The 2018 League of Ireland First Division season was the 34th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The league began on 23 February 2018 and concluded on 22 September 2018. Contrary to the previous editions, this tournament had 10 teams, which was the largest number since the 2011 season, and saw the return of the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Overview The First Division has 10 teams. Each team plays each other three times for a total of 27 matches in the season.
On 22 December 2016, the FAI 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.
Teams
Stadia and locations Team Location Stadium Athlone Town Athlone Athlone Town Stadium Cabinteely Cabinteely Stradbrook Road Cobh Ramblers Cobh St. Colman's Park Drogheda United Drogheda United Park Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park Galway United Galway Eamonn Deacy Park Longford Town Longford City Calling Stadium Shelbourne Drumcondra Tolka Park UCD Belfield UCD Bowl Wexford 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 Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Athlone Town Aaron Callaghan Niall ScullionNikeNitro SportsCabinteely Pat Devlin Daire DoyleUhlsportGeoghegan Home ExtensionsCobh Ramblers Stephen Henderson Paul HuntLegeaTony & William O'Shea Fuels RushbrookeDrogheda United Tim Clancy Sean ThorntonCX+ SportScotch Hall Shopping CenterFinn Harps Ollie Horgan Ciaran CollJoma McGettigan GroupGalway United Shane Keegan Ryan ConnollyUhlsportComer Property ManagementLongford Town Neale Fenn Kevin O'ConnorLegeaCity CallingShelbourne Owen Heary Dean DelaneyMacronDublin City UniversityUCD Collie O'Neill Gary O'NeilO'NeillsO'NeillsWexford Damian Locke Craig McCabeBodibroPremier Tickets
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointmentGalway United Shane Keegan Sacked18 June 20186th Alan Murphy 3 July 2018
League table
Results
Matches 1–18 Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).
Matches 19–27 Teams play each other once.
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals 1 David O'SullivanShelbourne152 Georgie KellyUCD143 Dylan McGladeLongford Town134 Sean BrennanDrogheda United11 James EnglishShelbourne6 Conor BarryGalway United107 Eoin McCormackGalway United9 Gary O'NeillUCD Mikey PlaceFinn Harps Sam VerdonLongford Town
Play-Offs The second, third and fourth placed First Division teams played off to decide who would play Limerick, the ninth placed team from the Premier Division. The winner of this play off would play in the 2019 Premier Division. Semi-finals
2–2 on aggregate. Drogheda United win on penalties. Finals
Finn Harps win 3–1 on aggregate.
Relegation-promotion match
Finn Harps won 3–0 on aggregate and were promoted to 2019 Premier Division. Limerick were relegated to the 2019 First Division.
See also 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division 2018 League of Ireland Cup
References