2022 League of Ireland First Division#Play-offs
{{Short description|38th edition of the 2nd tier competition in association football in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football league season
|season = 2022
|dates = 18 February 2022 – 11 November 2022
|competition = League of Ireland First Division
|winners = Cork City
|promoted =
|matches = 144
|total goals =
|league topscorer = Phoenix Patterson (17 league goals + 3 playoff goals)
|biggest home win =
|biggest away win =
|highest scoring =
|attendance = 178,000
|average attendance = 1,193{{cite web |title=League of Ireland enjoys huge increase in crowds since last pre-Covid season |url=https://www.the42.ie/league-of-ireland-attendance-figures-5951751-Dec2022/ |website=the42 |access-date=20 December 2022}}
|highest attendance =
|prevseason = 2021
|nextseason = 2023
|updated = 23 November 2023
}}
The 2022 League of Ireland First Division season was the 38th season of the League of Ireland First Division, the second tier of the Republic of Ireland's association football league. The title was won by Cork City.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/cork-city-bray-report-first-division-5900009-Oct2022/|title=Cork City lift First Division title at packed Turner's Cross after win over Bray|date=21 October 2022|work=The 42|accessdate=25 October 2022}}
Overview
The First Division has 9 teams. Each side plays each other four times for a total of 32 matches in the season. The team that finishes in first place achieve automatic promotion to the Premier Division. Teams finishing second to fifth place will enter the play-offs to determine the side to contest for a place in the 2023 Premier Division against the ninth placed (second last) Premier Division team.
Declan Carey finished the season with the Golden Boot, scoring 20 goals for City, including a brace on the final day of the season vs Bray.
Teams
{{Location map+ |Ireland|AlternativeMap = Island of Ireland location map.svg|alt=Map of the Republic of Ireland with the ten League of Ireland First Division teams |caption=Locations of the First Division teams |float=right |width=280 |places=
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Athlone Town |position=right|lat_deg=53.43 |lon_deg=-7.95}}
{{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|label=Bray Wanderers}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Cobh Ramblers |position=right |lat_deg=51.80 |lon_deg=-8.35}}
{{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|label=Cork City}}
{{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|label=Treaty United}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Galway United |position=left |lat_deg=53.272 |lon_deg=-9.049}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Wexford |position=right |lat_deg=52.365564 |lon_deg=-6.515549}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Longford Town |position=top|lat_deg=53.7242 |lon_deg=-7.8535}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland |label=Waterford |position=bottom|lat_deg=52.2462 |lon_deg=-7.1247}}
}}
=Team changes=
Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely F.C. merged in the pre-season to create a revamped Bray Wanderers.{{Cite web|url=https://extra.ie/2021/12/03/sport/soccernews/bray-wanderers-cabinteely-name-merged-team|title=Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely confirm name of newly merged team|date=3 December 2021}} Shelbourne were promoted as 2021 champions and UCD as playoff winners, to the Premier Division. Waterford F.C. and Longford Town F.C. joined following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2021 season.
=Additional teams=
=Stadia and locations=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| 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 |
| Cork City | Cork | Turners Cross | 7,845 |
| Galway United | Galway | Eamonn Deacy Park | 5,000 |
| Longford Town | Longford | Bishopsgate | 5,097 |
| Treaty United | Limerick | Markets Field | 5,000 |
| Waterford | Waterford | RSC | 5,160 |
| Wexford | Crossabeg | Ferrycarrig Park | 2,500 |
=Managerial changes=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
!Outgoing manager !Manner of !Date of vacancy !Position in table !Incoming manager !Date of |
|---|
| Athlone Town
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Martin Russell |Resigned |9th |{{flagicon|IRL}} Dermot Lennon |
| Waterford FC
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Ian Morris |Mutual Consent |5th |{{flagicon|IRL}} Gary Hunt |
| Waterford FC
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Gary Hunt |Permanent Replacement |4th |{{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Searle |
| Cobh Ramblers
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Darren Murphy |Mutual Consent |8th |{{flagicon|IRL}} Shane Keegan |
=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.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;" |
| Team
! Manager ! Captain ! Kit manufacturer ! Shirt sponsor |
|---|
| Athlone Town
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Dermot Lennon |{{flagicon|IRL}} Micheal Schlingermann | Umbro | Hayden & Co. Solicitors |
| Bray Wanderers
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Pat Devlin |{{flagicon|IRL}} Hugh Douglas | Nike | MyClub |
| Cobh Ramblers
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Shane Keegan |{{flagicon|IRL}} John Kavanagh | Joma | McCarthy Insurance Group |
| Cork City
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Colin Healy |{{flagicon|IRL}} Cian Coleman | Adidas |
| Galway United
|{{flagicon|IRL}} John Caulfield |{{flagicon|IRL}} Conor McCormack | Comer Property Management |
| Longford Town
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Gary Cronin |{{flagicon|IRL}} Sam Verdon | Macron | Bishopsgate |
| Treaty United
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Tommy Barrett |{{flagicon|IRL}} Jack Lynch | Umbro | Derrin Homes |
| Waterford
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Searle |{{flagicon|IRL}} Eddie Nolan | Umbro | DG FOODS LTD |
| Wexford
|{{flagicon|IRL}} Ian Ryan |{{flagicon|IRL}} Joe Manley | Umbro | Wallace |
League table
|source=[https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-02GUHFMLNG000001VUM100GLVVH6KORK-G#table League of Ireland], [https://ie.soccerway.com/national/ireland-republic/first-division/2022/regular-season/r66840/ Soccerway]
|update=complete
| team1=COR | team2=WAT | team3=GAL | team4=LON | team5=TRU | team6=WEX | team7=BRW | team8=ATH | team9=COB
|result1=PRO |result2=PO |result3=PO |result4=PO |result5=PO
|win_ATH=7 |draw_ATH=3 |loss_ATH=22|gf_ATH=44 |ga_ATH=75
|win_BRW=6 |draw_BRW=9 |loss_BRW=17|gf_BRW=30 |ga_BRW=62
|win_COB=4 |draw_COB=5 |loss_COB=23|gf_COB=37 |ga_COB=78
|win_COR=20|draw_COR=8 |loss_COR=4 |gf_COR=63 |ga_COR=22 |status_COR=C, P
|win_GAL=17|draw_GAL=9 |loss_GAL=6 |gf_GAL=56 |ga_GAL=29 |status_GAL=
|win_LON=14|draw_LON=10|loss_LON=8 |gf_LON=49 |ga_LON=41 |status_LON=
|win_TRU=11|draw_TRU=11|loss_TRU=10|gf_TRU=37 |ga_TRU=43 |status_TRU=
|win_WAT=20|draw_WAT=4 |loss_WAT=8 |gf_WAT=70 |ga_WAT=34 |status_WAT=
|win_WEX=10|draw_WEX=11|loss_WEX=11|gf_WEX=45 |ga_WEX=47
| name_ATH = Athlone Town
| name_BRW = Bray Wanderers
| name_COB = Cobh Ramblers
| name_COR = Cork City
| name_GAL = Galway United
| name_LON = Longford Town
| name_TRU = Treaty United
| name_WAT = Waterford
| name_WEX = Wexford
|show_limit=5
|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
|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
}}
Play-offs
=Bracket=
{{5TeamBracket-ByeToFinal|RD1-legs=2|aggregate=y
| team-width = 200
| RD1 = First Division play-off Semi-finals
| RD2 = First Division play-off Final
| RD3 = Promotion/relegation play-off
| RD1-text1 = 26/29 October 2022
| RD1-seed1 =
| RD1-team1 = Treaty United
| RD1-score1-1 = 1
| RD1-score1-2 = 3
| RD1-score1-agg = 4
| RD1-seed2 =
| RD1-team2 = Waterford
| RD1-score2-1 = 4
| RD1-score2-2 = 3
| RD1-score2-agg = 7
| RD1-text2 = 26/29 October 2022
| RD1-seed3 =
| RD1-team3 = Longford Town
| RD1-score3-1 = 2
| RD1-score3-2 = 0
| RD1-score3-agg = 2
| RD1-seed4 =
| RD1-team4 = Galway United
| RD1-score4-1 = 2
| RD1-score4-2 = 3
| RD1-score4-agg = 5
| RD2-text1 = 4 November 2022
| RD2-seed1 =
| RD2-team1 = Waterford
| RD2-score1 = 3
| RD2-seed2 =
| RD2-team2 = Galway United
| RD2-score2 = 0
| RD3-text1 = 11 November 2022
| RD3-seed1 =
| RD3-team1 = UCD
| RD3-score1 = 1
| RD3-seed2 =
| RD3-team2 = Waterford
| RD3-score2 = 0
}}
=First Division play-off Semi-finals=
==First leg==
{{football box collapsible
|date = 26 October 2022
|time = 19:45 IST
|team1 = Treaty United
|score = 1–4
|report = https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/league-promotion-playoff/treaty-united-v-waterford/49436/4/report/
|team2 = Waterford
|goals1 = Enda Curran {{goal|62|pen.}}
|goals2 =Phoenix Patterson {{goal|5}}
Phoenix Patterson {{goal|29}}
Junior Quitirna {{goal|70}}
Sean Guerins {{goal|90+4|o.g.}}
|stadium = Markets Field
|location = Limerick
|attendance =
|referee = Damien MacGraith
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 26 October 2022
|time = 19:45 IST
|team1 = Longford Town
|score = 2–2
|report = https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/league-promotion-playoff/longford-town-v-galway-united/49435/4/report/
|team2 = Galway United
|goals1 = Jordan Adeyemo {{goal|28}}
Jordan Adeyemo {{goal|54}}
|goals2 = Mikie Rowe {{goal|49}}
Mikie Rowe {{goal|61}}
|stadium = Bishopsgate
|location = Longford
|attendance =
|referee = Kevin O'Sullivan
}}
==Second leg==
{{football box collapsible
|date = 29 October 2022
|time = 19:45 IST
|team1 = Waterford
|score = 3–3
|report = https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/league-promotion-playoff/waterford-v-treaty-united/49437/4/report/
|team2 = Treaty United
|goals1 = Timi Sobowale {{goal|22}}
Wassim Aouachria {{goal|48|pen.}}
Phoenix Patterson {{goal|54}}
|goals2 = Mark Ludden {{goal|9|pen.}}
Mark Ludden {{goal|26}}
Lee Molloy {{goal|29}}
|stadium = RSC
|location = Waterford
|attendance = 2,585
|referee = Paul Norton
}}
{{football box collapsible
|date = 30 October 2022
|time = 16:00 IST
|team1 = Galway United
|score = 3–0
|report = https://www.extratime.com/articles/29543/promotion-playoff-report-galway-united-3---0-longford-town/
|team2 = Longford Town
|goals1 = David Hurley {{goal|24}}
Mikie Rowe {{goal|90}}
Rob Manley {{goal|90+4}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Eamonn Deacy Park
|location = Galway
|attendance =
|referee = Damien McGraith
}}
=First Division play-off Final=
{{football box collapsible
|date = 4 November 2022
|time = 19:45 IST
|team1 = Galway United
|score = 0–3
|report = https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/league-promotion-playoff/galway-united-v-waterford/49451/4/report/
|team2 = Waterford
|goals1 =
|goals2 = Junior Quitirna {{goal|9}}
Wassim Aouachria {{goal|45+1}}
Junior Quitirna {{goal|81}}
|stadium = Markets Field
|location = County Limerick
|attendance =
|referee = Alan Patchell
}}
=Promotion/relegation play-off=
{{football box collapsible
|date = 11 November 2022
|time = 19:45 IST
|team1 = UCD
|score = 1–0
|report = https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/2022-league-of-ireland-playoff-final/ucd-v-waterford/49539/4/report/
|team2 = Waterford
|goals1 = Tommy Lonergan {{goal|15}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Richmond Park
|location = County Dublin
|attendance = 2,781
|referee = Rob Harvey
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{League of Ireland First Division}}
{{2022 in Republic of Ireland association football}}
{{authority control}}
Category:League of Ireland First Division seasons