SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division
FIFA Region
UEFA
Season
2021
Location
Republic of Ireland
Abbreviation
IRL1

Summary

The League of Ireland Premier Division (IRL1) (SSE Airtricity League) is the top football league in the Republic of Ireland's football system. At the end of the 2021 IRL1 season, the IRL1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:

  • 2022 - 2023 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
    • 1st place 2021 IRL1 team
  • 2022 - 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League - 1st Qualifying Round:
    • 2nd and 3rd place 2021 IRL1 teams

The winner of the 2021 FAI Ford Cup, typically an IRL1 team, also receives a berth in the 1st Qualifying Round of the 2022 - 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Leagues Pyramid - Republic of Ireland

Abbrev League # of Teams
IRL1 League of Ireland Premier Division 10
IRL2 League of Ireland First Division 10

Competition Structure

Season

# of Teams

19 Mar 2021 - 19 Nov 2021  10: IRL1 (8 minimum), IRL2 (2 maximum)

Season Format

The IRL1 season consists of a double round robin format where each IRL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 9 IRL1 teams twice, for a total of 36 league matches. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goal difference, then (2) goals scored.

Playoffs

Not applicable.

Relegation

At the end of the 2021 IRL1 season, the 10th place IRL1 team is relegated to the IRL2, and the 9th place IRL1 team enters into a Home-Away highest aggregate score playoff with the 2nd/3rd place team that won the IRL2 Promotion playoff. The winner of this playoff and the 1st place IRL2 team play in the 2022 IRL1.


More Info...


Relegation Playoffs

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Fri - 26 Nov 2021
 Waterford FC (IRL1) 12 Univ College Dublin AFC (IRL2)Richmond Park (Dublin)
 Univ College Dublin AFC is promoted to IRL1 

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Shamrock Rovers 3624 -6-678-5928311812 -5-1413213191812 -1-537271512
2St Patrick's Athletic FC 3618 -8-1062-5642141812 -2-438301812186 -6-62426242
3Sligo Rovers FC 3616 -9-1157-433211188 -5-529241311188 -4-62819190
4Derry City FC 3614 -12-1054-49427186 -8-42626206188 -4-62823221
5Bohemians FC 3614 -10-1252-604614189 -4-531382216185 -6-7212224-2
6Dundalk FC 3613 -9-1448-4446-2189 -2-72924222184 -7-7192024-4
7Drogheda United FC 3612 -8-1644-45432187 -4-72522175185 -4-9192326-3
8Finn Harps FC 3611 -11-1444-4452-8185 -6-72123221186 -5-7232130-9
9Waterford FC 3612 -6-1842-3656-20186 -4-8222029-9186 -2-10201627-11
10Longford Town FC 362 -9-2515-2271-49182 -4-12101132-21180 -5-1351139-28
2022-2023 UEFACL
UEFAECL
Relegation Playoffs
Relegation to IRL2

Results

Fri - 19 Nov 2021
 Sligo Rovers FC 11 Bohemians FCThe Showgrounds (Sligo)
 Waterford FC 00 St Patrick's Athletic FCWaterford Regional Sports Centre
Sat - 13 Nov 2021
 Longford Town FC 11 Waterford FCBishopsgate Stadium
Fri - 12 Nov 2021
 Derry City FC 20 Sligo Rovers FCThe Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
 St Patrick's Athletic FC 22 Finn Harps FCRichmond Park (Dublin)
Sun - 7 Nov 2021
Fri - 5 Nov 2021
 St Patrick's Athletic FC 03 Sligo Rovers FCRichmond Park (Dublin)
 Waterford FC 13 Shamrock RoversWaterford Regional Sports Centre
Thu - 4 Nov 2021
 Drogheda United FC 01 Dundalk FCHead in the Game Park
Tue - 2 Nov 2021
 Waterford FC 22 Derry City FCWaterford Regional Sports Centre
Mon - 1 Nov 2021
 Sligo Rovers FC 10 Longford Town FCThe Showgrounds (Sligo)
 St Patrick's Athletic FC 22 Bohemians FCRichmond Park (Dublin)
Fri - 29 Oct 2021
 Sligo Rovers FC 20 Drogheda United FCThe Showgrounds (Sligo)