1996–97 League of Ireland Premier Division
{{Infobox football league season
| image =
| caption =
| competition = League of Ireland Premier Division
| season = 1996–97
| winners = Derry City (2nd title)
| relegated = Bray Wanderers
Home Farm Everton
| continentalcup1 = UEFA Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Derry City
| continentalcup2 = UEFA Cup
| continentalcup2 qualifiers = Bohemians
| continentalcup3 = UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
| continentalcup3 qualifiers = Shelbourne
| continentalcup4 = UEFA Intertoto Cup
| continentalcup4 qualifiers = Cork City
| league topscorer = Stephen Geoghegan: 16 (Shelbourne)
Tony Cousins: 16
(Shamrock Rovers) {{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iertops.html |title=Ireland - List of Topscorers |access-date=6 July 2016 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406093820/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}{{cite book|last=Graham|first=Alex|title=Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005|publisher=Soccer Books Limited|isbn=1-86223-135-4}}
| biggest home win =
| biggest away win =
| highest scoring =
| matches =
| total goals =
| prevseason = 1995–96
| nextseason = 1997–98
}}
The 1996–97 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 12th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division was made up of 12 teams. Derry City F.C. won the title.
Regular season
The season saw each team playing three rounds of games, playing every other team three times, totalling 33 games. {{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables |access-date=6 July 2016 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221000146/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ierhist.html |archive-date=21 February 2008 }}
=Final Table=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=QR
|team1=DER|name_DER=Derry City
|team2=BOH|name_BOH=Bohemians
|team3=SHE|name_SHE=Shelbourne
|team4=COR|name_COR=Cork City
|team5=StP|name_StP=St Patrick's Athletic
|team6=SLI|name_SLI=Sligo Rovers
|team7=SHM|name_SHM=Shamrock Rovers
|team8=UCD|name_UCD=UCD
|team9=FHA|name_FHA=Finn Harps
|team10=DUN|name_DUN=Dundalk
|team11=BRW|name_BRW=Bray Wanderers
|team12=HOM|name_HOM=Home Farm Everton
|win_DER=19|draw_DER=10|loss_DER=4|gf_DER=58|ga_DER=27|status_DER=C
|win_BOH=16|draw_BOH=9|loss_BOH=8|gf_BOH=43|ga_BOH=32
|win_SHE=15|draw_SHE=9|loss_SHE=9|gf_SHE=52|ga_SHE=36
|win_COR=15|draw_COR=9|loss_COR=9|gf_COR=38|ga_COR=24
|win_StP=13|draw_StP=14|loss_StP=6|gf_StP=45|ga_StP=33
|win_SLI=12|draw_SLI=11|loss_SLI=10|gf_SLI=43|ga_SLI=43
|win_SHM=10|draw_SHM=13|loss_SHM=10|gf_SHM=43|ga_SHM=46
|win_UCD=12|draw_UCD=7|loss_UCD=14|gf_UCD=34|ga_UCD=39
|win_FHA=10|draw_FHA=9|loss_FHA=14|gf_FHA=41|ga_FHA=43
|win_DUN=9|draw_DUN=9|loss_DUN=15|gf_DUN=32|ga_DUN=50|status_DUN=O
|win_BRW=5|draw_BRW=8|loss_BRW=20|gf_BRW=30|ga_BRW=59|status_BRW=R
|win_HOM=3|draw_HOM=10|loss_HOM=20|gf_HOM=26|ga_HOM=53|status_HOM=R
|col_CL1Q=green1|text_CL1Q=Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
|result1=CL1Q
|col_UC1Q=blue1|text_UC1Q=Qualification to UEFA Cup first qualifying round
|result2=UC1Q
|col_CWCQR=yellow1|text_CWCQR=Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round
|result3=CWCQR
|note_res_CWCQR=Shelbourne qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round after winning the 1996–97 FAI Cup final.
|col_ICGS=#ccccff|text_ICGS=Qualification to Intertoto Cup group stage
|result4=ICGS
|col_RPO=red2|text_RPO=Qualification to Relegation play-off
|result10=RPO
|col_REL=red1|text_REL=Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
|result11=REL|result12=REL
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html www.rsssf.com]
}}
=Results=
== Matches 1–22 ==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR
|team1=BOH|team2=BRW|team3=COR|team4=DER|team5=DUN
|team6=FHA|team7=HOM|team8=SHM|team9=SHE|team10=SLI
|team11=StP|team12=UCD
|name_DER=Derry City
|match_DER_BOH=1–0
|match_DER_SHE=1–1
|match_DER_COR=0–1
|match_DER_StP=1–1
|match_DER_SLI=0–0
|match_DER_SHM=1–0
|match_DER_UCD=5–0
|match_DER_FHA=3–0
|match_DER_DUN=5–2
|match_DER_BRW=5–1
|match_DER_HOM=1–1
|name_BOH=Bohemians
|match_BOH_DER=0–2
|match_BOH_SHE=1–1
|match_BOH_COR=1–0
|match_BOH_StP=0–1
|match_BOH_SLI=0–0
|match_BOH_SHM=1–1
|match_BOH_UCD=1–0
|match_BOH_FHA=3–1
|match_BOH_DUN=0–0
|match_BOH_BRW=1–0
|match_BOH_HOM=1–1
|name_SHE=Shelbourne
|match_SHE_DER=2–2
|match_SHE_BOH=0–1
|match_SHE_COR=3–3
|match_SHE_StP=0–1
|match_SHE_SLI=3–0
|match_SHE_SHM=2–0
|match_SHE_UCD=1–0
|match_SHE_FHA=1–2
|match_SHE_DUN=0–1
|match_SHE_BRW=1–0
|match_SHE_HOM=2–0
|name_COR=Cork City
|match_COR_DER=0–1
|match_COR_BOH=0–0
|match_COR_SHE=0–1
|match_COR_StP=1–1
|match_COR_SLI=1–0
|match_COR_SHM=0–1
|match_COR_UCD=1–0
|match_COR_FHA=0–1
|match_COR_DUN=0–0
|match_COR_BRW=3–1
|match_COR_HOM=0–0
|name_StP=St Patrick's Athletic
|match_StP_DER=1–1
|match_StP_BOH=5–0
|match_StP_SHE=1–1
|match_StP_COR=0–0
|match_StP_SLI=2–2
|match_StP_SHM=0–0
|match_StP_UCD=1–1
|match_StP_FHA=2–0
|match_StP_DUN=2–2
|match_StP_BRW=2–1
|match_StP_HOM=1–2
|name_SLI=Sligo Rovers
|match_SLI_DER=0–1
|match_SLI_BOH=2–1
|match_SLI_SHE=0–3
|match_SLI_COR=1–4
|match_SLI_StP=2–0
|match_SLI_SHM=1–1
|match_SLI_UCD=2–0
|match_SLI_FHA=0–2
|match_SLI_DUN=2–1
|match_SLI_BRW=0–1
|match_SLI_HOM=0–0
|name_SHM=Shamrock Rovers
|match_SHM_DER=1–1
|match_SHM_BOH=3–2
|match_SHM_SHE=6–4
|match_SHM_COR=0–1
|match_SHM_StP=0–1
|match_SHM_SLI=2–1
|match_SHM_UCD=0–0
|match_SHM_FHA=2–2
|match_SHM_DUN=0–2
|match_SHM_BRW=2–0
|match_SHM_HOM=2–1
|name_UCD=UCD
|match_UCD_DER=0–1
|match_UCD_BOH=0–2
|match_UCD_SHE=1–3
|match_UCD_COR=2–1
|match_UCD_StP=0–1
|match_UCD_SLI=1–1
|match_UCD_SHM=1–0
|match_UCD_FHA=0–0
|match_UCD_DUN=1–0
|match_UCD_BRW=2–1
|match_UCD_HOM=0–0
|name_FHA=Finn Harps
|match_FHA_DER=0–1
|match_FHA_BOH=1–2
|match_FHA_SHE=3–2
|match_FHA_COR=0–1
|match_FHA_StP=0–1
|match_FHA_SLI=1–1
|match_FHA_SHM=0–0
|match_FHA_UCD=5–1
|match_FHA_DUN=0–0
|match_FHA_BRW=0–0
|match_FHA_HOM=3–0
|name_DUN=Dundalk
|match_DUN_DER=0–1
|match_DUN_BOH=0–2
|match_DUN_SHE=0–1
|match_DUN_COR=0–1
|match_DUN_StP=1–0
|match_DUN_SLI=1–1
|match_DUN_SHM=1–3
|match_DUN_UCD=2–2
|match_DUN_FHA=1–1
|match_DUN_BRW=2–1
|match_DUN_HOM=2–1
|name_BRW=Bray Wanderers
|match_BRW_DER=2–3
|match_BRW_BOH=0–1
|match_BRW_SHE=0–4
|match_BRW_COR=0–0
|match_BRW_StP=0–1
|match_BRW_SLI=2–2
|match_BRW_SHM=3–4
|match_BRW_UCD=0–2
|match_BRW_FHA=0–0
|match_BRW_DUN=0–1
|match_BRW_HOM=1–0
|name_HOM=Home Farm Everton
|match_HOM_DER=0–2
|match_HOM_BOH=0–3
|match_HOM_SHE=0–3
|match_HOM_COR=0–2
|match_HOM_StP=0–2
|match_HOM_SLI=0–0
|match_HOM_SHM=0–0
|match_HOM_UCD=0–1
|match_HOM_FHA=2–3
|match_HOM_DUN=0–0
|match_HOM_BRW=0–1
|update=complete|source=
}}
== Matches 23–33 ==
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR
|team1=BOH|team2=BRW|team3=COR|team4=DER|team5=DUN
|team6=FHA|team7=HOM|team8=SHM|team9=SHE|team10=SLI
|team11=StP|team12=UCD
|name_DER=Derry City
|match_DER_BOH=null
|match_DER_SHE=null
|match_DER_COR=0–2
|match_DER_StP=2–0
|match_DER_SLI=0–2
|match_DER_SHM=1–1
|match_DER_UCD=null
|match_DER_FHA=null
|match_DER_DUN=null
|match_DER_BRW=5–2
|match_DER_HOM=3–1
|name_BOH=Bohemians
|match_BOH_DER=1–1
|match_BOH_SHE=null
|match_BOH_COR=1–0
|match_BOH_StP=2–1
|match_BOH_SLI=0–2
|match_BOH_SHM=1–3
|match_BOH_UCD=null
|match_BOH_FHA=null
|match_BOH_DUN=3–0
|match_BOH_BRW=null
|match_BOH_HOM=null
|name_SHE=Shelbourne
|match_SHE_DER=2–2
|match_SHE_BOH=0–1
|match_SHE_COR=null
|match_SHE_StP=1–1
|match_SHE_SLI=null
|match_SHE_SHM=2–0
|match_SHE_UCD=1–0
|match_SHE_FHA=2–0
|match_SHE_DUN=2–1
|match_SHE_BRW=null
|match_SHE_HOM=null
|name_COR=Cork City
|match_COR_DER=null
|match_COR_BOH=null
|match_COR_SHE=3–1
|match_COR_StP=null
|match_COR_SLI=1–2
|match_COR_SHM=1–1
|match_COR_UCD=null
|match_COR_FHA=1–0
|match_COR_DUN=null
|match_COR_BRW=3–1
|match_COR_HOM=2–1
|name_StP=St Patrick's Athletic
|match_StP_DER=null
|match_StP_BOH=null
|match_StP_SHE=null
|match_StP_COR=1–1
|match_StP_SLI=4–2
|match_StP_SHM=2–2
|match_StP_UCD=null
|match_StP_FHA=2–1
|match_StP_DUN=null
|match_StP_BRW=2–2
|match_StP_HOM=null
|name_SLI=Sligo Rovers
|match_SLI_DER=null
|match_SLI_BOH=null
|match_SLI_SHE=1–1
|match_SLI_COR=null
|match_SLI_StP=null
|match_SLI_SHM=3–0
|match_SLI_UCD=2–1
|match_SLI_FHA=null
|match_SLI_DUN=null
|match_SLI_BRW=3–2
|match_SLI_HOM=3–2
|name_SHM=Shamrock Rovers
|match_SHM_DER=null
|match_SHM_BOH=null
|match_SHM_SHE=null
|match_SHM_COR=null
|match_SHM_StP=null
|match_SHM_SLI=null
|match_SHM_UCD=1–1
|match_SHM_FHA=null
|match_SHM_DUN=null
|match_SHM_BRW=2–2
|match_SHM_HOM=2–3
|name_UCD=UCD
|match_UCD_DER=1–0
|match_UCD_BOH=1–2
|match_UCD_SHE=null
|match_UCD_COR=3–0
|match_UCD_StP=2–0
|match_UCD_SLI=null
|match_UCD_SHM=null
|match_UCD_FHA=4–0
|match_UCD_DUN=3–1
|match_UCD_BRW=null
|match_UCD_HOM=null
|name_FHA=Finn Harps
|match_FHA_DER=0–1
|match_FHA_BOH=3–3
|match_FHA_SHE=null
|match_FHA_COR=null
|match_FHA_StP=null
|match_FHA_SLI=3–4
|match_FHA_SHM=1–2
|match_FHA_UCD=null
|match_FHA_DUN=5–0
|match_FHA_BRW=null
|match_FHA_HOM=3–2
|name_DUN=Dundalk
|match_DUN_DER=2–4
|match_DUN_BOH=null
|match_DUN_SHE=null
|match_DUN_COR=0–4
|match_DUN_StP=2–2
|match_DUN_SLI=2–1
|match_DUN_SHM=4–1
|match_DUN_UCD=null
|match_DUN_FHA=null
|match_DUN_BRW=null
|match_DUN_HOM=null
|name_BRW=Bray Wanderers
|match_BRW_DER=null
|match_BRW_BOH=1–5
|match_BRW_SHE=1–1
|match_BRW_COR=null
|match_BRW_StP=null
|match_BRW_SLI=null
|match_BRW_SHM=null
|match_BRW_UCD=2–0
|match_BRW_FHA=0–1
|match_BRW_DUN=1–0
|match_BRW_HOM=null
|name_HOM=Home Farm Everton
|match_HOM_DER=null
|match_HOM_BOH=2–2
|match_HOM_SHE=3–0
|match_HOM_COR=null
|match_HOM_StP=1–3
|match_HOM_SLI=null
|match_HOM_SHM=null
|match_HOM_UCD=2–3
|match_HOM_FHA=null
|match_HOM_DUN=0–1
|match_HOM_BRW=1–1
|update=complete|source=
}}
Promotion/relegation play-off
Dundalk F.C. who finished in tenth place played off against Waterford United, the third placed team from the 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division.
=1st leg=
{{footballbox collapsible
|date =
|time =
|team1 = Dundalk F.C.
|score = 3–0
|report =
|team2 = Waterford United
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=2nd leg=
{{footballbox collapsible
|date =
|time =
|team1 = Waterford United
|score = 1–0
|report =
|team2 = Dundalk F.C.
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee = }}
Dundalk F.C. won 3–1 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division. {{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |access-date=10 July 2016 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{League of Ireland seasons}}
{{1996–97 in European football (UEFA)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 League of Ireland}}
Category:1996–97 in Republic of Ireland association football