2025 League of Ireland First Division
| Season | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 February 2025 – 17 October 2025 |
| Matches played | 59 |
| Goals scored | 147 (2.49 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Mikie Rowe (8) |
| Biggest home win | Cobh Ramblers 5–0 Longford Town (7 March 2025) Finn Harps 5–0 Bray Wanderers (21 March 2025) |
| Biggest away win | Athlone Town 0–5 Treaty United (21 February 2025) |
| Highest scoring | Finn Harps 4–2 Kerry (18 April 2025) Bray Wanderers 4–2 Kerry 25 April 2025 |
| Longest winning run | Bray Wanderers (7 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Dundalk (12 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Athlone Town (7 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Athlone Town (4 matches) |
| Highest attendance | 2,600 Dundalk 1–0 Athlone Town (14 February 2025) |
| Lowest attendance | 224 UCD 1–1 Cobh Ramblers (28 February 2025) |
| Total attendance | 53,540 |
| Average attendance | 923 |
← 2024 2026 →
All statistics correct as of 26 April 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]
Teams
[edit]
Locations of the 2024 First Division teams
Team changes
[edit]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
[edit]| 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 |
| 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
[edit]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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone Town | Vacant |  Oisín Duffy
|
Nike | Valeo Futbol |
| Bray Wanderers | Paul Heffernan
|
Kilian Cantwell
|
Capelli Sport | OutdoorLiving.ie |
| Cobh Ramblers | Gary Hunt
|
Jason Abbott
|
Uhlsport | McCarthy Insurance Group |
| Dundalk | Ciarán Kilduff
|
Daryl Horgan
|
Playr-Fit | ZOMA |
| Finn Harps | Kevin McHugh
|
Tony McNamee
|
Joma | So-Lo Stores |
| Kerry | Conor McCarthy
|
Sean McGrath
|
Macron | Kerry Airport |
| Longford Town | Wayne Groves
|
Dean O'Shea
|
Macron | Bishopsgate |
| Treaty United | Tommy Barrett
|
Mark Walsh
|
O'Neills | Trade Electric Group |
| UCD | William O’Connor
|
Ronan Finn
|
O'Neills | Maples Group |
| Wexford | Stephen Elliott
|
Ethan Boyle
|
Macron | Campion Insurance |
Managerial changes
[edit]| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of
departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of
appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk | Jon Daly[4]
|
Resigned | 2 November 2024 | Pre-season | Ciarán Kilduff[5]
|
6 November 2024 |
| Wexford | James Keddy[6]
|
6 November 2024 | Stephen Elliott[7]
|
26 November 2024 | ||
| Finn Harps |  Darren Murphy[8]
|
Signed by Loughgall | 25 March 2025 | 8th | Kevin McHugh[9]
|
2 April 2025 |
| Athlone Town |  Dario Castelo[10]
|
Mutual consent | 12 April 2025 | 10th |
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dundalk | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 6 | +14 | 30 | Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division |
| 2 | Bray Wanderers | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 27 | Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off |
| 3 | Cobh Ramblers | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 23 | |
| 4 | Wexford | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 17 | |
| 5 | Finn Harps | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 13 | |
| 6 | Treaty United | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 15 | |
| 7 | UCD | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 15 | |
| 8 | Athlone Town | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 18 | −12 | 9 | |
| 9 | Longford Town | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 23 | −14 | 9 | |
| 10 | Kerry | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 20 | −9 | 7 |
Updated to match(es) played on 26 April 2025. Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Results
[edit]Teams play each other four times (twice at home and twice away).
Notes:
Positions by round
[edit]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.
| Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division | |
| Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off |
Updated to match(es) played on 26 April 2025. Source: [citation needed]
Season statistics
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- As of 26 April 2025[11]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikie Rowe
|
Wexford | 8 |
| 2 | Barry Coffey
|
Cobh Ramblers | 7 |
| 3 | Lee Devitt
|
Treaty United | 6 |
| Dean Ebbe
|
Dundalk | ||
| Dara McGuinness
|
Finn Harps | ||
| 6 | Calum Flynn
|
Wexford | 4 |
| Danú Kinsella-Bishop
|
Bray Wanderers | ||
| Cian Murphy
|
Cobh Ramblers | ||
| Max Murphy
|
Bray Wanderers | ||
| 10 |  David Bošnjak
|
Cobh Ramblers | 3 |
| Aaron Doran
|
Longford Town | ||
 Leo Gaxha
|
Dundalk | ||
| Gavin Hodgins
|
Finn Harps | ||
| Ryan Kelliher
|
Kerry | ||
| Yousef Mahdy
|
Treaty United | ||
| Luke Palmer
|
Kerry |
Hat-tricks
[edit]| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Devitt
|
Treaty United | Athlone Town | 5–0 (A) | 21 February 2025 | [12] |
See also
[edit]- 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division
- 2025 League of Ireland Women's Premier Division
- 2025 FAI Cup
References
[edit]- ^ "League of Ireland and SSE Airtricity announce rise in prize money ahead of 2025 season". Irish Mirror. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "SLeague journey begins amid beauty of unpredictability". RTÉ Sport. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ "2025 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Fixture List". League of Ireland. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Wallace, Keith (6 November 2024). "HISTORY MAKER KILDUFF RETURNS TO DUNDALK FC". Dundalk F.C. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "James Keddy departs Wexford FC". Wexford F.C. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Lee, Ethan (25 March 2025). "Club Statement: Darren Murphy Departs - Finn Harps FC Official Website". finnharps.ie. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ "Club stalwart Kevin McHugh appointed Finn Harps manager". RTÉ. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Admin (12 April 2025). "Club Statement: Dário Castelo". Athlone Town AFC. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Top scorers". Extra Time. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ 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.