Season | 2018 |
---|---|
Dates | 16 February – 26 October 2018 |
Champions | Dundalk (13th title) |
Relegated | Limerick Bray Wanderers |
Champions League | Dundalk |
Europa League | Cork City Shamrock Rovers Waterford |
Matches played | 180 |
Goals scored | 501 (2.78 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Patrick Hoban (29 Goals) |
Biggest home win | Dundalk 8-0 Limerick |
Biggest away win | Bray Wanderers 0-5 Bohemians |
Highest scoring | Waterford 3-6 Limerick |
Highest attendance | 6,672[1] Cork City 1–0 Dundalk F.C. |
Total attendance | 384,520 |
Average attendance | 2,136[2] |
← 2017 2019 →
All statistics correct as of 2 November 2018. |
The 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 34th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The league began on 16 February 2018 and concluded on 26 October 2018.[3]
On 5 October, Dundalk won the title after a 1–1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic.[4][5]
Overview
[edit]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.[6]
Teams
[edit]Stadia and locations
[edit]Personnel and kits
[edit]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 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hummel | Mr Green Sport |
Bray Wanderers | ![]() |
![]() |
Nike | O Driscoll O Neil Insurance |
Cork City | ![]() |
![]() |
Adidas | University College Cork |
Derry City | ![]() |
![]() |
Adidas | Diamond Corrugated |
Dundalk | ![]() |
![]() |
CX+ Sport | Fyffes |
Limerick | ![]() |
![]() |
Umbro | Betsat.com |
St Patrick's Athletic | ![]() |
![]() |
Umbro | MIG Insurance Brokers |
Shamrock Rovers | ![]() |
![]() |
New Balance | Pepper Money |
Sligo Rovers | ![]() |
![]() |
Joma | Volkswagen |
Waterford | ![]() |
![]() |
Umbro | 21 Bet |
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limerick | ![]() |
Signed by Scunthorpe United | 4 January 2018[7] | Pre-season | ![]() |
14 January 2018[8] |
Bray Wanderers | ![]() |
Resigned | 8 April 2018[9] | 10th | ![]() |
10 April 2018[10] |
Bray Wanderers | ![]() |
End of caretaker spell | 8 July 2018 | 10th | ![]() |
8 July 2018[11] |
Derry City | ![]() |
Sacked | 27 October 2018 [12] | 8th | ![]() |
16 November 2018 |
League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundalk (C) | 36 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 85 | 20 | +65 | 87 | Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round |
2 | Cork City | 36 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 71 | 27 | +44 | 77 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round[a] |
3 | Shamrock Rovers | 36 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 62 | |
4 | Waterford | 36 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 52 | 44 | +8 | 59 | |
5 | St Patrick's Athletic | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 51 | 47 | +4 | 50 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round[a] |
6 | Bohemians | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 52 | 45 | +7 | 48 | |
7 | Sligo Rovers | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 38 | 50 | −12 | 42 | |
8 | Derry City | 36 | 13 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 70 | −23 | 42 | |
9 | Limerick (R) | 36 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 75 | −50 | 27 | Qualification to Relegation play-offs |
10 | Bray Wanderers (R) | 36 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 23 | 96 | −73 | 18 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[13]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ a b Since the winners of the 2018 FAI Cup, Dundalk, qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the Cup winner (Europa League first qualifying round) would normally pass to the next best-placed team (the fourth-placed team). However, as Waterford were adjudged by UEFA to have not passed the "three-year rule" as they were reformed in 2016, the spot was passed to the fifth-placed team.
Results
[edit]Matches 1–18
[edit]Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).
Matches 19–36
[edit]Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).
Promotion/relegation playoff
[edit]Limerick, the ninth-placed team from the Premier Division took part in a two-legged play-off against Finn Harps, the winners of the 2018 First Division play-off, to decide who will play in the 2019 Premier Division.
29 October 2018 | Finn Harps | 1–0 | Limerick | Finn Park |
19:45 GMT | McCourt ![]() |
Report | Attendance: 2,379 Referee: Robert Harvey |
2 November 2018 | Limerick | 0–2 | Finn Harps | Markets Field |
19:45 GMT | Report | Timlin ![]() Boyle ![]() |
Referee: Graham Kelly |
Finn Harps won 3–0 on aggregate and were promoted to 2019 Premier Division. Limerick were relegated to the 2019 First Division.
Season statistics
[edit]- As of 2 November 2018
Scoring
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Dundalk | 29 |
2 | ![]() |
Cork City | 16 |
3 | ![]() |
Cork City | 15 |
4 | ![]() |
Shamrock Rovers | 13 |
![]() |
Dundalk | 13 | |
6 | ![]() |
Shamrock Rovers | 11 |
![]() |
Bohemians | 11 | |
8 | ![]() |
Waterford | 10 |
![]() |
Derry City | 10 | |
10 | ![]() |
Dundalk | 9 |
Last updated: 2 November 2018.
Source: SSEAirtricity League
Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Bohemians | Bray Wanderers | 5–0 (A) | 19 October 2018 | [14] |
![]() |
Cork City | Sligo Rovers | 4–1 (A) | 24 February 2018 | [14] |
![]() |
Shamrock Rovers | Derry City | 6-1 (H) | 9 March 2018 | [15] |
![]() |
Derry City | Limerick | 5–0 (H) | 12 March 2018 | [16] |
![]() |
Dundalk | Limerick | 4–0 (H) | 8 June 2018 | [17] |
Discipline
[edit]Club
[edit]- Most yellow cards: 94[18]
- Sligo Rovers
- Most red cards: 7[18]
- Waterford
Awards
[edit]Player of the Month
[edit]Month | Player | Club | References |
---|---|---|---|
February | ![]() |
Cork City | [19] |
March | ![]() |
Shamrock Rovers | [20] |
April | ![]() |
Dundalk | [21] |
May | ![]() |
Dundalk | [22] |
June | ![]() |
Dundalk | [23] |
July | ![]() |
Shamrock Rovers | [24] |
August | ![]() |
Dundalk | [25] |
September | ![]() |
Dundalk | [26] |
October/November | ![]() |
Dundalk | [27] |
Player of the Year
[edit]Player | Club | Reference |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Dundalk | [28] |
Goalkeeper of the Year
[edit]Player | Club | Reference |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Bohemians | [29] |
See also
[edit]- 2018 League of Ireland First Division
- 2018 FAI Cup
- 2018 League of Ireland Cup
- 2018 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season
References
[edit]- ^ "extratime.ie League of Ireland Attendance Report 2018". extra time. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "extratime.ie League of Ireland Attendance Report 2018". extratime. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ "Best player? Relegation candidates? Our writers' predictions for the 2018 League of Ireland season". The 42. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Champions! Hoban delivers dramatic 90th minute equaliser as Dundalk secure fourth title in five seasons". The 42. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ Mackey, Liam (23 December 2016). "It's three down, one up for LOI season". The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ "Limerick lose manager McDonald to Scunthorpe". RTÉ Sport. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Former player Tommy Barrett takes over Limerick job". RTÉ Sport. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Dave Mackey resigns as Bray boss". RTÉ Sport. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Graham Kelly named as Bray 'caretaker manager'". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Derry axe Shiels
- ^ "Premier Division 2017 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ^ a b Goulden, David. "Cummins hat-trick maintains flawless Cork start". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers vs. Derry City 6 - 1". soccerway.com. 9 March 2018.
- ^ Ferry, Gary. "Derry mark Brandywell return with five goals". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ McLaughlin, Gavin. "Hoban bags hat-trick as Dundalk return to top". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Premier Division statistics". SSE Airtricity League. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "GRAHAM CUMMINS NAMED SSE AIRTRICITY PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY". SSE Airtricity. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ "GRAHAM BURKE NAMED SSE AIRTRICITY PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH". SSE Airtricity. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ "In-form Duffy wins monthly award for first time". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ O'Hehir, Paul. "Dundalk defender Sean Hoare scoops Player of the Month award for May". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "PATRICK HOBAN WINS JUNE PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD". SSE Airtricity League. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ "ROVERS KEEPER BAZUNU WINS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD". SSE Airtricity League. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Dundalk's Duffy on the double". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. 13 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Third time's a charm for Shields". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Third time's a charm for Shields". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Goalkeeper of the Year". The42.ie. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Goalkeeper of the Year". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2019.