Wikipedia

2021 League of Ireland Premier Division

The 2021 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 37th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top Irish league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1985. Shamrock Rovers were the defending champions,[2] having won their sixth league title the previous season. Shamrock Rovers went on to retain the title.[3][4]

League of Ireland Premier Division
Season2021
Dates19 March – 19 November 2021
ChampionsShamrock Rovers (19th title)
RelegatedLongford Town F.C., Waterford
Champions LeagueShamrock Rovers
Europa Conference LeagueSt Patrick's Athletic
Sligo Rovers
Derry City
Matches played180
Goals scored458 (2.54 per match)
Top goalscorerGeorgie Kelly (21 goals)
Biggest home winBohemians 5–0 Drogheda United
(18 June 2021), Finn Harps 5-0 Longford Town
(19 November 2021)
Biggest away winWaterford 0–7 Drogheda United
(8 May 2021)
Highest scoringWaterford 0–7 Drogheda United
(8 May 2021)
Longest winning runShamrock Rovers (7 games)
Longest unbeaten runShamrock Rovers (11 games)
Longest winless runLongford Town (25 games)
Longest losing runWaterford (7 games)
Longford Town (7 games)
Highest attendance7,765 Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Drogheda United
(19 November 2021)
Lowest attendance0
← 2020
2022 →
All statistics correct as of 20 November 2021.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic edit

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports in the Republic of Ireland, the FAI met with the National League Executive Committee on 2 January 2021 and a decision was reached to move the start date for the Premier Division until at least 19 March 2021.[5]

Teams edit

Ten teams compete in the league – the top eight teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams are Drogheda United and Longford Town, after respective top flight absences of four and five years. They replaced Cork City (relegated after nine years in the top flight), and Shelbourne (relegated via play-off after only a year back in the top flight).[6][7]

Stadiums and locations edit

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Locations of Premier Division teams
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Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Bohemians Dublin (Phibsborough) Dalymount Park 3,640
Derry City Derry Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium 3,700
Drogheda United Drogheda Head In The Game Park 3,500
Dundalk Dundalk Oriel Park 4,500
Finn Harps Ballybofey Finn Park 6,000
Longford Town Longford Bishopsgate 5,097
St Patrick's Athletic Dublin (Inchicore) Richmond Park 5,340
Shamrock Rovers Dublin (Tallaght) Tallaght Stadium 8,000
Sligo Rovers Sligo The Showgrounds 3,873
Waterford Waterford Regional Sports Centre 5,500

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
Bohemians   Keith Long   Keith Buckley O'Neills Des Kelly Interiors
Derry City   Ruaidhrí Higgins   Eoin Toal Adidas Diamond Corrugated
Drogheda United   Tim Clancy   Jake Hyland Umbro Scotch Hall Shopping Center
Dundalk   Vinny Perth   Brian Gartland Umbro Bet Regal
Finn Harps   Ollie Horgan   David Webster Joma Guild Esports
Longford Town   John Martin   Dean Zambra Macron Bishopsgate
St Patrick's Athletic   Stephen O'Donnell   Ian Bermingham Umbro MIG Insurance Brokers
Shamrock Rovers   Stephen Bradley   Ronan Finn Umbro 888sport
Sligo Rovers   Liam Buckley   David Cawley Joma Avant Money
Waterford   Marc Bircham   Oscar Brennan Umbro WIT Arena

Managerial changes edit

Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure 		Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Dundalk   Filippo Giovagnoli Change of role 10 March 2021 Pre-season   Shane Keegan 10 March 2021
Dundalk   Shane Keegan Resigned 19 April 2021 9th   Jim Magilton (interim) 19 April 2021
Derry City   Declan Devine Sacked 22 April 2021 10th   Ruaidhrí Higgins 23 April 2021
Waterford   Kevin Sheedy Resigned 5 May 2021 10th   Mike Geoghegan (interim) 5 May 2021
Waterford   Mike Geoghegan (interim) End of interim spell 12 May 2021 10th   Marc Bircham 12 May 2021
Dundalk   Jim Magilton (interim) End of interim spell 16 June 2021 8th   Vinny Perth 16 June 2021
Longford Town   Daire Doyle Sacked 2 November 2021 10th   John Martin (interim) 2 November 2021
Waterford   Marc Bircham Sacked 23 November 2021 9th   Ian Hendon 24 November 2021

League table edit

Standings edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Shamrock Rovers (C) 36 24 6 6 59 28 +31 78 Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
2 St Patrick's Athletic 36 18 8 10 56 42 +14 62 Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round[a]
3 Sligo Rovers 36 16 9 11 43 32 +11 57 Qualification to Europa Conference League first qualifying round
4 Derry City 36 14 12 10 49 42 +7 54
5 Bohemians 36 14 10 12 60 46 +14 52
6 Dundalk 36 13 9 14 44 46 −2 48
7 Drogheda United 36 12 8 16 45 43 +2 44
8 Finn Harps 36 11 11 14 44 52 −8 44
9 Waterford (R) 36 12 6 18 36 56 −20 42 Qualification to Relegation play-offs
10 Longford Town (R) 36 2 9 25 22 71 −49 15 Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
Source: SSE Airtricity League, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[8]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Since the winners of the 2021 FAI Cup (St Patrick's Athletic) qualified for European competition based on their league position, the final spot awarded to the Cup winner passed to the next best-placed team i.e fourth-placed team.

Positions by round edit

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Bohemians879666687666655544454444556555555445
Derry City1010101010101078888887767667655444444444554
Drogheda United256455555544444455545566665666666777
Dundalk478998766777778876776777999988777666
Finn Harps211244444455566788888898777777999888
Longford Town12477791099999910101010101010101010101010101010101010101010
St Patrick's Athletic431123112223333211332222222222222222
Shamrock Rovers465511221111221122111111111111111111
Sligo Rovers431331333332112333223333333333333333
Waterford897889891010101010109999999989888899888999
Source: Extratime.com
  = Leader and UEFA Champions League first qualifying round;   = UEFA Conference League first qualifying round;   = Qualification to the Relegation play-offs;   = Relegation to the League of Ireland First Division

Results edit

Teams will play each other four times (twice at home, twice away).

Matches 1–18 edit

Home \ Away BOH DER DRO DUN FHA LON SHM SLI STP WAT
Bohemians — 1–2 5–0 5–1 4–0 2–2 1–0 1–3 0–1 3–0
Derry City 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–2
Drogheda United 1–1 1–2 — 0–1 1–1 4–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–0
Dundalk 0–1 2–1 2–1 — 1–2 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–3
Finn Harps 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 2–1
Longford Town 0–2 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–0 — 0–1 0–1 1–3 1–2
Shamrock Rovers 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 — 0–1 1–1 3–0
Sligo Rovers 4–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 3–0*
St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 2–0 2–1 0–2 4–1 3–0 1–2 2–0 — 1–0
Waterford 0–1 0–1 0–7 0–3 1–2 1–0 1–4 1–2 1–1 —
Source: [1], Extratime.ie
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.

*Note Sligo Rovers were awarded a 3–0 victory by the FAI after Waterford opted out of playing the game due to COVID-19 cases in their squad.[9]

Matches 19–36 edit

Home \ Away BOH DER DRO DUN FHA LON SHM SLI STP WAT
Bohemians — 3–3 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–2 1–2
Derry City 1–1 — 3–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 2–4 2–0 1–0 2–0
Drogheda United 3–2 1–0 — 0–1 3–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–2
Dundalk 2–1 1–2 1–2 — 1–0 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–4 1–0
Finn Harps 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–2 — 5–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 0–1
Longford Town 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–3 — 0–1 0–1 1–4 1–1
Shamrock Rovers 1–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 3–0 1–0 — 2–0 3–1 2–0
Sligo Rovers 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 — 2–0 1–1
St Patrick's Athletic 2–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–2 0–1 0–3 — 2–1
Waterford 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–1 4–1 4–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 —
Source: [2], Extratime.ie
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.

Season statistics edit

Top scorers edit

Last updated after fixtures on 19 November 2021.

Rank Player Club Goals
1   Georgie Kelly Bohemians 21
2   Danny Mandroiu Shamrock Rovers 15
3   Mark Doyle Drogheda United 13
4   Patrick Hoban Dundalk 12
5   Matty Smith St Patrick's Athletic 11
  Johnny Kenny Sligo Rovers
  Graham Burke Shamrock Rovers
8   John Martin Waterford 10
  Tunde Owolabi Finn Harps
10   Chris Lyons Drogheda United 9
  Liam Burt Bohemians

Clean sheets edit

Last updated after fixtures on 19 November 2021.

Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1   Alan Mannus Shamrock Rovers 13
2   Ed McGinty Sligo Rovers 12
3   Vítězslav Jaroš St Patrick's Athletic 11
4   Nathan Gartside Derry City 9
5   James Talbot Bohemians 8
6   David Odumosu Drogheda United 7
7   Mark McGinley Finn Harps 6
8   Peter Cherrie Dundalk 5
9   Brian Murphy Waterford 3
  Alessio Abibi Dundalk

Play-offs edit

First Division play-off Semi-finals edit

First leg edit

3 November 2021 Bray Wanderers 0–0 Galway United Carlisle Grounds
19:45 IST
3 November 2021 Treaty United 0–3 UCD Markets Field
19:45 IST Tadhg Ryan   34' (o.g.)
Colm Whelan   79', 92'

Second leg edit

7 November 2021 Galway United 0–1
(0–1 agg.)		 Bray Wanderers Eamonn Deacy Park
17:00 IST Brandon Kavanagh   22'
7 November 2021 UCD 1–2
(4–2 agg.)		 Treaty United UCD Bowl
17:00 IST Adam Verdon   67' Conor Melody   8'
Anthony O’Donnell   52'

First Division play-off Final edit

19 November 2021 Bray Wanderers 0–2 UCD Dalymount Park
19:45 IST Colm Whelan   68'
Paul Doyle   86'		 Referee: Oliver Moran

Promotion/relegation play-off edit

26 November 2021 Waterford 1–2 UCD Richmond Park
19:45 IST Anthony Wordsworth   5'
Niall O'Keeffe   87'  		 Report Dara Keane   26'
Colm Whelan   34'		 Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Awards edit

Monthly awards edit

Month Player of the Month Ref.
Player Club
March/April   Chris Forrester St Patrick's Athletic [10]
May   Greg Bolger Sligo Rovers [11]
June   Georgie Kelly Bohemians [12]
July   Dawson Devoy Bohemians [13]
August   Ali Coote Bohemians [14]
September   Georgie Kelly Bohemians [15]
October   Danny Mandroiu Shamrock Rovers [16]
November   Colm Whelan UCD [17]

Annual awards edit

Award Winner Club
PFAI Player of the Year   Georgie Kelly Bohemians
PFAI Young Player of the Year   Dawson Devoy Bohemians
PFAI Premier Division Manager of the Year   Stephen Bradley Shamrock Rovers
PFAI Team of the Year
Goalkeeper   James Talbot (Bohemians)
Defenders   Ronan Boyce (Derry City)   Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers)   Liam Scales (Shamrock Rovers)   James Brown (Drogheda United)
Midfielders   Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic)   Dawson Devoy (Bohemians)   Will Patching (Derry City/Dundalk)
Forwards   Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers)   Georgie Kelly (Bohemians)   Liam Burt (Bohemians)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "SSE Airtricity extends title sponsorship of League of Ireland". The Irish Times. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Shamrock Rovers crowned champions and Cork City relegated after Finn Harps win over Bohs". The 42.ie. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Shamrock Rovers ease past Harps to claim 19th league title". RTE Sport. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Shamrock Rovers claim 19th Premier Division title with victory over Finn Harps". Irish Independent. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  5. ^ "League of Ireland season deferred until mid-March". RTÉ.ie. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Drogheda seal promotion as play-off places are decided". RTÉ.ie. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Longford earn promotion as Shels' collapse completed". RTÉ.ie. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Premier Division 2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Sligo Rovers awarded victory following Waterford withdrawal due to Covid-cases". rte.ie. RTÉ. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ^ "CHRIS FORRESTER NAMED SSE AIRTRICITY/SWI APRIL PLAYER OF THE MONTH". 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Bolger lands monthly honour after leading Sligo top". RTÉ.ie. 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Free-scoring Georgie Kelly named League of Ireland Player of the Month". 6 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Bohs' teen sensation Dawson Devoy recognised after a string of outstanding performances". 10 August 2021.
  14. ^ Team, The42 (8 September 2021). "Bohemians winger Ali Coote named Player of the Month after excellent August". The42.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Kelly lands monthly award as Bohs make it four on spin". RTÉ.ie. 14 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Mandroiu finally lands monthly honour for Hoops". 9 November 2021 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ "Ireland U21 striker Whelan named November's Player of the Month after netting 25 goals in 2021". 7 December 2021.

External links edit

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