2018 League of Ireland Premier Division

League of Ireland Premier Division
Season 2018
Dates 16 February – 26 October 2018
Champions Dundalk
Relegated Bray Wanderers
Champions League Dundalk
Europa League Cork City
Shamrock Rovers
Waterford
← 2017
2019 →
All statistics correct as of 6 October 2018.

The 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division is the 34th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The league began on 16 February 2018 and will conclude in October 2018.[1]

On 5 October, Dundalk won the title after a 1-1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic.[2][3]

Overview

The Premier Division consists of 10 teams. Each team plays each other four times for a total of 36 matches in the season.

Waterford, the 2017 First Division champion, were promoted to the league for the first time since 2007.

On 22 December 2016, the Football Association of Ireland announced that the league would be restructured into two 10-team divisions from the 2018 season onwards, one of the recommendations made in the 2015 Conroy Report.[4]

Teams

Stadia and locations

Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams
Team Location Stadium
BohemiansPhibsboroughDalymount Park
Bray WanderersBrayCarlisle Grounds
Cork CityCorkTurners Cross
Derry CityDerryThe Brandywell
DundalkDundalkOriel Park
LimerickLimerickMarkets Field
St Patrick's AthleticInchicoreRichmond Park
Shamrock RoversTallaghtTallaght Stadium
Sligo RoversSligoThe Showgrounds
WaterfordWaterfordRSC

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Bohemians Republic of Ireland Keith Long Republic of Ireland Derek Pender Hummel Mr Green Sport
Bray Wanderers Republic of Ireland Gary Cronin Republic of Ireland Gary McCabe Nike O Driscoll O Neil Insurance
Cork City Republic of Ireland John Caulfield Republic of Ireland Conor McCormack Adidas University College Cork
Derry City Northern Ireland Kenny Shiels Northern Ireland Gerard Doherty Adidas Diamond Corrugated
Dundalk Republic of Ireland Stephen Kenny Republic of Ireland Stephen O'Donnell CX+ Sport Fyffes
Limerick Republic of Ireland Tommy Barrett Republic of Ireland Shane Duggan Umbro Betsat.com
St Patrick's Athletic Republic of Ireland Liam Buckley Republic of Ireland Ian Bermingham Umbro MIG Insurance Brokers
Shamrock Rovers Republic of Ireland Stephen Bradley Republic of Ireland Ronan Finn New Balance Pepper Money
Sligo Rovers Northern Ireland Gerard Lyttle Republic of Ireland Kyle Callan-McFadden Joma Volkswagen
Waterford Republic of Ireland Alan Reynolds Republic of Ireland Paul Keegan Umbro 21 Bet

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Limerick England Neil McDonald Signed by Scunthorpe United 4 January 2018[5] Pre-season Republic of Ireland Tommy Barrett 14 January 2018[6]
Bray Wanderers Republic of Ireland Dave Mackey Resigned 8 April 2018[7] 10th Republic of Ireland Graham Kelly 10 April 2018[8]
Bray Wanderers Republic of Ireland Graham Kelly End of caretaker spell 8 July 2018 10th Republic of Ireland Martin Russell 8 July 2018[9]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Dundalk (C) 34 26 5 3 79 19 +60 83 Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
2 Cork City (Q) 34 22 5 7 63 26 +37 71 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
3 Shamrock Rovers (Q) 34 17 8 9 54 24 +30 59
4 Waterford (Q) 34 17 5 12 47 40 +7 56
5 St Patrick's Athletic 34 13 5 16 42 47 −5 44
6 Bohemians 33 12 7 14 45 43 +2 43
7 Derry City 33 13 3 17 46 60 −14 42
8 Sligo Rovers 33 11 5 17 35 44 −9 38
9 Limerick (Q) 34 7 6 21 24 67 −43 27 Qualification to Relegation play-offs
10 Bray Wanderers (R) 33 4 3 26 20 85 −65 15 Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2018. Source: SSE Airtricity League, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[10]
(C) Champion; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. ↑ Since the finalists of the 2018 FAI Cup will qualify for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the Cup winner (Europa League first qualifying round) will be passed to the next best-placed team (the fourth-placed team).

Results

Matches 1–18

Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).

Home \ Away BOH BRW COR DER DUN LIM STP SHM SLI WAT
Bohemians — 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–1 3–1 2–2 0–1
Bray Wanderers 1–3 — 0–4 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 2–2
Cork City 3–0 4–0 — 4–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0
Derry City 3–1 5–1 0–0 — 1–4 5–0 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–0
Dundalk 3–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 — 8–0 5–0 2–1 2–1 1–0
Limerick 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–3 — 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2
St Patrick's Athletic 2–2 5–0 2–3 5–2 0–0 1–0 — 2–0 2–0 1–0
Shamrock Rovers 1–2 6–0 3–0 6–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 — 1–0 1–1
Sligo Rovers 0–2 2–1 1–4 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 — 1–2
Waterford 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–6 2–0 2–1 1–1 —
Source: SSE Airtricity League, Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is an article about the match.

Matches 19–36

Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).

Home \ Away BOH BRW COR DER DUN LIM STP SHM SLI WAT
Bohemians — 6–0 4–2 1–2 5–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 1–3
Bray Wanderers — 1–3 1–3 0–2 3–1 0–3 2–1 0–0
Cork City 1–0 — 5–0 0–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 3–0
Derry City 0–2 2–0 — 0–4 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–2
Dundalk 2–0 5–0 2–1 3–2 — 4–0 1–1 1–2 2–0
Limerick 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 — 1–3 2–1
St Patrick's Athletic 1–3 3–0 1–3 1–3 2–1 — 0–1 0–3 3–0
Shamrock Rovers 0–1 5–0 0–0 2–0 2–5 5–0 3–0 — 2–0
Sligo Rovers 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–0 1–2 — 2–3
Waterford 1–1 2–0 1–2 4–0 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 12 October 2018. Source: SSE Airtricity League, Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is an article about the match.


Season statistics

As of 28 July 2018

Scoring

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[11]
1 Republic of Ireland Patrick Hoban Dundalk 21
2 Republic of Ireland Graham Burke Shamrock Rovers 13
3 Republic of Ireland Graham Cummins Cork City 12
4 Republic of Ireland Kieran Sadlier Cork City 11
5 Northern Ireland Aaron McEneff Derry City 10
Republic of Ireland Courtney Duffus Waterford 10
7 Northern Ireland Michael Duffy Dundalk 9
8 Republic of Ireland Robbie Benson Dundalk 8
9 Republic of Ireland Ronan Hale Derry City 7
10 Northern Ireland Rory Patterson Derry City 6
England Daniel Carr Shamrock Rovers 6

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Republic of Ireland Graham CumminsCork CitySligo Rovers4–1 (A)24 February 2018[12]
Republic of Ireland Graham Burke4Shamrock RoversDerry City6-1 (H)9 March 2018[13]
Republic of Ireland Ronan HaleDerry CityLimerick5–0 (H)12 March 2018[14]
Republic of Ireland Patrick HobanDundalkLimerick4–0 (H)8 June 2018[15]

Discipline

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 49[16]
    • Sligo Rovers
  • Most red cards: 6[17]
    • Waterford

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month References
Player Club Player Club
February Republic of Ireland Graham Cummins Cork City France Bastien Héry Waterford [18]
March Republic of Ireland Graham Burke Shamrock Rovers [19][20]
April Northern Ireland Michael Duffy Dundalk [21]
May Republic of Ireland Seán Hoare Dundalk [22]
June Republic of Ireland Patrick Hoban Dundalk [23]
July Republic of Ireland Gavin Bazunu Shamrock Rovers [24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Best player? Relegation candidates? Our writers' predictions for the 2018 League of Ireland season". The 42. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  2. ↑ "Dundalk crowned as league champions for 13th time as they claim a point against St Pat's". Irish Independent. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Champions! Hoban delivers dramatic 90th minute equaliser as Dundalk secure fourth title in five seasons". The 42. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Mackey, Liam (23 December 2016). "It's three down, one up for LOI season". The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Limerick lose manager McDonald to Scunthorpe". RTÉ Sport. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Former player Tommy Barrett takes over Limerick job". RTÉ Sport. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Dave Mackey resigns as Bray boss". RTÉ Sport. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Graham Kelly named as Bray 'caretaker manager'". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  9. ↑ Gallagher, Aaron. "Russell confirmed new Bray boss as club face fight for survival with three wins in 21 games". the42.ie. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Premier Division 2017 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Premier Division 2018 – Topscorers". int.soccerway.com. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  12. ↑ Goulden, David. "Cummins hat-trick maintains flawless Cork start". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Shamrock Rovers vs. Derry City 6 - 1". soccerway.com. 9 March 2018.
  14. ↑ Ferry, Gary. "Derry mark Brandywell return with five goals". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  15. ↑ McLaughlin, Gavin. "Hoban bags hat-trick as Dundalk return to top". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "Premier Division statistics". SSE Airtricity League. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Premier Division statistics". SSE Airtricity League. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "GRAHAM CUMMINS NAMED SSE AIRTRICITY PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY". SSE Airtricity. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "GRAHAM BURKE NAMED SSE AIRTRICITY PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH". SSE Airtricity. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  20. ↑ "Bastien Héry's powerful strike from distance wins goal of the month". Soccer Republic. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "In-form Duffy wins monthly award for first time". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  22. ↑ O'Hehir, Paul. "Dundalk defender Sean Hoare scoops Player of the Month award for May". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "PATRICK HOBAN WINS JUNE PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD". SSE Airtricity League. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "ROVERS KEEPER BAZUNU WINS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD". SSE Airtricity League. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
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