2018 League of Ireland First Division#Promotion/relegation playoffs

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/its-three-down-one-up-for-loi-season-436479.html |date=23 December 2016 |accessdate=6 January 2017 |title=It's three down, one up for LOI season |work=The Irish Examiner |first=Liam |last=Mackey}}

{{Location map+ |Ireland |alt=Map of the Republic of Ireland with the eight League of Ireland First Division teams |caption=Locations of the First Division teams |float=right |width=280 |places=

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Athlone Town |background= |position=left|lat_deg=53.43 |lon_deg=-7.95}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Cobh Ramblers |position=left|background= |lat_deg=51.851 |lon_deg=-8.29}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Drogheda United |position=right|background= |lat_deg=53.714 |lon_deg=-6.35}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Finn Harps |position=right|background= |lat_deg=54.8 |lon_deg=-7.783}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Galway United |position=left|background= |lat_deg=53.272 |lon_deg=-9.049}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Longford Town |background= |position=right |lat_deg=53.727 |lon_deg=-7.799}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Wexford |background= |position=right |lat_deg=52.365564 |lon_deg=-6.515549}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland

|marksize=12|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=53|lat_min=20|lat_sec=52|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=15|lon_sec=35|position=left|background=|label=Dublin }}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1

|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=55|lat_min=24|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=10|lon_min=57|position=right|background=|label=Dublin teams
Cabinteely
Shelbourne
UCD}}

}}

{{Location map+ |Dublin|alt=Map of Dublin with the three League of Ireland First Division Dublin teams |caption=Locations of Dublin First Division teams |float=right |width=280 |places=

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53|lat_min=22|lat_sec=3|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=15|lon_sec=7|position=top|background=|label=Shelbourne}}

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53|lat_min=18|lat_sec=37|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=13|lon_sec=41|position=left|background=|label=UCD}}

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53.289051|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6.161216|position=right|background=|label=Cabinteely }}

}}

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-01UNBSJKMC000000VUM100GLVSCQPIVT-G#table SSE Airtricity League], [https://int.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/first-division/2018/regular-season/r44153 Soccerway]

|update=complete

|team1= UCD |team2= FHA |team3= SHE |team4= DRO |team5= LON |team6= GAL |team7= CAB |team8= COB |team9= WEX |team10= ATH

|result1=PRO |result2=PO |result3=PO |result4=PO

|win_ATH=1 |draw_ATH=4 |loss_ATH=22|gf_ATH=16|ga_ATH=81

|win_CAB=9 |draw_CAB=3 |loss_CAB=15|gf_CAB=32|ga_CAB=45

|win_COB=8 |draw_COB=5 |loss_COB=14|gf_COB=24|ga_COB=41

|win_DRO=14|draw_DRO=7 |loss_DRO=6 |gf_DRO=50|ga_DRO=27

|win_FHA=16|draw_FHA=6 |loss_FHA=5 |gf_FHA=46|ga_FHA=22

|win_GAL=10|draw_GAL=7 |loss_GAL=10|gf_GAL=41|ga_GAL=36

|win_LON=13|draw_LON=6 |loss_LON=8 |gf_LON=54|ga_LON=36

|win_SHE=13|draw_SHE=11|loss_SHE=3 |gf_SHE=52|ga_SHE=21

|win_UCD=17|draw_UCD=6 |loss_UCD=4 |gf_UCD=59|ga_UCD=29

|win_WEX=4 |draw_WEX=5 |loss_WEX=18|gf_WEX=23|ga_WEX=59

|status_UCD=CP

|status_FHA=Q

|status_SHE=Q

|status_DRO=Q

| name_ATH = Athlone Town

| name_CAB = Cabinteely

| name_COB = Cobh Ramblers

| name_DRO = Drogheda United

| name_FHA = Finn Harps

| name_GAL = Galway United

| name_LON = Longford Town

| name_SHE = Shelbourne

| name_UCD = UCD

| name_WEX = Wexford

|show_limit=5

|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.{{cite web|url=http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=competition&id=77&view=rules|title=First Division 2017 - Season rules|publisher=Scoresway|accessdate=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424203405/http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=competition&id=77&view=rules|archive-date=24 April 2017|url-status=dead}}

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PRO=green1 |text_PRO=Promotion to League of Ireland Premier Division

|col_PO=green2 |text_PO=Qualification for Promotion play-offs

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-01UNBSJKMC000000VUM100GLVSCQPIVT-G#matches SSE Airtricity League]

| update = 29 June 2018

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= ATH | team2= CAB | team3= COB | team4= DRO | team5= FHA | team6= GAL | team7= LON | team8= SHE | team9= UCD | team10= WEX

| name_ATH = Athlone Town

| name_CAB = Cabinteely

| name_COB = Cobh Ramblers

| name_DRO = Drogheda United

| name_FHA = Finn Harps

| name_GAL = Galway United

| name_LON = Longford Town

| name_SHE = Shelbourne

| name_UCD = UCD

| name_WAT = Waterford

| name_WEX = Wexford

| match_ATH_CAB = 1-2

| match_ATH_COB = 1-4

| match_ATH_DRO = 0-1

| match_ATH_FHA = 1-1

| match_ATH_GAL = 0-3

| match_ATH_LON = 1-1

| match_ATH_SHE = 0-5

| match_ATH_UCD = 1-3

| match_ATH_WEX = 3-0

| match_CAB_ATH = 4-0

| match_CAB_COB = 0-1

| match_CAB_DRO = 3-2

| match_CAB_FHA = 0-1

| match_CAB_GAL = 1-2

| match_CAB_LON = 1-0

| match_CAB_SHE = 2-0

| match_CAB_UCD = 2-0

| match_CAB_WEX = 0-1

| match_COB_ATH = 1-0

| match_COB_CAB = 1-0

| match_COB_DRO = 1-5

| match_COB_FHA = 0-2

| match_COB_GAL = 0-0

| match_COB_LON = 0-1

| match_COB_SHE = 0-3

| match_COB_UCD = 0-2

| match_COB_WEX = 2-1

| match_DRO_ATH = 6-0

| match_DRO_CAB = 2-0

| match_DRO_COB = 2-1

| match_DRO_FHA = 2-1

| match_DRO_GAL = 2-2

| match_DRO_LON = 1-1

| match_DRO_SHE = 1-1

| match_DRO_UCD = 2-0

| match_DRO_WEX = 2-0

| match_FHA_ATH = 4-0

| match_FHA_CAB = 1-0

| match_FHA_COB = 0-1

| match_FHA_DRO = 2-1

| match_FHA_GAL = 1-0

| match_FHA_LON = 2-4

| match_FHA_SHE = 1-1

| match_FHA_UCD = 1-3

| match_FHA_WEX = 1-0

| match_GAL_ATH = 4-1

| match_GAL_CAB = 3-1

| match_GAL_COB = 3-0

| match_GAL_DRO = 0-1

| match_GAL_FHA = 1-2

| match_GAL_LON = 0-0

| match_GAL_SHE = 1-2

| match_GAL_UCD = 2-0

| match_GAL_WEX = 4-1

| match_LON_ATH = 5-1

| match_LON_CAB = 3-0

| match_LON_COB = 2-2

| match_LON_DRO = 1-0

| match_LON_FHA = 1-2

| match_LON_GAL = 3-2

| match_LON_SHE = 1-1

| match_LON_UCD = 0-2

| match_LON_WEX = 3-0

| match_SHE_ATH = 7-0

| match_SHE_CAB = 0-0

| match_SHE_COB = 1-0

| match_SHE_DRO = 1-1

| match_SHE_FHA = 0-0

| match_SHE_GAL = 2-0

| match_SHE_LON = 3-2

| match_SHE_UCD = 1-1

| match_SHE_WEX = 4-1

| match_UCD_ATH = 3-0

| match_UCD_CAB = 3-1

| match_UCD_COB = 3-1

| match_UCD_DRO = 2-0

| match_UCD_FHA = 3-2

| match_UCD_GAL = 1-1

| match_UCD_LON = 1-5

| match_UCD_SHE = 2-1

| match_UCD_WEX = 3-2

| match_WEX_ATH = 7-0

| match_WEX_CAB = 0-1

| match_WEX_COB = 1-1

| match_WEX_DRO = 1-8

| match_WEX_FHA = 1-1

| match_WEX_GAL = 0-0

| match_WEX_LON = 0-2

| match_WEX_SHE = 0-1

| match_WEX_UCD = 0-8

}}

{{col-2}}

Teams play each other once.

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-01UNBSJKMC000000VUM100GLVSCQPIVT-G#matches SSE Airtricity League]

| update = 22 September 2018

| a_note =

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= ATH | team2= CAB | team3= COB | team4= DRO | team5= FHA | team6= GAL | team7= LON | team8= SHE | team9= UCD | team10= WEX

| name_ATH = Athlone Town

| name_CAB = Cabinteely

| name_COB = Cobh Ramblers

| name_DRO = Drogheda United

| name_FHA = Finn Harps

| name_GAL = Galway United

| name_LON = Longford Town

| name_SHE = Shelbourne

| name_UCD = UCD

| name_WAT = Waterford

| name_WEX = Wexford

| match_ATH_CAB = 1-3

| match_ATH_COB = 0-0

| match_ATH_DRO = —

| match_ATH_FHA = 1-3

| match_ATH_GAL = —

| match_ATH_LON = —

| match_ATH_SHE = —

| match_ATH_UCD = 0-1

| match_ATH_WEX = —

| match_CAB_ATH = —

| match_CAB_COB = 2-0

| match_CAB_DRO = 2-2

| match_CAB_FHA = —

| match_CAB_GAL = —

| match_CAB_LON = —

| match_CAB_SHE = 1-1

| match_CAB_UCD = —

| match_CAB_WEX = 1-2

| match_COB_ATH = —

| match_COB_CAB = —

| match_COB_DRO = 0-2

| match_COB_FHA = 0-1

| match_COB_GAL = 1-2

| match_COB_LON = —

| match_COB_SHE = —

| match_COB_UCD = 2-2

| match_COB_WEX = —

| match_DRO_ATH = 2-1

| match_DRO_CAB = —

| match_DRO_COB = —

| match_DRO_FHA = 0-1

| match_DRO_GAL = 2-2

| match_DRO_LON = 2-1

| match_DRO_SHE = —

| match_DRO_UCD = 0-3

| match_DRO_WEX = —

| match_FHA_ATH = —

| match_FHA_CAB = 7-1

| match_FHA_COB = —

| match_FHA_DRO = —

| match_FHA_GAL = 2-0

| match_FHA_LON = 3-0

| match_FHA_SHE = 0-0

| match_FHA_UCD = —

| match_FHA_WEX = 3-0

| match_GAL_ATH = 4-1

| match_GAL_CAB = 3-2

| match_GAL_COB = —

| match_GAL_DRO = —

| match_GAL_FHA = —

| match_GAL_LON = 1-4

| match_GAL_SHE = —

| match_GAL_UCD = —

| match_GAL_WEX = 1-1

| match_LON_ATH = 3-0

| match_LON_CAB = 4-1

| match_LON_COB = 1-2

| match_LON_DRO = —

| match_LON_FHA = —

| match_LON_GAL = —

| match_LON_SHE = —

| match_LON_UCD = 2-2

| match_LON_WEX = 3-0

| match_SHE_ATH = 2-2

| match_SHE_CAB = —

| match_SHE_COB = 3-1

| match_SHE_DRO = 0-1

| match_SHE_FHA = —

| match_SHE_GAL = 3-0

| match_SHE_LON = 6-1

| match_SHE_UCD = —

| match_SHE_WEX = —

| match_UCD_ATH = —

| match_UCD_CAB = 4-1

| match_UCD_COB = —

| match_UCD_DRO = —

| match_UCD_FHA = 1-1

| match_UCD_GAL = 2-0

| match_UCD_LON = —

| match_UCD_SHE = 1-1

| match_UCD_WEX = —

| match_WEX_ATH = 2-0

| match_WEX_CAB = —

| match_WEX_COB = 0-2

| match_WEX_DRO = 0-0

| match_WEX_FHA = —

| match_WEX_GAL = —

| match_WEX_LON = —

| match_WEX_SHE = 1-2

| match_WEX_UCD = 0-3

}}

{{col-end}}

{{updated|22 September 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2018.html|title=Ireland 2018|accessdate=7 October 2018|website=RSSSF|date= }}

;Semi-finals

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 5 October 2018

|time = 19:45

|team1 = Drogheda United

|score = 0–1

|report = [http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21757/league-play-off-report-drogheda-united-0---1-shelbourne/ Report]

|team2 = Shelbourne

|goals1 =

|goals2 = English {{goal|25}}

|stadium = United Park

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 8 October 2018

|time = 19:45

|team1 = Shelbourne

|score = 1–2

|report = [http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21765/league-play-off-report-shelbourne-1---2-drogheda-united-aet-drogheda-win-4-2-on-penalties/ Report]

|team2 = Drogheda United

|goals1 = Evans {{goal|77}}

|goals2 = Brennan {{goal|33}}
Lyons {{goal|62}}

|stadium = Tolka Park

|attendance =

|referee =

|penalties1= O'Sullivan {{pengoal}}
Evans {{penmiss}}
Fitzgerald {{penmiss}}
Farrell {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore=2-4

|penalties2= {{pengoal}} Lyons
{{pengoal}} Brennan
{{pengoal}} Gallagher
{{penmiss}} McCaffrey
{{pengoal}}Doyle

}}

2–2 on aggregate. Drogheda United win on penalties.

;Finals

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 12 October 2018

|time = 19:45

|team1 = Drogheda United

|score = 1–1

|report = [http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21796/play-off-report-drogheda-united-1---1-finn-harps/ Report]

|team2 = Finn Harps

|goals1 = Kelly {{goal|13}}

|goals2 = Boyle {{goal|67}}

|stadium = United Park

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 19 October 2018

|time = 19:45

|team1 = Finn Harps

|score = 2–0

|report = [https://www.the42.ie/finn-harps-v-drogheda-united-19-october-2018-4296217-Oct2018/ Report]

|team2 = Drogheda United

|goals1 = Kavanagh {{goal|18}}
Boyle {{goal|67}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Finn Park

|attendance =

|referee =

}}

Finn Harps win 3–1 on aggregate.

;Relegation-promotion match

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 29 October 2018

|time = 19:45 GMT

|team1 = Finn Harps

|score = 1–0

|report = [https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/344727/limerick-fc-suffer-slenderdefeat-to-finn-harps-inrelegation-play-off-first-leg.html Report]

|team2 = Limerick

|goals1 = McCourt {{goal|35|pen.}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Finn Park

|attendance = 2,379

|referee = Robert Harvey

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|date = 2 November 2018

|time = 19:45 GMT

|team1 = Limerick

|score = 0–2

|report = [https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/home/345671/finn-harps-are-back-in-premier-division-after-magnificent-2-0-win-in-play-off-in-limerick.html Report]

|team2 = Finn Harps

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Timlin {{goal|45+1}}
Boyle {{goal|80}}

|stadium = Markets Field

|attendance =

|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.

• 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division
• 2018 League of Ireland Cup

{{Reflist|2}}

{{League of Ireland First Division}}

{{2018 in Republic of Ireland association football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 League of Ireland First Division}}

Category:League of Ireland First Division seasons

Ireland

Ireland