2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
42nd season of the League of Ireland Premier Division
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The 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 42nd season of the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top Irish league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1985.
Season2026
Dates6 February 2026 – 30 October 2026
Matches121
Goals338 (2.79 per match)
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 February 2026 – 30 October 2026 |
| Matches | 121 |
| Goals | 338 (2.79 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Tommy Lonergan (12 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Dundalk 5–0 Waterford (13 March 2026) |
| Biggest away win | Sligo Rovers 0–4 Bohemians (14 February 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Galway United 4–3 Waterford (16 March 2026) Shelbourne 3–4 Drogheda United (24 March 2026) |
| Longest winning run | 5 matches Bohemians |
| Longest unbeaten run | 10 matches Bohemians |
| Longest winless run | 16 matches Waterford |
| Longest losing run | 5 matches Waterford |
| Highest attendance | 21,472 Bohemians 0–0 St Patrick's Athletic (8 February 2026) |
| Lowest attendance | 454 Galway United 0–1 Dundalk (12 June 2026) |
| Total attendance | 316,636 |
| Average attendance | 3,861 |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of 16 May 2026. | |
The competition began on 6 February 2026 and is set to conclude on 30 October 2026.[2]
Shamrock Rovers are the defending champions, having won their 10th Premier Division title the previous season.
Teams
The league consists of ten teams – the top nine teams from the previous season and one team promoted as champions from the First Division, Dundalk.[3] They replaced Cork City who were relegated after a single season in the top flight.[4]
Stadiums and locations
Dublin
Locations of Premier Division teams
Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park | 4,500 |
| Dublin (Ballsbridge) | Aviva Stadium[5] | 51,711 | |
| Derry City | Derry | Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium | 6,242 |
| Celtic Park[6] | 18,500 | ||
| Drogheda United | Drogheda | Sullivan and Lambe Park | 3,500 |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park | 4,500 |
| Galway United | Galway | Eamonn Deacy Park | 5,000 |
| Galway (Salthill) | Pearse Stadium[7] | 26,197 | |
| Cork | Turners Cross[8] | 7,485 | |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Tallaght) | Tallaght Stadium | 10,500 |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Drumcondra) | Tolka Park | 6,450 |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds | 3,873 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Dublin (Inchicore) | Richmond Park | 5,500 |
| Waterford | Waterford | RSC | 5,160 |
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 |  Alan Reynolds |
Dawson Devoy |
O'Neills | Des Kelly Interiors Kneecap[note 1] |
| Derry City |  Tiernan Lynch |
Michael Duffy |
O'Neills | Diamond Corrugated |
| Drogheda United | Kevin Doherty |
Ryan Brennan |
Macron | NoFo Brew Co[9] |
| Dundalk | Ciarán Kilduff |
Daryl Horgan[10] |
Macron | ZOMA[11] |
| Galway United | John Caulfield |
Jimmy Keohane |
O'Neills | Comer Property Management |
| Shamrock Rovers | Stephen Bradley |
 Roberto Lopes |
Macron | MASCOT Workwear |
| Shelbourne | John Russell |
Paddy Barrett |
O'Neills | Chadwicks[12] |
| Sligo Rovers | TBC | Will Fitzgerald |
Umbro | Avant Money[13] |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Stephen Kenny |
Joe Redmond |
Umbro | Clune[14] Elliott Group[note 2][15] The Wolfe Tones[note 3][16] |
| Waterford | Graham Coughlan |
Pádraig Amond[17] |
Puma | WhiteBox[18] |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford |  Matt Lawlor (interim) |
End of interim spell | 16 November 2025[19] | Pre-season | Jon Daly |
16 November 2025[19] |
| Jon Daly |
Sacked | 2 May 2026[20] | 10th | Brian Murphy (interim) |
2 May 2026[21] | |
| Brian Murphy (interim) |
End of interim spell | 6 May 2026[22] | 10th | Graham Coughlan |
6 May 2026[22] | |
| Shelbourne | Joey O'Brien |
Sacked | 25 June 2026[23] | 5th | Lorcan Fitzgerald (interim) |
25 June 2026[23] |
| Lorcan Fitzgerald (interim) |
End of interim spell | 13 July 2026[24] | 5th | John Russell |
13 July 2026[24] | |
| Sligo Rovers | John Russell |
Compensated by Shelbourne | 13 July 2026[25] | 10th | Ryan Casey (interim) |
13 July 2026[26] |
League table
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 22 | +18 | 50 | Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Bohemians | 25 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 43 | Qualification for Conference League second qualifying round |
| 3 | St Patrick's Athletic | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 20 | +19 | 42 | Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Dundalk | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 35 | |
| 5 | Shelbourne | 24 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 34 | |
| 6 | Derry City | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 29 | |
| 7 | Galway United | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 39 | −7 | 27 | |
| 8 | Drogheda United | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 41 | −12 | 25 | |
| 9 | Waterford | 24 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 21 | Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off |
| 10 | Sligo Rovers | 24 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 20 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 July 2026. Source: League of Ireland
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Results
Teams play each other four times (twice at home and twice away).
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.
| Leader and qualification for Champions League first qualifying round | |
| Qualification for Conference League second qualifying round | |
| Qualification for Conference League first qualifying round | |
| Qualification for promotion/relegation play-off | |
| Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
Updated to match(es) played on 10 July 2026. Source: Extra Time
Season statistics
- As of 23 June 2026
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[27] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Doyle |
Drogheda United | 9 |
| 2 | Ryan Edmondson |
St Patrick's Athletic | 8 |
| Tommy Lonergan |
Waterford | ||
| Colm Whelan |
Bohemians | ||
| Harry Wood |
Shelbourne | ||
| 6 | Gbemi Arubi |
Dundalk | 7 |
| Pádraig Amond |
Waterford | ||
| John Martin |
Shelbourne | ||
 Kris Twardek |
Galway United | ||
| Graham Burke |
Shamrock Rovers | ||
| Michael Duffy |
Derry City | ||
| Daryl Horgan |
Dundalk |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colm Whelan |
Bohemians | Sligo Rovers | 4–0 (A) | 14 February 2026 | [28] |
| Michael Duffy |
Derry City | Waterford | 4–2 (H) | 27 February 2026 | [29] |
| Pádraig Amond |
Waterford | Sligo Rovers | 4–0 (H) | 12 June 2026 | [30] |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward McGinty |
Shamrock Rovers | 9 |
| 2 |  Kacper Chorążka |
Bohemians | 7 |
| 3 |  Joseph Anang |
St Patrick's Athletic | 6 |
| 4 | Sam Sargeant |
Sligo Rovers | 5 |
 Wessel Speel |
Shelbourne | ||
 Eddie Beach |
Derry City | ||
| 7 |  Luke Dennison |
Drogheda United | 4 |
| Enda Minogue |
Dundalk | ||
| 9 | Danny Rogers |
St Patrick's Athletic | 2 |
| Fynn Talley |
Drogheda United | ||
| Stephen McMullan |
Waterford | ||
| 12 | Evan Watts |
Galway United | 1 |
| Paul Walters |
Bohemians |
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 9
Dawson Devoy (Bohemians)
- Most red cards: 1
- 14 players
Club
- Most yellow cards: 69
- Shelbourne
- Most red cards: 6
- Dundalk
Awards
Monthly awards
| Month | Player of the Month | Goal of the Month | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | Player | Club | ||
| February | Michael Duffy |
Derry City | Eoin Kenny |
Dundalk | [31][32] |
| March | Patrick Hickey |
Bohemians | Jack Henry-Francis |
Shelbourne | [33][34] |
| April | Will Fitzgerald |
Sligo Rovers | Stephen Walsh |
Galway United | [35][36] |