The 2022 League of Ireland First Division season was the 38th season of the League of Ireland First Division, the second tier of the Republic of Ireland's association football league. The title was won by Cork City.
Overview The First Division has 9 teams. Each side plays each other four times for a total of 32 matches in the season. The team that finishes in first place achieve automatic promotion to the Premier Division. Teams finishing second to fifth place will enter the play-offs to determine the side to contest for a place in the 2023 Premier Division against the ninth placed (second last) Premier Division team.
Declan Carey finished the season with the Golden Boot, scoring 20 goals for City, including a brace on the final day of the season vs Bray.
Teams
Team changes Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely merged in the pre-season to create a revamped Bray Wanderers. Shelbourne were promoted as 2021 champions and UCD as playoff winners, to the Premier Division. Waterford and Longford Town joined following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2021 season.
Additional teams No other teams applied for a First Division Licence.
Stadia and locations Team Location Stadium Capacity Athlone Town Athlone Athlone Town Stadium 5,000 Bray Wanderers Bray Carlisle Grounds 4,000 Cobh Ramblers Cobh St. Colman's Park 3,000 Cork City Cork Turners Cross 7,845 Galway United Galway Eamonn Deacy Park 5,000 Longford Town Longford Bishopsgate 5,097 Treaty United Limerick Markets Field 5,000 Waterford Waterford RSC 5,160 Wexford Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park 2,500
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointmentAthlone Town Martin RussellResigned10 April 20229th Dermot Lennon10 April 2022Waterford FC Ian MorrisMutual Consent20 April 20225th Gary Hunt20 April 2022Waterford FC Gary HuntPermanent Replacement14 June 20224th Danny Searle14 June 2022Cobh Ramblers Darren MurphyMutual Consent19 June 20228th Shane Keegan19 June 2022
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 Dermot Lennon Micheal Schlingermann Umbro Hayden & Co. SolicitorsBray Wanderers Pat Devlin Hugh Douglas Nike MyClubCobh Ramblers Shane Keegan John Kavanagh Joma McCarthy Insurance GroupCork City Colin Healy Cian Coleman Adidas University College CorkGalway United John Caulfield Conor McCormack O'Neill's Comer Property ManagementLongford Town Gary Cronin Sam Verdon Macron BishopsgateTreaty United Tommy Barrett Jack Lynch Umbro Derrin HomesWaterford Danny Searle Eddie Nolan Umbro DG FOODS LTDWexford Ian Ryan Joe Manley Umbro Wallace
League table
Play-offs Bracket
First Division play-off Semi-finals First leg
Second leg
First Division play-off Final
Promotion/relegation play-off
See also 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division 2022 FAI Cup
References