dundalk were subsequently joined by Waterford in 1930 31 Cork Bohemians in 1932 33 Sligo Rovers in 1934 35 and Limerick in 1937 38 Sligo Rovers became only the second team from outside County Dublin to win the title in 1936 37 1 2 Cork United emerged as the strongest team in the League during the Emergency winning five titles between 1940 41 and 1945 46 three of which in succession However they subsequently resigned from the League in 1948 3 The 1950s was marked by the emergence of St Patrick s Athletic and the re emergence of Shamrock Rovers with the former winning the title at the first attempt in 1951 52 and claiming two more in the middle of the decade and the latter winning their first title in fifteen years in 1953 54 While Drumcondra and Dundalk won two titles each during the 1960s Waterford were the dominant team of the decade by winning four titles including three in succession between 1967 68 and 1969 70 Six different teams won the title during the 1970s with Bohemians Dundalk and Waterford each winning two titles While Athlone Town won two titles at the start of the 1980s the decade was marked by the four successive titles won by Shamrock Rovers between 1983 84 and 1986 87 Following the conclusion of the 1984 85 season the League was restructured and the A Division was replaced by the Premier Division 1 2 Second level edit A second division known as the B Division was introduced in 1964 65 featuring reserve teams and emerging senior teams While there was no formal promotion and relegation to and from the A Division a number of B Division teams including Athlone Town Bray Wanderers Home Farm Longford Town Monaghan United and UCD were subsequently elected to the A Division 4 5 The B Division was replaced as the second level division by the First Division in 1985 featuring first teams and promotion and relegation to and from the new Premier Division 1 6 7 Third level edit A third division known as the A Championship was introduced in 2008 and like the former B Division featured reserve teams and emerging senior teams However unlike the B Division there was promotion and relegation between the Premier Division First Division and A Championship 8 9 The A Championship was disbanded following the conclusion of the 2011 season Youth leagues edit A number of youth leagues have also been introduced since the 2000 01 season The original youth league was an under 21 division and later became an under 20 division before becoming an under 19 division the winners of which are awarded the Dr Tony O Neill Cup 10 11 An under 17 division was introduced in 2015 12 13 An under 15 division was introduced with a truncated season in 2017 before fully aligning with the League calendar in 2018 An under 13 division was introduced in April 2019 14 15 16 Competition editLeague structure edit There are 20 teams in the League organised into two divisions the Premier Division formerly the A Division and the First Division formerly the B Division which were renamed in 1985 There are ten teams in each division and in a given season each team plays the other nine four times twice at home and twice away resulting in a total of 36 games per season Teams gain three points for a win one for a draw and zero for a loss At the end of the season the last placed team in the Premier Division is relegated with the winner of the First Division being promoted in their place The second to fourth placed teams in the First Division compete in a playoff series the winner of which plays the ninth placed team in the Premier Division to determine the final place in the Premier Division for the following season Division Promotion and relegation Premier Division 1 direct relegation0 or 1 relegation via playoffs First Division 1 direct promotion0 or 1 promotion via playoffsTeams edit2023 Premier Division edit nbsp nbsp Cork City nbsp Derry City nbsp Drogheda United nbsp Dublin nbsp Dundalk nbsp Sligo Rovers nbsp Dublin teamsBohemiansSt Patrick s AthleticShamrock RoversShelbourneUCDclass notpageimage Locations of Premier Division teams nbsp nbsp Bohemians nbsp St Patrick s Athletic nbsp Shamrock Rovers nbsp Shelbourne nbsp UCDclass notpageimage Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams Team Home city suburb Stadium Capacity Bohemians Dublin Phibsborough Dalymount Park 3 400 Cork City Cork Turners Cross 7 485 Derry City Derry Brandywell 3 700 Drogheda United Drogheda United Park 3 500 Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4 500 St Patrick s Athletic Dublin Inchicore Richmond Park 5 350 Shamrock Rovers Dublin Tallaght Tallaght Stadium 8 000 Shelbourne Dublin Drumcondra Tolka Park 3 600 Sligo Rovers Sligo The Showgrounds 4 000 UCD Dublin Belfield UCD Bowl 3 000 2023 First Division edit nbsp nbsp Athlone Town nbsp Bray Wanderers nbsp Cobh Ramblers nbsp Finn Harps nbsp Galway United nbsp Kerry nbsp Longford Town nbsp Treaty United nbsp Waterford nbsp Wexfordclass notpageimage Locations of the First Division teams Team Home city suburb Stadium Athlone Town Athlone Athlone Town Stadium Bray Wanderers Bray Carlisle Grounds Cobh Ramblers Cobh St Colman s Park Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park Galway United Galway Eamonn Deacy Park Kerry Tralee Mounthawk Park Longford Town Longford Bishopsgate Treaty United Limerick Markets Field Waterford Waterford RSC Wexford Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park Former League of Ireland clubs edit Apart from the current twenty members at least 38 other clubs have competed in the League of Ireland at one time or another Some of these clubs are still active playing in intermediate and junior leagues The list below only includes teams that played in the A Division the Premier Division and the First Division Team Home town suburb Home ground Current league Albert Rovers Cork Flower Lodge Bray Unknowns Bray Carlisle Grounds Brideville The Liberties Dublin Richmond ParkHarold s Cross Stadium Brooklyn Merchants Quay Chalgrove Terrace Cork Cork The Mardyke Cork City Cork The Mardyke Cork Alberts Cork Flower LodgeTurners Cross Cork Athletic Cork The Mardyke Cork Bohemians Cork Turners Cross Cork Hibernians Cork The Mardyke Cork United Cork The Mardyke Dolphin Dolphin s Barn Dolphin ParkHarold s Cross StadiumTolka Park Drumcondra Drumcondra Dublin Tolka Park Leinster Senior League Dublin City Fingal various Dublin United Donnybrook Dublin Beech HillAnglesea Road Evergreen United Cork Celtic Cork Turners Cross Fordsons Cork Ballinlough Road Frankfort Drumcondra Dublin Richmond Road Home Farm Whitehall Dublin Tolka Park Leinster Senior League Jacobs Crumlin Dublin Rutland Avenue Kildare County Newbridge County Kildare Station Road Kilkenny City Kilkenny Buckley Park Limerick Limerick Markets Field Mervue United Galway Fahy s Field Galway amp District League Midland Athletic Whitehall Dublin The Thatch Monaghan United Monaghan Gortakeegan Dublin Women s Soccer League Newcastlewest Newcastle West Ballygowan Park Limerick Desmond League Olympia The Coombe Dublin Bellevue Lodge Pioneers Dublin Strand HallThe Thatch Leinster Senior League Rathmines Athletic Rathmines Rathmines Park Reds United Ringsend Glenmalure Park Salthill Devon Salthill Drom Soccer Park Galway amp District League St Francis The Liberties Clondalkin John Hyland Park Leinster Senior League St James s Gate Crumlin Dublin Iveagh Grounds Leinster Senior League Shelbourne United Ringsend Beech HillAnglesea RoadGlenmalure Park Shamrock Rovers B Tallaght Tallaght Stadium Sporting Fingal Fingal Morton Stadium Thurles Town Thurles Thurles Greyhound Stadium North Tipperary District League Transport Bray Harold s Cross Carlisle GroundsHarold s Cross Stadium Leinster Senior League YMCA Sandymount YMCA Sports GroundsChampions editFirst level edit A Division edit Season Champions Runners up Third place 1921 22 St James s Gate 1 Bohemians Shelbourne 1922 23 Shamrock Rovers 1 Shelbourne Bohemians 1923 24 Bohemians 1 Shelbourne Jacobs 1924 25 Shamrock Rovers 2 Bohemians Shelbourne 1925 26 Shelbourne 1 Shamrock Rovers Fordsons 1926 27 Shamrock Rovers 3 Shelbourne Bohemians 1927 28 Bohemians 2 Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers 1928 29 Shelbourne 2 Bohemians Shamrock Rovers 1929 30 Bohemians 3 Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers 1930 31 Shelbourne 3 Dundalk Bohemians 1931 32 Shamrock Rovers 4 Cork Waterford 1932 33 Dundalk 1 Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne 1933 34 Bohemians 4 Cork Shamrock Rovers 1934 35 Dolphin 1 St James s Gate Sligo Rovers 1935 36 Bohemians 5 Dolphin Cork 1936 37 Sligo Rovers 1 Dundalk Waterford 1937 38 Shamrock Rovers 5 Waterford Dundalk 1938 39 Shamrock Rovers 6 Sligo Rovers Dundalk 1939 40 St James s Gate 2 Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers 1940 41 Cork United 1 Waterford Bohemians 1941 42 Cork United 2 Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne 1942 43 Cork United 3 Dundalk Drumcondra 1943 44 Shelbourne 4 Limerick Shamrock Rovers 1944 45 Cork United 4 Limerick Shamrock Rovers 1945 46 Cork United 5 Drumcondra Waterford 1946 47 Shelbourne 5 Drumcondra Shamrock Rovers 1947 48 Drumcondra 1 Dundalk Shelbourne 1948 49 Drumcondra 2 Shelbourne Dundalk 1949 50 Cork Athletic 1 Drumcondra Shelbourne 1950 51 Cork Athletic 2 Sligo Rovers Drumcondra 1951 52 St Patrick s Athletic 1 Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers 1952 53 Shelbourne 6 Drumcondra Shamrock Rovers 1953 54 Shamrock Rovers 7 Evergreen United Drumcondra 1954 55 St Patrick s Athletic 2 Waterford Shamrock Rovers 1955 56 St Patrick s Athletic 3 Shamrock Rovers Waterford 1956 57 Shamrock Rovers 8 Drumcondra Sligo Rovers 1957 58 Drumcondra 3 Shamrock Rovers Evergreen United 1958 59 Shamrock Rovers 9 Evergreen United Waterford 1959 60 Limerick 1 Cork Celtic Shelbourne 1960 61 Drumcondra 4 St Patrick s Athletic Waterford 1961 62 Shelbourne 7 Cork Celtic Shamrock Rovers 1962 63 Dundalk 2 Waterford Drumcondra 1963 64 Shamrock Rovers 10 Dundalk Limerick 1964 65 Drumcondra 5 Shamrock Rovers Bohemians 1965 66 Waterford 1 Shamrock Rovers Bohemians 1966 67 Dundalk 3 Bohemians Sligo Rovers 1967 68 Waterford 2 Dundalk Cork Celtic 1968 69 Waterford 3 Shamrock Rovers Cork Hibernians 1969 70 Waterford 4 Shamrock Rovers Cork Hibernians 1970 71 Cork Hibernians 1 Shamrock Rovers Waterford 1971 72 Waterford 5 Cork Hibernians Bohemians 1972 73 Waterford 6 Finn Harps Bohemians 1973 74 Cork Celtic 1 Bohemians Cork Hibernians 1974 75 Bohemians 6 Athlone Town Finn Harps 1975 76 Dundalk 4 Finn Harps Waterford 1976 77 Sligo Rovers 2 Bohemians Drogheda United 1977 78 Bohemians 7 Finn Harps Drogheda United 1978 79 Dundalk 5 Bohemians Drogheda United 1979 80 Limerick United 2 Dundalk Athlone Town 1980 81 Athlone Town 1 Dundalk Limerick United 1981 82 Dundalk 6 Shamrock Rovers Bohemians 1982 83 Athlone Town 2 Drogheda United Dundalk 1983 84 Shamrock Rovers 11 Bohemians Athlone Town 1984 85 Shamrock Rovers 12 Bohemians Athlone Town Source 1 2 Premier Division edit Season Champions Runners up Third place 1985 86 Shamrock Rovers 13 Galway United Dundalk 1986 87 Shamrock Rovers 14 Dundalk Bohemians 1987 88 Dundalk 7 St Patrick s Athletic Bohemians 1988 89 Derry City 1 Dundalk Limerick City 1989 90 St Patrick s Athletic 4 Derry City Dundalk 1990 91 Dundalk 8 Cork City St Patrick s Athletic 1991 92 Shelbourne 8 Derry City Cork City 1992 93 Cork City 1 Bohemians Shelbourne 1993 94 Shamrock Rovers 15 Cork City Galway United 1994 95 Dundalk 9 Derry City Shelbourne 1995 96 St Patrick s Athletic 5 Bohemians Sligo Rovers 1996 97 Derry City 2 Bohemians Shelbourne 1997 98 St Patrick s Athletic 6 Shelbourne Cork City 1998 99 St Patrick s Athletic 7 Cork City Shelbourne 1999 00 Shelbourne 9 Cork City Bohemians 2000 01 Bohemians 8 Shelbourne Cork City 2001 02 Shelbourne 10 Shamrock Rovers St Patrick s Athletic 2002 03 Bohemians 9 Shelbourne Shamrock Rovers 2003 Shelbourne 11 Bohemians Cork City 2004 Shelbourne 12 Cork City Bohemians 2005 Cork City 2 Derry City Shelbourne 2006 Shelbourne 13 Derry City Drogheda United 2007 Drogheda United 1 St Patrick s Athletic Bohemians 2008 Bohemians 10 St Patrick s Athletic Derry City 2009 Bohemians 11 Shamrock Rovers Cork City 2010 Shamrock Rovers 16 Bohemians Sligo Rovers 2011 Shamrock Rovers 17 Sligo Rovers Derry City 2012 Sligo Rovers 3 Drogheda United St Patrick s Athletic 2013 St Patrick s Athletic 8 Dundalk Sligo Rovers 2014 Dundalk 10 Cork City Sligo Rovers 2015 Dundalk 11 Cork City Shamrock Rovers 2016 Dundalk 12 Cork City Derry City 2017 Cork City 3 Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 2018 Dundalk 13 Cork City Shamrock Rovers 2019 Dundalk 14 Shamrock Rovers Bohemians 2020 Shamrock Rovers 18 Bohemians Dundalk 2021 Shamrock Rovers 19 St Patrick s Athletic Sligo Rovers 2022 Shamrock Rovers 20 Derry City Dundalk 2023 Shamrock Rovers 21 Derry City St Patrick s Athletic Source 1 2 List of winners editBy number of titles edit Club First level Second level Total Shamrock Rovers 21 1 22 Dundalk 14 2 16 Shelbourne 13 2 15 Bohemians 11 0 11 St Patrick s Athletic 8 0 8 Waterford 6 4 10 Cork United 5 0 5 Drumcondra 5 0 5 Cork City 3 2 5 Sligo Rovers 3 2 5 Limerick United 2 3 5 Athlone Town 2 2 4 Derry City 2 2 4 Cork Athletic 2 0 2 St James s Gate 2 0 2 Drogheda United 1 5 6 Cork Celtic 1 0 1 Cork Hibernians 1 0 1 Dolphin 1 0 1 Bray Wanderers 0 3 3 UCD 0 3 3 Cobh Ramblers 0 1 1 Dublin City 0 1 1 Finn Harps 0 1 1 Galway United 0 1 1 Kilkenny City 0 1 1 Longford Town 0 1 1 Wexford 0 1 1 By team edit Club Titles Seasons Runners up Seasons Shamrock Rovers 21 1922 23 1924 25 1926 27 1931 32 1937 38 1938 39 1953 54 1956 57 1958 59 1963 64 1983 84 1984 85 1985 86 1986 87 1993 94 2010 2011 2020 2021 2022 2023 15 1925 26 1932 33 1939 40 1941 42 1955 56 1957 58 1964 65 1965 66 1968 69 1969 70 1970 71 1981 82 2009 2019 Dundalk 14 1932 33 1962 63 1966 67 1975 76 1978 79 1981 82 1987 88 1990 91 1994 95 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 12 1930 31 1936 37 1942 43 1947 48 1963 64 1967 68 1979 80 1980 81 1986 87 1988 89 2013 2017 Shelbourne 13 1925 26 1928 29 1930 31 1943 44 1946 47 1952 53 1961 62 1991 92 1999 2000 2001 02 2003 2004 2006 9 1922 23 1923 24 1926 27 1927 28 1929 30 1948 49 1951 52 1997 98 2001 02 2002 03 Bohemians 11 1923 24 1927 28 1929 30 1933 34 1935 36 1974 75 1977 78 2000 01 2002 03 2008 2009 15 1921 22 1924 25 1928 29 1966 67 1973 74 1976 77 1978 79 1983 84 1984 85 1992 93 1995 96 1996 97 2003 2010 2020 St Patrick s Athletic 8 1951 52 1954 55 1955 56 1989 90 1995 96 1997 98 1998 99 2013 5 1960 61 1987 88 2007 2008 2021 Waterford 6 1965 66 1967 68 1968 69 1969 70 1971 72 1972 73 4 1937 38 1940 41 1954 55 1962 63 Drumcondra 5 1947 48 1948 49 1957 58 1960 61 1964 65 5 1945 46 1946 47 1949 50 1952 53 1956 57 Cork United 5 1940 41 1941 42 1942 43 1944 45 1945 46 0 Cork City 3 1992 93 2005 2017 9 1990 91 1993 94 1998 99 1999 2000 2004 2014 2015 2016 2018 Sligo Rovers 3 1936 37 1976 77 2012 3 1938 39 1950 51 2011 Derry City 2 1988 89 1996 97 6 1989 90 1991 92 1994 95 2005 2006 2022 Limerick 2 1959 60 1979 80 2 1943 44 1944 45 St James s Gate 2 1921 22 1939 40 1 1934 35 Athlone Town 2 1980 81 1982 83 1 1974 75 Cork Athletic 2 1949 50 1950 51 0 Cork Celtic 1 1973 74 4 1953 54 1958 59 1959 60 1961 62 Drogheda United 1 2007 2 1982 83 2012 Dolphin 1 1934 35 1 1935 36 Cork Hibernians 1 1970 71 1 1971 72 Finn Harps 0 3 1972 73 1975 76 1977 78 Cork 0 2 1931 32 1933 34 Galway United 0 1 1985 86 By county edit County Titles Most successful club nbsp Dublin 60 Shamrock Rovers 21 nbsp Louth 15 Dundalk 14 nbsp Cork 12 Cork United 5 nbsp Waterford 6 Waterford 6 nbsp Sligo 3 Sligo Rovers 3 nbsp Derry 2 Derry City 2 nbsp Limerick 2 Limerick 2 nbsp Westmeath 2 Athlone Town 2 By season edit For each season the number of teams competing in brackets are shown Team 2020 2021 2022 2023 Years Bohemians 2nd 5th 6th 4 Cork City 10th 2 Derry City 7th 4th 2nd 4 Drogheda United 7th 8th 3 Dundalk 3rd 6th 3rd 4 Finn Harps 8th 8th 10th 3 Longford Town 10th 1 Shamrock Rovers 1st 1st 1st 1st 4 Shelbourne 9th 7th 3 Sligo Rovers 4th 3rd 5th 4 St Patrick s Athletic 6th 2nd 4th 4 UCD 9th 2 Waterford 5th 9th 2Media coverage editLeague of Ireland games are broadcast by both RTE and Virgin Media Television It was announced in 2014 that RTE would show 78 live Premier Division and FAI Cup games as part of a new agreement with the FAI The agreement expires in November 2018 RTE also broadcast a highlights show Soccer Republic throughout the season 17 18 19 20 In 2015 the FAI agreed a deal with TrackChamp to stream all Premier Division and First Division games outside Ireland but the deal was criticised by customers as the streaming service required registration for a betting platform 21 Attendance editPremier Division edit Season Total Average Highest Ref 2005 7 000 22 2006 257 745 1 562 6 080 note 1 23 2007 2008 6 870 24 2009 6 000 25 2010 5 500 26 2011 5 916 27 2012 281 925 1 575 6 097 note 2 28 29 2013 307 355 1 552 4 703 note 3 28 30 2014 295 384 1 523 6 219 note 4 28 31 2015 324 332 1 638 6 900 note 5 32 33 2016 291 258 1 471 5 453 34 35 2017 377 362 1 906 6 983 36 37 2018 384 520 2 136 6 672 38 39 2019 375 705 2 087 7 021 40 41 2020 65 700 2 986 7 522 note 6 42 43 2021 7 765 44 2022 486 365 2 687 7 726 40 45 2023 596 196 3 294 8 021 46 Key Record high Record low Affected by the COVID 19 pandemic First Division edit Season Total Average Highest Ref 2016 52 987 477 41 2017 53 342 476 41 2018 59 946 422 41 2019 75 795 561 40 2020 2021 2022 178 000 1 193 40 2023 196 050 1 089 46 European record editUEFA Champions League edit Season Club Round Opponent Home Away Agg 2009 10 Bohemians 2QR nbsp Red Bull Salzburg 0 1 1 1 1 2 2010 11 Bohemians 2QR nbsp The New Saints 1 0 0 4 1 4 2011 12 Shamrock Rovers 2QR nbsp FC Flora Tallinn 1 0 0 0 1 0 3QR nbsp F C Copenhagen 0 1 0 2 0 3 2012 13 Shamrock Rovers 2QR nbsp FK Ekranas 0 0 1 2 1 2 2013 14 Sligo Rovers 2QR nbsp Molde FK 0 1 0 2 0 3 2014 15 St Patrick s Athletic 2QR nbsp Legia Warsaw 0 5 1 1 1 6 2015 16 Dundalk 2QR nbsp BATE Borisov 0 0 1 2 1 2 2016 17 Dundalk 2QR nbsp FH 1 1 2 2 3 3 a 3QR nbsp BATE Borisov 3 0 0 1 3 1 PO nbsp Legia Warsaw 0 2 1 1 1 3 2017 18 Dundalk 2QR nbsp Rosenborg BK 1 1 1 2 2 3 aet 2018 19 Cork City 1QR nbsp Legia Warsaw 0 1 0 3 0 4 2019 20 Dundalk 1QR nbsp Riga FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 p 2QR nbsp Qarabag 1 1 0 3 1 4 2020 21 Dundalk 1QR nbsp NK Celje 0 3 a 0 3 2021 22 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp Slovan Bratislava 2 1 0 2 2 3 Only one match was played at a neutral venue 1QR 2QR 3QR First Second Third qualifying round PO Playoff UEFA Europa League edit Season Club Round Opponent Home Away Agg 2009 10 Sligo Rovers 1QR nbsp Vllaznia Shkoder 1 2 1 1 1 3 Derry City 2QR nbsp Skonto 1 0 1 1 2 1 3QR nbsp CSKA Sofia 1 1 0 1 1 2 St Patrick s Athletic 2QR nbsp Valletta 1 1 1 0 2 1 3QR nbsp Krylia Sovetov 1 0 2 3 3 3 a PO nbsp Steaua București 1 2 0 3 1 5 2010 11 Dundalk 1QR nbsp Grevenmacher 2 1 3 3 5 4 2QR nbsp Levski Sofia 0 2 0 6 0 8 Sporting Fingal 2QR nbsp Maritimo 2 3 2 3 4 6 Shamrock Rovers 2QR nbsp Bnei Yehuda 1 1 1 0 2 1 3QR nbsp Juventus 0 2 0 1 0 3 2011 12 St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp IBV 2 0 0 1 2 1 2QR nbsp Shakhter Karagandy 2 0 1 2 3 2 3QR nbsp Karpaty Lviv 1 3 0 2 1 5 Bohemians 2QR nbsp Olimpija Ljubljana 1 1 0 2 1 3 Sligo Rovers 3QR nbsp Vorskla Poltava 0 2 0 0 0 2 Shamrock Rovers PO nbsp Partizan 1 1 2 1 3 2 aet Group A nbsp Rubin Kazan 0 3 1 4 4th nbsp Tottenham Hotspur 0 4 1 3 nbsp P A O K 1 3 1 2 2012 13 Bohemians 1QR nbsp THor Akureyri 0 0 1 5 1 5 St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp IBV 1 0 1 2 2 2 a aet 2QR nbsp Siroki Brijeg 2 1 1 1 3 2 aet 3QR nbsp Hannover 96 0 3 0 2 0 5 Sligo Rovers 2QR nbsp Spartak Trnava 1 1 1 3 2 4 2013 14 Drogheda United 1QR nbsp Malmo FF 0 0 0 2 0 2 St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp Zalgiris Vilnius 1 2 2 2 3 4 Derry City 2QR nbsp Trabzonspor 0 3 2 4 2 7 2014 15 Dundalk 1QR nbsp Jeunesse Esch 3 1 2 0 5 1 2QR nbsp Hajduk Split 0 2 2 1 2 3 Derry City 1QR nbsp Aberystwyth Town 4 0 5 0 9 0 2QR nbsp Shakhtyor Soligorsk 0 1 1 5 1 6 Sligo Rovers 1QR nbsp Banga Gargzdai 4 0 0 0 4 0 2QR nbsp Rosenborg BK 1 3 2 1 3 4 2015 16 UCD 1QR nbsp F91 Dudelange 1 0 1 2 2 2 a 2QR nbsp Slovan Bratislava 1 5 0 1 1 6 Cork City 1QR nbsp KR 1 1 1 2 2 3 aet St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp Skonto 0 2 1 2 1 4 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp Progres Niederkorn 3 0 0 0 3 0 2QR nbsp Odds BK 0 2 1 2 1 4 2016 17 Cork City 1QR nbsp Linfield 1 1 1 0 2 1 2QR nbsp BK Hacken 1 0 1 1 2 1 3QR nbsp Genk 1 2 0 1 1 3 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp RoPS 0 2 1 1 1 3 St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp Jeunesse Esch 1 0 1 2 2 2 a 2QR nbsp Dinamo Minsk 0 1 1 1 1 2 Dundalk Group D nbsp AZ 0 1 1 1 4th nbsp Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 0 1 2 nbsp Zenit 1 2 1 2 2017 18 Cork City 1QR nbsp FCI Levadia Tallinn 4 2 2 0 6 2 2QR nbsp AEK Larnaca 0 1 0 1 0 2 Derry City 1QR nbsp Midtjylland 1 4 1 6 2 10 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp Stjarnan 1 0 1 0 2 0 2QR nbsp Mlada Boleslav 2 3 0 2 2 5 2018 19 Dundalk 1QR nbsp FCI Levadia Tallinn 2 1 1 0 3 1 2QR nbsp AEK Larnaca 0 0 0 4 0 4 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp AIK 0 1 1 1 1 2 aet Derry City 1QR nbsp Dinamo Minsk 0 2 2 1 2 3 Cork City 3QR nbsp Rosenborg BK 0 2 0 3 0 5 2019 20 Cork City 1QR nbsp Progres Niederkorn 0 2 2 1 2 3 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp SK Brann 2 1 2 2 4 3 2QR nbsp Apollon Limassol 2 1 1 3 3 4 aet St Patrick s Athletic 1QR nbsp IFK Norrkoping 0 2 1 2 1 4 Dundalk 3QR nbsp Slovan Bratislava 1 3 0 1 1 4 2020 21 Shamrock Rovers 1QR nbsp Ilves 2 2 2 2 12 11 p 2QR nbsp A C Milan 0 2 0 2 Bohemians 1QR nbsp Fehervar 1 1 1 1 2 4 p Derry City 1QR nbsp FK Riteriai 2 3 2 3 aet Dundalk 2QR nbsp Inter Club d Escaldes 1 0 1 0 3QR nbsp Sheriff Tiraspol 1 1 1 1 3 5 p PO nbsp KI 3 1 3 1 Group B nbsp Molde FK 1 2 1 3 4th nbsp Arsenal 2 4 0 3 nbsp Rapid Wien 1 3 3 4 1QR 2QR 3QR First Second Third qualifying round PO Playoff Group Group stage UEFA Europa Conference League edit Season Club Round Opponent Home Away Agg 2021 22 Bohemians 1QR nbsp Stjarnan 3 0 1 1 4 1 2QR nbsp F91 Dudelange 1 0 3 0 4 0 3QR nbsp P A O K 2 1 0 2 2 3 Dundalk 1QR nbsp Newtown 4 0 1 0 5 0 2QR nbsp FCI Levadia Tallinn 2 2 2 1 4 3 3QR nbsp Vitesse 1 2 2 2 3 4 Sligo Rovers 1QR nbsp FH 0 1 1 2 1 3 Shamrock Rovers 3QR nbsp Teuta 1 0 2 0 3 0 PO nbsp FC Flora Tallinn 0 1 2 4 2 5 1QR 2QR 3QR First Second Third qualifying round PO PlayoffSee also editList of association football competitions List of foreign League of Ireland playersNotes edit Figures do not include results from matches played against Dublin City F C who withdrew midway through the season www researchgate net Archived from the original on 23 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2021 Figures include results from matches played against Monaghan United who withdrew midway through the season www researchgate net Archived from the original on 23 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2021 One attendance figure is missing from the 2013 season www researchgate net Archived from the original on 23 June 2022 Retrieved 1 February 2021 Four attendance figures are missing from the 2014 season www researchgate net League of Ireland match attendances show encouraging rise for 2015 Newstalk Archived from the original on 7 February 2021 Retrieved 12 February 2021 Total attendance and average attendance figures only account for the first four weeks of the season after which no spectators were allowed due to the COVID 19 pandemicReferences edit a b c d e f Graham Alex 13 April 2024 Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921 2005 Soccer Books Limited ISBN 978 1 86223 135 1 a b c d e Republic of Ireland League Tables RSSSF Archived from the original on 21 February 2008 Retrieved 6 July 2016 The Rise of Cork United www corkpastandpresent ie Archived from the original on 21 March 2016 Retrieved 26 September 2016 To B or not to be Brian Quigley s thoughts on the League of Ireland B Division leagueofireland ie Archived from the original on 17 September 2016 Retrieved 6 September 2016 Lynch Frank 1991 A History of Athlone Town F C The First 101 Years Athlone Arcadia Republic of Ireland League Tables Second Level RSSSF Archived from the original on 3 June 2009 Retrieved 10 July 2016 What Happens To Teams That Enter The League Of Ireland First Division www balls ie 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