The 2025 League of Ireland First Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division for sponsorship reasons, was the 41st season of the League of Ireland First Division. The competition began on 14 February 2025, and concluded on 17 October 2025.
On 10 October, Dundalk won the title after a 3–0 win against Finn Harps.
Teams
Team changes The team relegated to the First Division was Dundalk, the bottom-placed team of the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division. They replaced the one team promoted from the 2024 League of Ireland First Division, champions Cork City.
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 Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4,500 Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park 6,000 Kerry Tralee Mounthawk Park 1,200 Longford Town Longford Bishopsgate 5,097 Treaty United Limerick Markets Field 5,000 UCD Dublin UCD Bowl 3,000 Wexford Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park 2,500 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 sponsorAthlone Town Ian Ryan Oisín Duffy Nike Valeo FutbolBray Wanderers Paul Heffernan Kilian Cantwell Capelli Sport OutdoorLiving.ieCobh Ramblers Richie Holland (interim) Shane Griffin Uhlsport McCarthy Insurance GroupDundalk Ciarán Kilduff Daryl Horgan Playr-Fit ZOMAFinn Harps Kevin McHugh Tony McNamee Joma So-Lo StoresKerry Colin Healy Sean McGrath Macron Kerry AirportLongford Town Wayne Groves Dean O'Shea Macron BishopsgateTreaty United Tommy Barrett Mark Walsh O'Neills Trade Electric GroupUCD William O’Connor Ronan Finn O'Neills Maples GroupWexford Stephen Elliott Aaron Dobbs Macron Campion Insurance
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentDundalk Jon DalyResigned2 November 2024Pre-season Ciarán Kilduff6 November 2024Wexford James Keddy6 November 2024 Stephen Elliott26 November 2024Cobh Ramblers Gary HuntSacked15 November 2024 Mick McDermott4 December 2024Finn Harps Darren MurphySigned by Loughgall25 March 20258th Kevin McHugh2 April 2025Athlone Town Dario CasteloMutual consent12 April 202510th Ian Ryan8 June 2025Kerry Conor McCarthy5 May 20259th Colin Healy5 May 2025Cobh Ramblers Mick McDermottSacked17 October 20252nd Richie Holland (interim)17 October 2025
League table
Results Teams play each other four times (twice at home and twice away).
Positions by round
Promotion/relegation play-offs The ninth-placed team from the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division will qualify for a play-off alongside the second, third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams from the 2025 League of Ireland First Division (Cobh Ramblers, Bray Wanderers, UCD, and Treaty United).
The First Division teams will contest the First Division semi-finals and final. The semi-finals were held over two legs, with the second-placed team facing the fifth-placed team and the third-placed team facing the fourth-placed team. The semi-final winners then contest the First Division final, with the winners ultimately facing the ninth-placed League of Ireland Premier Division team for the final place in the 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division.
The promotion/relegation play-offs will take place from 24 October to 7 November 2025.
Bracket
Semi-finals
Treaty United won 2–1 on aggregate
Bray Wanderers won 4–2 on aggregate
Final
Promotion/relegation play-off
Season statistics Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Barry CoffeyCobh Ramblers262 Mikie RoweWexford213 Lee DevittTreaty United144 Gbemi ArubiDundalk12 Aaron DoranLongford Town Billy O'NeillBray Wanderers7 Daryl HorganDundalk118 Adam BrennanUCD10 Dean EbbeDundalk Eoin KennyDundalk Cian MurphyCobh Ramblers Max MurphyBray Wanderers Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Ref. Lee DevittTreaty UnitedAthlone Town5–0 (A)21 February 2025 Sean McGrathKerryWexford3–4 (A)27 June 2025 Shane GriffinCobh RamblersLongford Town3–1 (H)1 August 2025 Daryl HorganDundalkTreaty United7–0 (A)22 August 2025 Mikie RoweWexfordCobh Ramblers3–2 (H)19 September 2025 Dean LarkinFinn Harps3–1 (H)22 September 2025 Barry CoffeyCobh Ramblers4–1 (H)26 September 2025 Billy O'NeillBray WanderersKerry5–1 (H)17 October 2025
Attendances
# Club Average 1 Dundalk 1,859 2 Bray 1,061 3 Treaty United 1,022 4 Finn Harps 853 5 Cobh Ramblers 793 6 Kerry 669 7 Wexford 629 8 Longford Town 552 9 Athlone Town 543 10 UCD 329
Source:https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/aveirl.htm
See also 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division 2025 League of Ireland Women's Premier Division 2025 FAI Cup
References