League of Ireland Premier Division
Season2022
Dates18 February – 4 November 2022
ChampionsShamrock Rovers (20th title)
RelegatedFinn Harps
Matches played180
Goals scored472 (2.62 per match)
Top goalscorerAidan Keena
(18 goals)
Biggest home winDerry City 7–1 UCD
(22nd April 2022)
Shelbourne 6-0 Drogheda United
(28th October 2022)
Biggest away winSt Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Derry City
(29 April 2022)
Drogheda United 0–4 St Patrick's Athletic
(6 May 2022)
Highest scoringDerry City 7–1 UCD
(22nd April 2022)
Shelbourne 4–4 St Patrick's Athletic
(3 October 2022)
Longest winning runDerry City (6 games)
Longest unbeaten runDerry City (16 games)
Longest winless runUCD (14 games)
Longest losing runFinn Harps (4 games)
UCD (4 games)
Drogheda United (4 games)
Highest attendance7,726
Shamrock Rovers 1–0 Derry City
(30 October 2022)[1]
Lowest attendance473
UCD 0–2 Derry City
(4 April 2022)
Total attendance486,365
Average attendance2,687[2]
← 2021
2023 →
All statistics correct as of 7 November 2022.

The 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, was the 38th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top Irish league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1985. Shamrock Rovers were the defending champions, having won their nineteenth Premier Division title the previous season.[3] They retained the title on 24 October as a result of Derry City drawing 0-0 away to Sligo Rovers.[4][5]

Teams

Ten teams compete in the league – the top eight teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams were Shelbourne and UCD, after respective top flight absences of one and three years.[6] They replaced Longford Town (relegated after just one year back in the top flight), and Waterford (relegated via play-off after four years back in the top flight).[7][8]

Stadiums and locations

Map of the Republic of Ireland with the twelve League of Ireland Premier Division teams
Derry City
Drogheda United
Dublin teams Bohemians St Patrick's Athletic Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne UCD
Locations of Premier Division teams
Map of Dublin with the three League of Ireland Premier Division Dublin teams
Bohemians
St Patrick's Athletic
Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne
UCD
Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Bohemians Dublin (Phibsborough) Dalymount Park 3,640
Derry City Derry Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium 3,700
Drogheda United Drogheda Head In The Game Park 3,500
Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4,500
Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park 6,000
St Patrick's Athletic Dublin (Inchicore) Richmond Park 5,340
Shamrock Rovers Dublin (Tallaght) Tallaght Stadium 8,000
Shelbourne Dublin (Drumcondra) Tolka Park 4,400
Sligo Rovers Sligo The Showgrounds 3,873
UCD Dublin (Belfield) UCD Bowl 3,000

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.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Bohemians Northern Ireland Declan Devine Republic of Ireland Conor Levingston O'Neills Des Kelly Interiors
Derry City Northern Ireland Ruaidhrí Higgins Northern Ireland Eoin Toal O'Neills Diamond Corrugated
Drogheda United Republic of Ireland Kevin Doherty Republic of Ireland Dane Massey Umbro Drogheda Credit Union
Dundalk Republic of Ireland Stephen O'Donnell Republic of Ireland Brian Gartland Umbro Bet Regal
Finn Harps Republic of Ireland Ollie Horgan Republic of Ireland David Webster Joma Guild Esports
St Patrick's Athletic Republic of Ireland Tim Clancy Republic of Ireland Ian Bermingham Umbro Manguard Plus
Shamrock Rovers Republic of Ireland Stephen Bradley Republic of Ireland Ronan Finn Umbro 888sport
Shelbourne Republic of Ireland Damien Duff Republic of Ireland Luke Byrne Umbro Hamptons Homes
Sligo Rovers Republic of Ireland John Russell Republic of Ireland David Cawley Joma Avant Money
UCD Republic of Ireland Andrew Myler Republic of Ireland Jack Keaney O'Neills Jigsaw

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure 		Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Shelbourne Republic of Ireland Ian Morris Sacked 30 October 2021 Pre-season Republic of Ireland Damien Duff 3 November 2021
Dundalk Republic of Ireland Vinny Perth End of contract 30 November 2021 Republic of Ireland Stephen O'Donnell 11 December 2021
St Patrick's Athletic Republic of Ireland Stephen O'Donnell Moved to Dundalk 2 December 2021 Republic of Ireland Tim Clancy 2 December 2021
Drogheda United Republic of Ireland Tim Clancy Moved to St Patrick's Athletic 2 December 2021 Republic of Ireland Kevin Doherty 2 December 2021
Sligo Rovers Republic of Ireland Liam Buckley Mutual Consent 22 May 2022 6th Republic of Ireland John Russell 22 May 2022
Bohemians Republic of Ireland Keith Long Sacked 30 August 2022 6th Republic of Ireland Derek Pender (interim) 30 August 2022
Bohemians Republic of Ireland Derek Pender Permanent appointment 14 October 2022 6th Northern Ireland Declan Devine 14 October 2022

League table

Standings

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Shamrock Rovers (C) 36 24 7 5 61 22 +39 79 Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
2 Derry City 36 18 12 6 53 27 +26 66 Qualification to Europa Conference League first qualifying round
3 Dundalk 36 18 12 6 53 30 +23 66
4 St Patrick's Athletic 36 18 7 11 57 37 +20 61
5 Sligo Rovers 36 13 10 13 47 44 +3 49
6 Bohemians 36 12 10 14 45 46 −1 46
7 Shelbourne 36 10 11 15 40 49 −9 41
8 Drogheda United 36 9 11 16 34 58 −24 38
9 UCD (O) 36 6 8 22 28 67 −39 26 Qualification to Relegation play-offs
10 Finn Harps (R) 36 4 8 24 33 71 −38 20 Relegation to 2023 League of Ireland First Division
Source: SSE Airtricity League, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[9]
*Note Sligo Rovers defeated Dundalk 2–0 but the result was overturned by the Football Association of Ireland to a 3–0 win for Dundalk after it was ruled that Sligo had fielded a suspended player.[10]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Bohemians574566676666666577666666666666666666
Derry City313143111111112223333323333222222222
Drogheda United51010888888777788888888888888888888888
Dundalk362255555355343332222232222333333333
Finn Harps5899109999999999999999999910991010999101010
St Patrick's Athletic127421333433534444444444444444444444
Shamrock Rovers121214422222221111111111111111111111
Shelbourne1056777767888877766777777777777777777
Sligo Rovers545632244544455655555555555555555555
UCD109810910101010101010101010101010101010101010109101099101010999
Source: Extratime.com
  = Leader and UEFA Champions League first qualifying round;   = UEFA Conference League first qualifying round;   = Qualification to the Relegation play-offs;   = Relegation to the League of Ireland First Division

Results

Teams will play each other four times (twice at home, twice away).

Matches 1–18

Home \ Away BOH DER DRO DUN FHA STP SHM SHE SLI UCD
Bohemians — 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–0 1–3 1–1 2–1 3–0
Derry City 1–1 — 2–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 7–1
Drogheda United 1–1 1–1 — 1–0 3–1 0–4 1–0 0–2 0–3 4–2
Dundalk 3–1 2–2 4–1 — 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–0
Finn Harps 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–1 — 0–2 0–3 1–0 0–1 0–1
St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 0–4 1–1 0–0 2–0 — 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–0
Shamrock Rovers 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 — 2–0 2–2 3–0
Shelbourne 1–4 0–1 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–3 1–2 — 2–1 2–0
Sligo Rovers 0–1 2–1 3–2 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 — 2–2
UCD 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–0 1–2 0–3 0–0 1–1 —
Source: [1], Extratime.ie
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Matches 19–36

Home \ Away BOH DER DRO DUN FHA STP SHM SHE SLI UCD
Bohemians — 2–3 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–3 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–0
Derry City 1–0 — 1–1 0–1 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–0
Drogheda United 0–1 1–1 — 1–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–1
Dundalk 2–1 1–1 2–0 — 3–0 1–2 1–0 0–0 3–3 3–0
Finn Harps 0–2 1–2 3–0 1–2 — 2–2 0–1 1–1 3–2 1–3
St Patrick's Athletic 3–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 — 1–2 4–0 1–0 2–1
Shamrock Rovers 1–0 1–0 1–1 3–0 5–1 4–1 — 3–2 3–1 1–0
Shelbourne 1–1 0–1 6–0 0–0 3–1 4–4 0–0 — 0–2 1–1
Sligo Rovers 2–1 0–0 2–0 0–3* 3–0 1–0 1–3 3–1 — 0–2
UCD 1–3 0–1 2–1 3–2 2–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —
Source: [2], Extratime.ie
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

*Note Sligo Rovers defeated Dundalk 2–0 but the result was overturned by the Football Association of Ireland to a 3–0 win for Dundalk after it was ruled that Sligo had fielded a suspended player.[11]

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[12]
1 Republic of Ireland Aidan Keena Sligo Rovers 18
2 Republic of Ireland Eoin Doyle St Patrick's Athletic 14
3 Republic of Ireland Graham Burke Shamrock Rovers 11
Northern Ireland Jamie McGonigle Derry City
Republic of Ireland Sean Boyd Shelbourne
6 England Will Patching Derry City 10
Republic of Ireland Rory Gaffney Shamrock Rovers
8 Republic of Ireland Patrick Hoban Dundalk 9
9 Republic of Ireland Dawson Devoy Bohemians 8
10 New Zealand Max Mata Sligo Rovers 7
Republic of Ireland Andy Lyons Shamrock Fovers
Republic of Ireland Danny Mandroiu Shamrock Rovers
Republic of Ireland Jack Moylan Shelbourne

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[13]
1 Northern Ireland Alan Mannus Shamrock Rovers 15
Republic of Ireland Brian Maher Derry City
3 Wales Nathan Sheppard Dundalk 12
4 England Joseph Anang St Patrick’s Athletic 10
5 Republic of Ireland Brendan Clarke Shelbourne 8
6 Republic of Ireland Ed McGinty Sligo Rovers 5
7 England Richard Brush Sligo Rovers 3
Republic of Ireland Colin McCabe Drogheda United
Republic of Ireland Tadhg Ryan Bohemians
Republic of Ireland Lorcan Healy UCD
Scotland Sam Long Drogheda United
Republic of Ireland Mark McGinley Finn Harps
Republic of Ireland James Talbot Bohemians

Play-offs

Bracket

First Division play-off Semi-finalsFirst Division play-off FinalPromotion/relegation play-off
26/29 October 2022
11 November 2022
Treaty United134
4 November 2022UCD1
Waterford437
Waterford3Waterford0
26/29 October 2022
Galway United0
Longford Town202
Galway United235

First Division play-off Semi-finals

First leg

26 October 2022 Treaty United 1–4 Waterford Limerick
19:45 IST Enda Curran 62' (pen.) Report Phoenix Patterson 5'
Phoenix Patterson 29'
Junior Quitirna 70'
Sean Guerins 90+4' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Markets Field
Referee: Damien MacGraith
26 October 2022 Longford Town 2–2 Galway United Longford
19:45 IST Jordan Adeyemo 28'
Jordan Adeyemo 54'		 Report Mikie Rowe 49'
Mikie Rowe 61'		 Stadium: Bishopsgate
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

Second leg

29 October 2022 Waterford 3–3 Treaty United Waterford
19:45 IST Timi Sobowale 22'
Wassim Aouachria 48' (pen.)
Phoenix Patterson 54'		 Report Mark Ludden 9' (pen.)
Mark Ludden 26'
Lee Molloy 29'		 Stadium: RSC
Attendance: 2,585
Referee: Paul Norton
30 October 2022 Galway United 3–0 Longford Town Galway
16:00 IST David Hurley 24'
Mikie Rowe 90'
Rob Manley 90+4'		 Report Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park
Referee: Damien McGraith

First Division play-off Final

4 November 2022 Galway United 0–3 Waterford County Limerick
19:45 IST Report Junior Quitirna 9'
Wassim Aouachria 45+1'
Junior Quitirna 81'		 Stadium: Markets Field
Referee: Alan Patchell

Promotion/relegation play-off

11 November 2022 UCD 1–0 Waterford County Dublin
19:45 IST Tommy Lonergan 15' Report Stadium: Richmond Park
Attendance: 2781
Referee: Rob Harvey

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Ref.
Player Club
February Scotland Steven Bradley Dundalk [14]
March Republic of Ireland Aidan Keena Sligo Rovers [15]
April Northern Ireland Jamie McGonigle Derry City [16]
May Republic of Ireland Daniel Kelly Dundalk [17]
June Republic of Ireland Mark Connolly Dundalk [18]
July Republic of Ireland Aidan Keena Sligo Rovers [19]
August Republic of Ireland Andy Lyons Shamrock Rovers [20]
September Scotland Phoenix Patterson Waterford [21]
October Republic of Ireland Rory Gaffney Shamrock Rovers [22]
November England Cameron McJannet Derry City [23]

Annual awards

Award Winner Club
PFAI Player of the Year Rory Gaffney Shamrock Rovers
PFAI Young Player of the Year Andy Lyons Shamrock Rovers
PFAI Premier Division Manager of the Year Stephen Bradley Shamrock Rovers
PFAI Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Republic of Ireland Brian Maher (Derry City)
Defenders Northern Ireland Cameron Dummigan (Derry City) Republic of Ireland Mark Connolly (Derry City) Republic of Ireland Joe Redmond (St Patrick's Athletic) Republic of Ireland Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders England Will Patching (Derry City) Republic of Ireland Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) Republic of Ireland Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic)
Forwards Republic of Ireland Aidan Keena (Sligo Rovers) Republic of Ireland Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) Republic of Ireland Sean Boyd (Shelbourne)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rory Gaffney's winner ensures Shamrock Rovers enjoy the party that little bit more in Tallaght". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  2. ^ "League of Ireland enjoys huge increase in crowds since last pre-Covid season". the42. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Preview: Rovers remain team to beat in 2022 title race". RTE Sport. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Shamrock Rovers complete league three-in-a-row after Derry City play out draw with Sligo". The 42. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Shamrock Rovers win 20th LOI Premier Division title after Derry City draw with Sligo". Irish Independent. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. ^ "A guide to the 2022 League of Ireland Season". Extra Time. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  7. ^ Fenton, James (2 October 2021). "Shelbourne seal promotion back to Premier Division". Pundit Arena.
  8. ^ "UCD secure promotion and cap off a dismal week for Waterford". The Irish Times.
  9. ^ "Premier Division 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  10. ^ https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/fai-statement/id-4432
  11. ^ Lhttps://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/fai-statement/id-4432
  12. ^ "Summary - Premier Division - Republic of Ireland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  13. ^ "LOI Premier Division Clean Sheets". Final Whistle. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  14. ^ Cooney, Gavin. "Dundalk's Steven Bradley scoops Player of the Month prize". The42.
  15. ^ Team, The42. "Sligo Rovers striker Aidan Keena earns Player of the Month award". The42.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Jamie McGonigle named Soccer Writers' Player of the Month for April!".
  17. ^ "Dundalk winger Kelly bags Player of Month award for May". RTÉ.ie. 16 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Dundalk defender Mark Connolly scoops Player of the Month award". 14 July 2022.
  19. ^ "TheJournal.ie - LOI's top goalscorer claims Player of the Month award for July".
  20. ^ "TheJournal.ie - Shamrock Rovers' Andy Lyons scoops Player of the Month award for August".
  21. ^ "Phoenix Patterson rises to win Player of the Month". 13 October 2022.
  22. ^ Whelan, James (9 November 2022). "Shamrock Rovers striker Rory Gaffney named Player of the Month for October". Irish Examiner.
  23. ^ Team, The42. "Cameron McJannet named November player of the month after FAI Cup win". The42.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

League of Ireland Premier Division
2022 in Republic of Ireland football
2021–22 in European men's football (UEFA)
2022–23 in European men's football (UEFA)
Categories