2025 League of Ireland First Division

League of Ireland First Division
Season2025
Dates14 February 2025 – 17 October 2025
Matches played134
Goals scored353 (2.63 per match)
Top goalscorerBarry Coffey
(18 goals)
Biggest home winCobh 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 winAthlone Town 0–5 Treaty United
(21 February 2025)
Highest scoringWexford 4–3 Kerry
(27 June 2025)
Dundalk 6–1 Athlone Town
(8 August 2025)
Longest winning runBray Wanderers
(7 matches)
Longest unbeaten runDundalk
(19 matches)
Longest winless runAthlone Town
(13 matches)
Longest losing runKerry
(5 matches)
Highest attendance2,600
Dundalk 1–0 Athlone Town
(14 February 2025)
Lowest attendance180
UCD 0–3 Cobh Ramblers
(20 June 2025)
Total attendance111,771
Average attendance847
2024
2026
All statistics correct as of 9 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]

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

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

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

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of

departure

Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of

appointment

Dundalk Republic of Ireland Jon Daly[4] Resigned 2 November 2024 Pre-season Republic of Ireland Ciarán Kilduff[5] 6 November 2024
Wexford Republic of Ireland James Keddy[6] 6 November 2024 Republic of Ireland Stephen Elliott[7] 26 November 2024
Finn Harps Northern Ireland Darren Murphy[8][9] Signed by Loughgall 25 March 2025 8th Republic of Ireland Kevin McHugh[10] 2 April 2025
Athlone Town Portugal Dario Castelo[11] Mutual consent 12 April 2025 10th Republic of Ireland Ian Ryan[12] 8 June 2025
Kerry Republic of Ireland Conor McCarthy[13] 5 May 2025 9th Republic of Ireland Colin Healy[13] 5 May 2025

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Dundalk 27 18 7 2 50 20 +30 61 Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
2 Cobh Ramblers 27 17 4 6 50 25 +25 55 Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off
3 Bray Wanderers 27 16 2 9 46 36 +10 50
4 UCD 27 12 6 9 30 25 +5 42
5 Treaty United 27 9 8 10 41 31 +10 35
6 Wexford 27 8 6 13 30 39 −9 30
7 Finn Harps 26 6 10 10 30 35 −5 28
8 Longford Town 27 7 7 13 27 48 −21 28
9 Kerry 26 7 4 15 29 43 −14 25
10 Athlone Town 27 3 8 16 20 51 −31 17
Updated to match(es) played on 9 August 2025. Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored


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 0–1 2–3 0–0 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–5 2–1 1–1
0–0 2–2 1–2
Bray Wanderers 1–3 2–1 1–3 3–1 4–2 4–0 2–1 2–0 1–2
3–1 0–2 2–0 3–2 1–3 1–0
Cobh Ramblers 2–0 2–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 5–0 2–1 1–0 1–3
2–1 1–0 3–1 4–0
Dundalk 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–0
6–1 1–0 4–1 1–1 3–2
Finn Harps 0–2 5–0 1–2 0–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1
2–2 2–2 1–0 0–0
Kerry 3–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–0[a] 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–1
4–0 2–1 0–4 0–1 0–3
Longford Town 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 0–0 3–2 2–0 0–1
3–2 1–2 3–1 2–0 0–2
Treaty United 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–0 5–1 4–0 0–1
2–1 0–1 1–1 0–0
UCD 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 3–0[b]
0–3 0–1 3–1 1–1 1–0
Wexford 0–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–0 0–1
0–0 2–1 4–3 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 4 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
Dundalk4111111111111111111111111111
Cobh Ramblers2232222333333232222222222222
Bray Wanderers3564674222222323333333333333
UCD14457535577666665555555444444
Treaty United7323335465654444444444455555
Wexford1095756864444555566666666666
Finn Harps5710898677657779988997788877
Longford Town98710101010888898108899889877798
Kerry6689899109101010987777778999989
Athlone Town81096447910998109101010101010101010101010101010
Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off
Updated to match(es) played on 9 August 2025. Source:

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 9 August 2025[14]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Republic of Ireland Barry Coffey Cobh Ramblers 18
2 Republic of Ireland Mikie Rowe Wexford 15
3 Republic of Ireland Lee Devitt Treaty United 13
4 Republic of Ireland Dean Ebbe Dundalk 9
5 Republic of Ireland Max Murphy Bray Wanderers 8
Republic of Ireland Cian Murphy Cobh Ramblers
7 Republic of Ireland Gbemi Arubi Dundalk 6
Republic of Ireland Adam Brennan UCD
Republic of Ireland Cian Curtis Wexford
Republic of Ireland Aaron Doran Longford Town
Republic of Ireland Calum Flynn Wexford
Republic of Ireland Danú Kinsella-Bishop Bray Wanderers
Republic of Ireland Sean McGrath Kerry
Republic of Ireland Dara McGuinness Finn Harps
Republic of Ireland Billy O'Neill Bray Wanderers
Republic of Ireland Michael Raggett UCD
Republic of Ireland Gideon Tetteh Athlone Town

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Republic of Ireland Lee Devitt Treaty United Athlone Town 5–0 (A) 21 February 2025 [15]
Republic of Ireland Sean McGrath Kerry Wexford 3–4 (A) 27 June 2025 [16]
Republic of Ireland Shane Griffin Cobh Ramblers Longford Town 3–1 (H) 1 August 2025 [17]

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. ^ a b "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.