The 2014 League of Ireland First Division season was the 30th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by eight teams and Longford Town won the title. Galway were also promoted.
Teams
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Cobh Ramblers Cobh St. Colman's Park Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park Galway Galway Eamonn Deacy Park Longford Town Longford City Calling Stadium Shamrock Rovers B Tallaght Tallaght Stadium Shelbourne Drumcondra Tolka Park Waterford United Waterford Waterford RSC Wexford Youths Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park
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 Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Cobh Ramblers Martin CambridgeNikeEirgridFinn Harps Ollie HorganMacronMcGettigan GroupGalway Tommy DunneMacronComer Property ManagementLongford Town Tony CousinsMacronCity CallingShamrock Rovers B Colin HawkinsWarriorPepperShelbourne Johnny McDonnellMacronVolkswagenWaterford United Tommy GriffinMacronSportsWorld / DVF PrintWexford Youths Shane KeeganO'NeillsGalenisy's
Overview The 2014 First Division featured eight teams. Aside from Shelbourne, who were relegated from the Premier Division, replacing the 2013 First Division champions, Athlone Town, there were two other team changes from the previous season. In 2012 an FAI commissioned report recommended that Galway city and County Galway should be represented in the League of Ireland by a single club or team based at Eamonn Deacy Park. The O'Connor Report also recommended that the Galway United Supporters Trust, Salthill Devon, Mervue United and the Galway Football Association, should work together to form such a club. Following the conclusion of the 2013 First Division season, both Mervue United and Salthill Devon withdrew from the League of Ireland to make way for a new team known as Galway F.C. This still left another vacancy and in December 2013 Shamrock Rovers F.C. received permission from the FAI to enter their reserve team in the First Division for the 2014 season.
Each team played each other four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 28 matches during the season. Longford Town clinched the title following a resounding 5–0 victory at home to Shamrock Rovers B on 3 October 2014. Longford Town ended a seven-season stint in the First Division as they were promoted to the 2015 Premier Division. Galway also secured promotion after defeating UCD in a play off. Shamrock Rovers B withdrew from the First Division after just one season. Rovers decided it was not financially viable to continue fielding two teams in the League of Ireland.
Final table
Promotion/relegation playoffs The second and third placed First Division teams, Shelbourne and Galway, played off to decide who would play UCD, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division. The winner of this play off would play in the 2015 Premier Division. First Division
Galway won 4 – 1 on aggregate First Division v Premier Division
Galway won 5–1 on aggregate and were promoted to 2015 Premier Division. UCD are relegated to 2015 First Division.
Awards Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals 1David O'SullivanLongford Town19 (1 pen.) 2Danny FurlongWexford Youths16 (5 pen.)3Dylan ConnollyShelbourne12 (1 pen.)4Jake KeeganGalway115Gary ShawLongford Town10
Player of the Year Winner ClubDavid O'SullivanLongford Town
Team of the Year
See also 2014 League of Ireland Premier Division 2014 League of Ireland Cup
References