2025 League of Ireland First Division

League of Ireland First Division
Season2025
Dates14 February 2025 – 17 October 2025
ChampionsDundalk (3rd title)
PromotedDundalk
Matches179
Goals502 (2.8 per match)
Top goalscorerBarry Coffey
(26 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 winTreaty United 0–7 Dundalk
(22 August 2025)
Highest scoringWexford 4–3 Kerry
(27 June 2025)
Dundalk 6–1 Athlone Town
(8 August 2025)
Treaty United 0–7 Dundalk
(22 August 2025)
Finn Harps 3–4 UCD
(17 October 2025)
Longest winning run7 matches
Bray Wanderers
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Dundalk
Longest winless run22 matches
Athlone Town
Longest losing run7 matches
Athlone Town
Highest attendance3,358
Dundalk 3–0 Finn Harps
(10 October 2025)
Lowest attendance154
Athlone Town 0–0 Kerry
(22 September 2025)
Total attendance157,095
Average attendance872
← 2024
2026 →
All statistics correct as of 13 November 2025.

The 2025 League of Ireland First Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 41st season of the League of Ireland First Division. The competition began on 14 February 2025,[2] and concluded on 17 October 2025.[3]

On 10 October, Dundalk won the title after a 3–0 win against Finn Harps.[4][5]

Teams

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2025 First Division 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 the 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 Richie Holland (interim) Republic of Ireland Shane Griffin 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 Aaron Dobbs 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[6] Resigned 2 November 2024 Pre-season Republic of Ireland Ciarán Kilduff[7] 6 November 2024
Wexford Republic of Ireland James Keddy[8] 6 November 2024 Republic of Ireland Stephen Elliott[9] 26 November 2024
Cobh Ramblers Republic of Ireland Gary Hunt[10] Sacked 15 November 2024 Northern Ireland Mick McDermott[11] 4 December 2024
Finn Harps Northern Ireland Darren Murphy[12][13] Signed by Loughgall 25 March 2025 8th Republic of Ireland Kevin McHugh[14] 2 April 2025
Athlone Town Portugal Dario Castelo[15] Mutual consent 12 April 2025 10th Republic of Ireland Ian Ryan[16] 8 June 2025
Kerry Republic of Ireland Conor McCarthy[17] 5 May 2025 9th Republic of Ireland Colin Healy[17] 5 May 2025
Cobh Ramblers Northern Ireland Mick McDermott[18] Sacked 17 October 2025 2nd Republic of Ireland Richie Holland (interim)[19] 17 October 2025

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Dundalk (C, P) 36 23 10 3 74 31 +43 79 Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
2 Cobh Ramblers 36 21 6 9 70 38 +32 69 Qualification for First Division play-offs
3 Bray Wanderers 36 20 2 14 63 53 +10 62
4 UCD 36 17 8 11 50 40 +10 59
5 Treaty United 36 13 9 14 51 48 +3 48
6 Longford Town 36 12 9 15 43 59 −16 45
7 Wexford 36 12 8 16 42 51 −9 44
8 Finn Harps 35 8 12 15 42 55 −13 36
9 Kerry 35 8 9 18 38 58 −20 33
10 Athlone Town 36 3 11 22 29 69 −40 20
Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted


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
— 0–4 0–3 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–2
Bray Wanderers 3–1 — 2–1 1–3 3–1 4–2 4–0 2–1 2–0 1–2
3–1 — 0–2 2–0 3–2 5–1 0–2 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 3–1 — 1–2 4–1 1–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 4–0
Dundalk 1–0 2–2 1–0 — 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–0
6–1 3–1 1–0 — 3–0 3–3 4–1 1–1 3–2 3–2
Finn Harps 0–2 5–0 1–2 0–1 — 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1
2–1 2–2 2–2 1–0 — 1–1 0–0 1–0 3–4 1–3
Kerry 3–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–0[a] — 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–1
4–0 2–1 1–1 0–4 0–1 — 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–2
Longford Town 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 0–0 3–2 — 2–0 0–1 2–1
3–2 1–2 3–1 3–2 1–1 3–1 — 2–0 0–2 2–2
Treaty United 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–0 5–1 — 4–0 0–1
3–2 2–1 2–1 0–7 0–1 1–1 1–2 — 1–0 0–0
UCD 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 — 3–0[b]
2–2 3–2 0–3 0–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 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 0–1 3–2 0–0 2–1 4–3 0–1 0–2 0–3 —
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
Dundalk411111111111111111111111111111111111
Cobh Ramblers223222233333323222222222222222222222
Bray Wanderers356467422222232333333333333333333333
UCD144575355776666655555554444444444444
Treaty United732333546565444444444445555555555555
Longford Town98710101010888898108899889877798999887776
Wexford1095756864444555566666666666777766667
Finn Harps5710898677657779988997788877666678888
Kerry6689899109101010987777778999989888999999
Athlone Town8109644791099810910101010101010101010101010101010101010101010
Promotion to 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off
Source: [citation needed]

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The ninth-placed team from the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division will qualify for a play-off alongside the second, third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams from the 2025 League of Ireland First Division (Cobh Ramblers, Bray Wanderers, UCD, and Treaty United).

The First Division teams will contest the First Division semi-finals and final. The semi-finals were held over two legs, with the second-placed team facing the fifth-placed team and the third-placed team facing the fourth-placed team. The semi-final winners then contest the First Division final, with the winners ultimately facing the ninth-placed League of Ireland Premier Division team for the final place in the 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division.

The promotion/relegation play-offs will take place from 24 October to 7 November 2025.[20]

Bracket

Semi-finals

24 October 2025 Treaty United 1–0 Cobh Ramblers Limerick
19:45 Hanson 77' Report Stadium: Markets Field
Attendance: 1,849
Referee: Oliver Moran
28 October 2025 Cobh Ramblers 1–1 (a.e.t.) Treaty United Cobh
19:45 Whelan 90+4' Report Martin 105' Stadium: St. Colman's Park
Attendance: 1,636
Referee: Mark Houlihan

Treaty United won 2–1 on aggregate

24 October 2025 UCD 0–1 Bray Wanderers Belfield
19:45 Report Doyle 90+4' Stadium: UCD Bowl
Attendance: 927
Referee: Lucas Keating
28 October 2025 Bray Wanderers 3–2 UCD Bray
19:45
  • Cantwell 3'
  • Curtis 61'
  • Ferizaj 90+3'
 Report
  • McManus 26'
  • Behan 90+5'
 Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Attendance: 2,030
Referee: Daniel Murphy

Bray Wanderers won 4–2 on aggregate

Final

2 November 2025 Bray Wanderers 1–0 Treaty United Athlone
15:00 Ferizaj 90' Report Stadium: Athlone Town Stadium
Attendance: 1,869
Referee: Declan Toland

Promotion/relegation play-off

7 November 2025 Bray Wanderers1–2 Waterford Drumcondra
19:45
  • Knight 8'
    Warren Red card 90+3'
 Report
Stadium: Tolka Park
Attendance: 3,648
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[21]
1 Republic of Ireland Barry Coffey Cobh Ramblers 26
2 Republic of Ireland Mikie Rowe Wexford 21
3 Republic of Ireland Lee Devitt Treaty United 14
4 Republic of Ireland Gbemi Arubi Dundalk 12
Republic of Ireland Aaron Doran Longford Town
Republic of Ireland Billy O'Neill Bray Wanderers
7 Republic of Ireland Daryl Horgan Dundalk 11
8 Republic of Ireland Adam Brennan UCD 10
Republic of Ireland Dean Ebbe Dundalk
Northern Ireland Eoin Kenny Dundalk
Republic of Ireland Cian Murphy Cobh Ramblers
Republic of Ireland Max Murphy Bray Wanderers

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Republic of Ireland Lee Devitt Treaty United Athlone Town 5–0 (A) 21 February 2025 [22]
Republic of Ireland Sean McGrath Kerry Wexford 3–4 (A) 27 June 2025 [23]
Republic of Ireland Shane Griffin Cobh Ramblers Longford Town 3–1 (H) 1 August 2025 [24]
Republic of Ireland Daryl Horgan Dundalk Treaty United 7–0 (A) 22 August 2025 [25]
Republic of Ireland Mikie Rowe Wexford Cobh Ramblers 3–2 (H) 19 September 2025 [26]
Republic of Ireland Dean Larkin Finn Harps 3–1 (H) 22 September 2025 [27]
Republic of Ireland Barry Coffey Cobh Ramblers 4–1 (H) 26 September 2025 [28]
Republic of Ireland Billy O'Neill Bray Wanderers Kerry 5–1 (H) 17 October 2025 [29]

Attendances

# Club Average
1 Dundalk 1,859
2 Bray 1,061
3 Treaty United 1,022
4 Finn Harps 853
5 Cobh Ramblers 793
6 Kerry 669
7 Wexford 629
8 Longford Town 552
9 Athlone Town 543
10 UCD 329

Source:[30]

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 dispatch Finn Harps to seal promotion to Premier Division". RTE Sport. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Richie Towell: Dundalk delight but readiness for Premier Division return a concern". RTE Sport. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Wallace, Keith (6 November 2024). "HISTORY MAKER KILDUFF RETURNS TO DUNDALK FC". Dundalk F.C. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  8. ^ "James Keddy departs Wexford FC". Wexford F.C. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Cobh Ramblers FC Announces Departure of Head Coach Gary Hunt - Cobh Ramblers Football Club". Cobh Ramblers. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Michael McDermott Appointed Head Coach of Cobh Ramblers FC". Cobh Ramblers. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  12. ^ Lee, Ethan (25 March 2025). "Club Statement: Darren Murphy Departs - Finn Harps FC Official Website". finnharps.ie. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Loughgall FC appoints Darren Murphy as new Manager". Loughgall. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Club stalwart Kevin McHugh appointed Finn Harps manager". RTÉ. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  15. ^ Admin (12 April 2025). "Club Statement: Dário Castelo". Athlone Town AFC. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Ian Ryan appointed new Athlone Town boss". extratime.com. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Kerry Football Club announces Colin Healy as First Team Manager". kerryfc.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  18. ^ Cobh Ramblers [@CobhRamblersFC] (20 October 2025). "Club Statement
    Cobh Ramblers Football Club can confirm that Michael McDermott is no longer First Team Manager. We would like to thank Mick for his service to the club this season and wish him well in the future.
    Richie Holland will take charge of the team on an interim basis for the upcoming playoffs.
    As we enter this important stage of the season, we encourage all supporters to get behind Richie and the squad.
    The support of our community has always been at the heart of the club, and we look forward to continuing that journey together — through the playoffs and into the future.
    At this time, the club will not be making any further comment.
    Cobh Ramblers Football Club 🟣🔵"     (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2025 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Cobh Ramblers rocked as manager Mick McDermott departs ahead of First Division play-off". RTÉ. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025. Assistant coach Richie Holland, who oversaw last Friday's game in McDermott's absence, will take over on a temporary basis.
  20. ^ "The Play-Offs - everything you need to know". League of Ireland. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Top scorers". Extra Time. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Patrick. "Wexford claim spoils in seven-goal thriller with Kerry". extratime.com. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  24. ^ O’Connell, Dylan; Murphy, Murt (1 August 2025). "Griffin bags hat-trick as Cobh Ramblers defeat Longford Town". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  25. ^ Rogers, James (23 August 2025). "Treaty surrender to Dundalk FC's magnificent seven and hat-trick hero Horgan". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  26. ^ Devereux, Dave (19 September 2025). "Mikie Rowe hits hat-trick as Wexford beat Cobh Ramblers". RTÉ. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  27. ^ McNully, Chris (22 September 2025). "Dean Larkin's hat-trick of headers keeps Wexford hopes alive". RTÉ. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  28. ^ O'Connell, Dylan (26 September 2025). "Barry Coffey's first half hat-trick sees Cobh Ramblers keep the pressure on Dundalk". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  29. ^ Devereux, Dave (17 October 2025). "First Division wrap: Treaty United secure final promotion play-off spot after win at Wexford". RTÉ. Third-placed Bray Wanderers warmed up for the play-offs with a 5-1 victory over Kerry at the Carlisle Grounds on a night in which 17-year-old Billy O'Neill scored four of the Seasiders' quintent of goals before getting sent off.
  30. ^ https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/aveirl.htm
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_League_of_Ireland_First_Division