2018 League of Ireland Premier Division

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.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/its-three-down-one-up-for-loi-season-436479.html |date=23 December 2016 |access-date=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 ten League of Ireland Premier Division teams |caption=Locations of Premier Division teams |float=right |width=280 |places=

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=53|lat_min=12|lat_sec=10|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=6|lon_sec=30|position=bottom|background=|label=Bray Wanderers}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=51|lat_min=53|lat_sec=50|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=8|lon_min=28|lon_sec=12|position=left|background=|label=Cork City}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=54|lat_min=59|lat_sec=45|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=7|lon_min=18|lon_sec=27|position=right|background=|label=Derry City }}

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

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=54|lat_min=0|lat_sec=32|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=24|lon_sec=18|position=right|background=|label=Dundalk}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=52|lat_min=42|lat_sec=15|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=8|lon_min=35|lon_sec=15|position=bottom|background=|label=Limerick}}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |lat_deg=54|lat_min=16|lat_sec=0|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=8|lon_min=29|lon_sec=0|position=left|background=|label=Sligo Rovers }}

{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Waterford |background= |position=left |lat_dir=N|lat_deg=52 |lat_min=15 |lat_sec=24 |lon_dir=W |lon_deg=7 |lon_min=7 |lon_sec=45}}

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

|lat_deg=55|lat_min=24|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=10|lon_min=57|position=right|background=|label=Dublin teams
Bohemians
Shamrock Rovers
St Patrick's Athletic}}

}}

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

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53|lat_min=21|lat_sec=43|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=16|lon_sec=30|position=top|background=|label=Bohemians}}

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53|lat_min=20|lat_sec=27|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=19|lon_sec=0|position=left|background=|label=St Patrick's Athletic}}

{{Location map~ |Dublin|lat_deg=53|lat_min=17|lat_sec=1|lat_dir=N|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=6|lon_min=22|lon_sec=25|position=right|background=|label=Shamrock Rovers }}

}}

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

{{2018 League of Ireland Premier Division table}}

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

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/premier-division/id-01UNBI99I0000000VUM100GLVSCQPIVT-G#matches SSE Airtricity League], [https://int.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/premier-league/2017/regular-season/r39233 Soccerway]

| update = complete

| a_note = yes

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= BOH | team2= BRW | team3= COR | team4= DER | team5= DUN | team6= LIM | team7= STP | team8= SHM | team9= SLI | team10= WAT

| name_BOH = Bohemians

| name_BRW = Bray Wanderers

| name_COR = Cork City

| name_DER = Derry City

| name_DUN = Dundalk

| name_LIM = Limerick

| name_STP = {{nowrap|St Patrick's Athletic}}

| name_SHM = Shamrock Rovers

| name_SLI = Sligo Rovers

| name_WAT = Waterford

| match_BOH_BRW = 2–1

| match_BOH_COR = 0–2

| match_BOH_DER = 0–1

| match_BOH_DUN = 0–2

| match_BOH_LIM = 0–0

| match_BOH_STP = 0–1

| match_BOH_SHM = 3-1

| match_BOH_SLI = 2–2

| match_BOH_WAT = 0-1

| match_BRW_BOH = 1–3

| match_BRW_COR = 0–4

| match_BRW_DER = 2-1

| match_BRW_DUN = 0–2

| match_BRW_LIM = 0–1

| match_BRW_STP = 1-2

| match_BRW_SHM = 1–0

| match_BRW_SLI = 1–2

| match_BRW_WAT = 2–2

| match_COR_BOH = 3–0

| match_COR_BRW = 4–0

| match_COR_DER = 4–2

| match_COR_DUN = 1–0

| match_COR_LIM = 2–1

| match_COR_STP = 1–0

| match_COR_SHM = 1–0

| match_COR_SLI = 1–0

| match_COR_WAT = 2-0

| match_DER_BOH = 3–1

| match_DER_BRW = 5–1

| match_DER_COR = 0–0

| match_DER_DUN = 1–4

| match_DER_LIM = 5–0

| match_DER_STP = 2–1

| match_DER_SHM = 0–0

| match_DER_SLI = 0–2

| match_DER_WAT = 1–0

| match_DUN_BOH = 3–0

| match_DUN_BRW = 0-0

| match_DUN_COR = 1–0

| match_DUN_DER = 2–2

| match_DUN_LIM = 8–0

| match_DUN_STP = 5-0

| match_DUN_SHM = 2–1

| match_DUN_SLI = 2–1

| match_DUN_WAT = 1–0

| match_LIM_BOH = 1-1

| match_LIM_BRW = 1–0

| match_LIM_COR = 1–1

| match_LIM_DER = 0-3

| match_LIM_DUN = 0–3

| match_LIM_STP = 0–1

| match_LIM_SHM = 0–1

| match_LIM_SLI = 1-2

| match_LIM_WAT = 0–2

| match_STP_BOH = 2–2

| match_STP_BRW = 5–0

| match_STP_COR = 2-3

| match_STP_DER = 5–2

| match_STP_DUN = 0–0

| match_STP_LIM = 1–0

| match_STP_SHM = 2-0

| match_STP_SLI = 2–0

| match_STP_WAT = 1–0

| match_SHM_BOH = 1–2

| match_SHM_BRW = 6–0

| match_SHM_COR = 3-0

| match_SHM_DER = 6–1

| match_SHM_DUN = 0-0

| match_SHM_LIM = 1–1

| match_SHM_STP = 1–0

| match_SHM_SLI = 1–0

| match_SHM_WAT = 1–1

| match_SLI_BOH = 0–2

| match_SLI_BRW = 2-1

| match_SLI_COR = 1–4

| match_SLI_DER = 2-1

| match_SLI_DUN = 0–2

| match_SLI_LIM = 0-1

| match_SLI_STP = 0-0

| match_SLI_SHM = 0–0

| match_SLI_WAT = 1–2

| match_WAT_BOH = 1–0

| match_WAT_BRW = 3–0

| match_WAT_COR = 2–1

| match_WAT_DER = 2-1

| match_WAT_DUN = 2-1

| match_WAT_LIM = 3–6

| match_WAT_STP = 2–0

| match_WAT_SHM = 2–1

| match_WAT_SLI = 1–1

}}

Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).

{{#invoke:sports results|main

| source = [http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/premier-division/id-01UNBI99I0000000VUM100GLVSCQPIVT-G#matches SSE Airtricity League], [https://int.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/premier-league/2017/regular-season/r39233 Soccerway]

| update = complete

| a_note = yes

| matches_style = FBR

| team1= BOH | team2= BRW | team3= COR | team4= DER | team5= DUN | team6= LIM | team7= STP | team8= SHM | team9= SLI | team10= WAT

| name_BOH = Bohemians

| name_BRW = Bray Wanderers

| name_COR = Cork City

| name_DER = Derry City

| name_DUN = Dundalk

| name_LIM = Limerick

| name_STP = St Patrick's Athletic

| name_SHM = Shamrock Rovers

| name_SLI = Sligo Rovers

| name_WAT = Waterford

| match_BOH_BRW = 6–0

| match_BOH_COR = 4–2

| match_BOH_DER = 1–2

| match_BOH_DUN = 1–1

| match_BOH_LIM = 5–0

| match_BOH_STP = 1–0

| match_BOH_SHM = 1–1

| match_BOH_SLI = 0–3

| match_BOH_WAT = 1–3

| match_BRW_BOH = 0–5

| match_BRW_COR = 1–3

| match_BRW_DER = 2–1

| match_BRW_DUN = 1–3

| match_BRW_LIM = 0–2

| match_BRW_STP = 3–1

| match_BRW_SHM = 0–3

| match_BRW_SLI = 2–1

| match_BRW_WAT = 0–0

| match_COR_BOH = 1–0

| match_COR_BRW = 5–1

| match_COR_DER = 5–0

| match_COR_DUN = 0–1

| match_COR_LIM = 3–0

| match_COR_STP = 1–1

| match_COR_SHM = 0–0

| match_COR_SLI = 1–2

| match_COR_WAT = 3–0

| match_DER_BOH = 0–2

| match_DER_BRW = 2–0

| match_DER_COR = 0–3

| match_DER_DUN = 0–4

| match_DER_LIM = 2–1

| match_DER_STP = 2–1

| match_DER_SHM = 0–1

| match_DER_SLI = 1–2

| match_DER_WAT = 1–2

| match_DUN_BOH = 2–0

| match_DUN_BRW = 5–0

| match_DUN_COR = 2–1

| match_DUN_DER = 3–2

| match_DUN_LIM = 4–0

| match_DUN_STP = 1–1

| match_DUN_SHM = 1–2

| match_DUN_SLI = 5–0

| match_DUN_WAT = 2–0

| match_LIM_BOH = 1–1

| match_LIM_BRW = 2–1

| match_LIM_COR = 0–2

| match_LIM_DER = 0–1

| match_LIM_DUN = 0–1

| match_LIM_STP = 0–4

| match_LIM_SHM = 0–2

| match_LIM_SLI = 1–3

| match_LIM_WAT = 2–1

| match_STP_BOH = 1–3

| match_STP_BRW = 3–0

| match_STP_COR = 1–3

| match_STP_DER = 5–0

| match_STP_DUN = 1–3

| match_STP_LIM = 2–1

| match_STP_SHM = 0–1

| match_STP_SLI = 0–3

| match_STP_WAT = 3–0

| match_SHM_BOH = 0–1

| match_SHM_BRW = 5–0

| match_SHM_COR = 0–0

| match_SHM_DER = 2–0

| match_SHM_DUN = 2–5

| match_SHM_LIM = 5–0

| match_SHM_STP = 3–0

| match_SHM_SLI = 2–0

| match_SHM_WAT = 3–1

| match_SLI_BOH = 1–1

| match_SLI_BRW = 2–1

| match_SLI_COR = 0–2

| match_SLI_DER = 0–2

| match_SLI_DUN = 0–2

| match_SLI_LIM = 0–0

| match_SLI_STP = 1–2

| match_SLI_SHM = 2–0

| match_SLI_WAT = 2–3

| match_WAT_BOH = 1–1

| match_WAT_BRW = 2–0

| match_WAT_COR = 1–2

| match_WAT_DER = 4–0

| match_WAT_DUN = 1–2

| match_WAT_LIM = 4–1

| match_WAT_STP = 2–0

| match_WAT_SHM = 0–1

| match_WAT_SLI = 1–0

}}

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.

{{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.

{{updated|2 November 2018}}

{{fb rs footer|u=2 November 2018|s=[http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/premier-division/id-021UJUE6PO000000VUM100GLVSO243I1-G#statistics SSEAirtricity League]|date=November 2018}}

• Most yellow cards: 94{{cite web |url=http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/premier-division/id-021UJUE6PO000000VUM100GLVSO243I1-G#statistics |title=Premier Division statistics |work=SSE Airtricity League |access-date= 17 Feb 2019}}
• Sligo Rovers

• Most red cards: 7
• Waterford

• 2018 League of Ireland First Division
• 2018 FAI Cup
• 2018 League of Ireland Cup
• 2018 St Patrick's Athletic F.C. season

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/ Official website]
• [https://int.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/premier-league/2016/regular-season/r34026/ Full Results and Fixtures]

{{League of Ireland seasons}}

{{2018 in Republic of Ireland association football}}

{{2017–18 in European football (UEFA)}}

{{2018–19 in European football (UEFA)}}

Category:League of Ireland Premier Division seasons

Ireland

Ireland