2018 League of Ireland First Division
The 2018 League of Ireland First Division season was the 34th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The league began on 23 February 2018 and concluded on 22 September 2018. Contrary to the previous editions, this tournament had 10 teams, which was the largest number since the 2011 season, and saw the return of the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Overview
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.
Teams
Stadia and locations
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.
League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Results
Matches 1–18Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away). | Matches 19–27Teams play each other once. |
Top scorers
- As of 22 September 2018
Play-Offs
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.
- Semi-finals
| 5 October 2018 | Drogheda United | 0–1 | Shelbourne | United Park |
| 19:45 | Report | English 25' |
| 8 October 2018 | Shelbourne | 1–2 (2-4 p) | Drogheda United | Tolka Park |
| 19:45 | Evans77' | Report | Brennan33' Lyons 62' | |
| Penalties | ||||
O'Sullivan  Evans  Fitzgerald Farrell | LyonsBrennanGallagherMcCaffreyDoyle | |||
2–2 on aggregate. Drogheda United win on penalties.
- Finals
| 12 October 2018 | Drogheda United | 1–1 | Finn Harps | United Park |
| 19:45 | Kelly13' | Report | Boyle67' |
| 19 October 2018 | Finn Harps | 2–0 | Drogheda United | Finn Park |
| 19:45 | Kavanagh18' Boyle 67' | Report |
Finn Harps win 3–1 on aggregate.
- Relegation-promotion match
| 29 October 2018 | Finn Harps | 1–0 | Limerick | Finn Park |
| 19:45 GMT | McCourt35' (pen.) | Report | Attendance: 2,379 Referee: Robert Harvey |
| 2 November 2018 | Limerick | 0–2 | Finn Harps | Markets Field |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Timlin45+1' Boyle 80' | 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.