2023 League of Ireland First Division
39th edition of the 2nd tier competition in association football in Ireland
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The 2023 League of Ireland First Division season was the 39th season of the League of Ireland First Division, the second tier of the Republic of Ireland's association football league.
Waterford
| Season | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 17 February 2023 – 20 October 2023 |
| Champions | Galway United |
| Promoted | Galway United Waterford |
| Matches | 180 |
| Goals | 550 (3.06 per match) |
| Total attendance | 196,050[1] |
| Average attendance | 1,089 |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of 25 November 2023. | |
The winners (Galway United) were promoted to the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division.[2][3] The runners-up (Waterford) were also promoted after winning the League of Ireland Premier Division play-off.
Overview
The First Division has 10 teams. Each side plays each other four times for a total of 36 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 2024 Premier Division against the ninth placed (second last) Premier Division team.[4][5]
Teams
Team changes
Cork City were promoted to the 2023 Premier Division as 2022 First Division champions.[6] Finn Harps were relegated from the 2022 Premier Division.[7]
Additional teams
Newly formed Kerry F.C. successfully applied for a First Division licence to compete in the 2023 season.[8]
Stadia and locations
| 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 |
| Finn Harps | Ballybofey | Finn Park | 6,000 |
| Galway United | Galway | Eamonn Deacy Park | 5,000 |
| Kerry | Tralee | Mounthawk Park | 1,200 |
| Longford Town | Longford | Bishopsgate | 5,097 |
| Treaty United | Limerick | Markets Field | 5,000 |
| Waterford | Waterford | RSC | 5,160 |
| 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.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone Town |  Dario Castelo |
 Aaron Connolly |
Umbro | Hayden & Co. Solicitors |
| Bray Wanderers | Ian Ryan |
Dane Massey |
Nike | VisualPrint |
| Cobh Ramblers | Shane Keegan |
John Kavanagh |
Uhlsport | McCarthy Insurance Group |
| Finn Harps |  Darren Murphy |
Ryan Rainey |
Joma | So-Lo Stores |
| Galway United | John Caulfield |
Conor McCormack |
O'Neill's | Comer Property Management |
| Kerry | Billy Dennehy |
Matt Keane |
New Balance | Kerry Airport |
| Longford Town | Stephen Henderson |
Shane Elworthy |
Macron | Bishopsgate |
| Treaty United | Tommy Barrett |
Jack Lynch |
Umbro | Derrin Homes |
| Waterford | Keith Long |
Eddie Nolan |
Umbro | DG FOODS LTD |
| Wexford | James Keddy |
Ethan Boyle |
Summa Sports | Campion Insurance |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford |  Danny Searle |
Sacked | 27 March 2023 | 5th | Keith Long |
29 March 2023 |
| Athlone Town | Dermot Lennon |
Mutual Consent | 15 April 2023 | 5th | Gordon Brett |
15 April 2023 |
| Athlone Town | Gordon Brett |
Change of Role | 15 May 2023 | 5th |  Emilio Williams |
19 May 2023 |
| Finn Harps | Dave Rogers |
Mutual Consent | 23 September 2023 | 9th | Darren Murphy |
27 September 2023 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galway United (C, P) | 36 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 98 | 18 | +80 | 94 | Promotion to League of Ireland Premier Division |
| 2 | Waterford (O, P) | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 84 | 32 | +52 | 69 | Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off |
| 3 | Cobh Ramblers | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 61 | 51 | +10 | 59 | |
| 4 | Wexford | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 48 | 49 | −1 | 53 | |
| 5 | Athlone Town | 36 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 55 | 61 | −6 | 47 | |
| 6 | Treaty United | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 49 | 61 | −12 | 44 | |
| 7 | Bray Wanderers | 36 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 48 | 62 | −14 | 44 | |
| 8 | Longford Town | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 39 | 51 | −12 | 40 | |
| 9 | Finn Harps | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 39 | 74 | −35 | 37 | |
| 10 | Kerry | 36 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 29 | 91 | −62 | 10 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank [9] | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronan Coughlan |
Waterford | 33 |
| 2 | David Hurley |
Galway United | 21 |
| 3 |  Frantz Pierrot |
Athlone Town | 20 |
| 4 | Stephen Walsh |
Galway United | 14 |
| 5 | Aaron Dobbs |
Wexford F.C. | 13 |
| Jack Doherty |
Cobh Ramblers | ||
| 7 | Enda Curran |
Treaty United | 12 |
| 8 | Wilson Waweru |
Cobh Ramblers | 11 |
| 9 |  Valerii Dolia |
Athlone Town | 10 |
| Roland Idowu |
Waterford F.C. | ||
 Cristian Măgerușan |
Longford Town |
Attendances
| # | Club | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galway United | 2,012 |
| 2 | Waterford | 1,878 |
| 3 | Finn Harps | 1,135 |
| 4 | Cobh Ramblers | 1,003 |
| 5 | Athlone Town | 872 |
| 6 | Kerry | 782 |
| 7 | Wexford | 693 |
| 8 | Longford Town | 684 |
| 9 | Bray | 681 |
| 10 | Treaty United | 642 |
Source:[10]