2025 League of Ireland First Division

Last updated

League of Ireland First Division
Season2025
Dates14 February 2025 – 17 October 2025
Matches played144
Goals scored388 (2.69 per match)
Top goalscorerBarry Coffey
(20 goals)
Biggest home win Cobh Ramblers 5–0 Longford Town
(7 March 2025)
Finn Harps 5–0 Bray Wanderers
(21 March 2025)
Dundalk 6–1 Athlone Town
(8 August 2025)
Biggest away win Treaty United 0–7 Dundalk
(22 August 2025)
Highest scoring Wexford 4–3 Kerry
(27 June 2025)
Dundalk 6–1 Athlone Town
(8 August 2025)
Treaty United 0–7 Dundalk
(22 August 2025)
Longest winning run7 matches
Bray Wanderers
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Dundalk
Longest winless run15 matches
Athlone Town
Longest losing run5 matches
Athlone Town
Kerry
Highest attendance2,600
Dundalk 1–0 Athlone Town
(14 February 2025)
Lowest attendance180
UCD 0–3 Cobh Ramblers
(20 June 2025)
Total attendance116,531
Average attendance838
2024
2026
All statistics correct as of 30 August 2025.

The 2025 League of Ireland First Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division for sponsorship reasons, [1] is the 41st season of the League of Ireland First Division. The competition began on 14 February 2025, [2] and will conclude on 17 October 2025. [3]

Contents

Teams

Team changes

The team relegated to the First Division was Dundalk, the bottom-placed team of the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division. They replaced one team promoted from the 2024 League of Ireland First Division, champions Cork City.

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Athlone Town Athlone Athlone Town Stadium 5,000
Bray Wanderers Bray Carlisle Grounds 4,000
Cobh Ramblers Cobh St. Colman's Park 3,000
Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4,500
Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park 6,000
Kerry Tralee Mounthawk Park 1,200
Longford Town Longford Bishopsgate 5,097
Treaty United Limerick Markets Field 5,000
UCD Dublin UCD Bowl 3,000
Wexford Crossabeg Ferrycarrig Park 2,500

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.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Athlone Town Flag of Ireland.svg Ian Ryan Flag of Ireland.svg Oisín Duffy Nike Valeo Futbol
Bray Wanderers Flag of Ireland.svg Paul Heffernan Flag of Ireland.svg Kilian Cantwell Capelli Sport OutdoorLiving.ie
Cobh Ramblers Flag of Ireland.svg Gary Hunt Flag of Ireland.svg Jason Abbott Uhlsport McCarthy Insurance Group
Dundalk Flag of Ireland.svg Ciarán Kilduff Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Horgan Playr-FitZOMA
Finn Harps Flag of Ireland.svg Kevin McHugh Flag of Ireland.svg Tony McNamee Joma So-Lo Stores
Kerry Flag of Ireland.svg Colin Healy Flag of Ireland.svg Sean McGrath Macron Kerry Airport
Longford Town Flag of Ireland.svg Wayne Groves Flag of Ireland.svg Dean O'SheaMacronBishopsgate
Treaty United Flag of Ireland.svg Tommy Barrett Flag of Ireland.svg Mark Walsh O'Neills Trade Electric Group
UCD Flag of Ireland.svg William O’Connor Flag of Ireland.svg Ronan Finn O'NeillsMaples Group
Wexford Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen Elliott Flag of Ireland.svg Ethan BoyleMacronCampion Insurance

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of

departure

Date of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of

appointment

Dundalk Flag of Ireland.svg Jon Daly [4] Resigned2 November 2024Pre-season Flag of Ireland.svg Ciarán Kilduff [5] 6 November 2024
Wexford Flag of Ireland.svg James Keddy [6] 6 November 2024 Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen Elliott [7] 26 November 2024
Finn Harps Ulster Banner.svg Darren Murphy [8] [9] Signed by Loughgall 25 March 20258th Flag of Ireland.svg Kevin McHugh [10] 2 April 2025
Athlone Town Flag of Portugal (official).svg Dario Castelo [11] Mutual consent12 April 202510th Flag of Ireland.svg Ian Ryan [12] 8 June 2025
Kerry Flag of Ireland.svg Conor McCarthy [13] 5 May 20259th Flag of Ireland.svg Colin Healy [13] 5 May 2025

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or qualification
1 Dundalk (X)2919826023+3765Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
2 Cobh Ramblers (X)2918565527+2859Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off
3 Bray Wanderers 29172104939+1053
4 UCD 2913793529+646
5 Treaty United 2998124139+235
6 Finn Harps 28810103336334
7 Wexford 29871432421031
8 Kerry 28851533461329
9 Longford Town 29781429512229
10 Athlone Town 29381821563517
Updated to match(es) played on 30 August 2025. Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(X) Assured of at least a play-off place, but may yet be promoted directly.

Results

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

Home \ Away ATH BRW COB DUN FIN KER LON TRU UCD WEX
Athlone Town 0–12–30–00–12–21–10–52–11–1
0–30–02–21–2
Bray Wanderers 1–32–11–33–14–24–02–12–01–2
3–10–22–03–21–31–0
Cobh Ramblers 2–02–11–23–10–05–02–11–01–3
2–11–03–12–24–0
Dundalk 1–02–21–01–12–02–12–21–13–0
6–11–03–34–11–13–2
Finn Harps 0–25–01–20–14–21–10–21–21–1
2–12–22–21–00–01–0
Kerry 3–00–10–20–12–0 [a] 2–01–00–11–1
4–02–10–40–11–00–3
Longford Town 1–10–11–10–30–03–22–00–12–1
3–21–23–12–00–22–2
Treaty United 1–02–12–31–13–13–05–14–00–1
2–10–70–11–10–0
UCD 2–00–11–10–11–10–11–10–03–0 [b]
3–20–30–13–11–11–0
Wexford 0–12–00–22–32–21–23–12–00–1
0–00–12–14–30–1
Updated to match(es) played on 30 August 2025. Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
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.

Notes:

  1. Result voided after both teams fielded ineligible players.
  2. Awarded.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Dundalk 4111111111111111111111111111111
Cobh Ramblers 223222233333323222222222222222
Bray Wanderers 356467422222232333333333333333
UCD 1445753557766666555555544444444
Treaty United 73233354656544444444444555555
Finn Harps 571089867765777998899778887766
Wexford 109575686444455556666666666677
Kerry 668989910910101098777777899998988
Longford Town 9871010101088889810889988987779899
Athlone Town 81096447910998109101010101010101010101010101010101010
Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off
Updated to match(es) played on 30 August 2025. Source: [ citation needed ]

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 30 August 2025 [14]
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Flag of Ireland.svg Barry CoffeyCobh Ramblers20
2 Flag of Ireland.svg Mikie Rowe Wexford16
3 Flag of Ireland.svg Lee DevittTreaty United13
4 Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Horgan Dundalk10
5 Flag of Ireland.svg Dean Ebbe Dundalk9
Flag of Ireland.svg Cian MurphyCobh Ramblers
7 Flag of Ireland.svg Aaron DoranLongford Town8
Flag of Ireland.svg Max MurphyBray Wanderers
8 Flag of Ireland.svg Gbemi ArubiDundalk7
Flag of Ireland.svg Adam BrennanUCD
Flag of Ireland.svg Cian CurtisWexford
Ulster Banner.svg Eoin Kenny Dundalk

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef.
Flag of Ireland.svg Lee DevittTreaty UnitedAthlone Town5–0 (A)21 February 2025 [15]
Flag of Ireland.svg Sean McGrathKerryWexford3–4 (A)27 June 2025 [16]
Flag of Ireland.svg Shane GriffinCobh RamblersLongford Town3–1 (H)1 August 2025 [17]
Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Horgan DundalkTreaty United7–0 (A)22 August 2025 [18]

See also

References

  1. "League of Ireland and SSE Airtricity announce rise in prize money ahead of 2025 season". Irish Mirror . 14 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  2. "SLeague journey begins amid beauty of unpredictability". RTÉ Sport . 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  3. "2025 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Fixture List". League of Ireland. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  4. "Dundalk to appoint new boss on Wednesday as Jon Daly exits". RTÉ Sport . 5 November 2024. Dundalk will announce a new manager on Wednesday after confirming the resignation of Jon Daly following the conclusion of the season.
  5. Wallace, Keith (6 November 2024). "HISTORY MAKER KILDUFF RETURNS TO DUNDALK FC". Dundalk F.C. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  6. "James Keddy departs Wexford FC". Wexford F.C. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  7. "Former Irish international Stephen Elliott unveiled as new Wexford FC manager as he looks to replicate Damien Duff's energy". Irish Independent . 26 November 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  8. Lee, Ethan (25 March 2025). "Club Statement: Darren Murphy Departs - Finn Harps FC Official Website". finnharps.ie. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  9. "Loughgall FC appoints Darren Murphy as new Manager". Loughgall . 27 March 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. "Club stalwart Kevin McHugh appointed Finn Harps manager". RTÉ . 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  11. Admin (12 April 2025). "Club Statement: Dário Castelo". Athlone Town AFC. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  12. "Ian Ryan appointed new Athlone Town boss". extratime.com. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Kerry Football Club announces Colin Healy as First Team Manager". kerryfc.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  14. "Top scorers". Extra Time. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  15. Mackey, Éanna (21 February 2025). "WATCH: Five-star Treaty United score resounding win over Athlone Town in First Division". Limerick Leader . Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  16. O'Connor, Patrick. "Wexford claim spoils in seven-goal thriller with Kerry". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  17. Murphy, Dylan O’Connell andMurt (1 August 2025). "Griffin bags hat-trick as Cobh Ramblers defeat Longford Town". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  18. Rogers, James (23 August 2025). "Treaty surrender to Dundalk FC's magnificent seven and hat-trick hero Horgan". Irish Independent . Retrieved 24 August 2025.