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]
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 March – 19 November 2021 |
| Champions | Shamrock Rovers (19th title) |
| Relegated | Longford Town F.C., Waterford |
| Champions League | Shamrock Rovers |
| Europa Conference League | St Patrick's Athletic Sligo Rovers Derry City |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 458 (2.54 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Georgie Kelly (21 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Bohemians 5–0 Drogheda United (18 June 2021), Finn Harps 5-0 Longford Town (19 November 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Waterford 0–7 Drogheda United (8 May 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Waterford 0–7 Drogheda United (8 May 2021) |
| Longest winning run | Shamrock Rovers (7 games) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Shamrock Rovers (11 games) |
| Longest winless run | Longford Town (25 games) |
| Longest losing run | Waterford (7 games) Longford Town (7 games) |
| Highest attendance | 7,765 Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Drogheda United (19 November 2021) |
| Lowest attendance | 0 |
← 2020 2022 →
All statistics correct as of 20 November 2021. | |
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
editDue 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
editTen 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
editDublin
Locations of Premier Division teams
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
editNote: 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 | O'Neills | Des Kelly Interiors | ||
| Derry City | Adidas | Diamond Corrugated | ||
| Drogheda United | Umbro | Scotch Hall Shopping Center | ||
| Dundalk | Umbro | Bet Regal | ||
| Finn Harps | Joma | Guild Esports | ||
| Longford Town | Macron | Bishopsgate | ||
| St Patrick's Athletic | Umbro | MIG Insurance Brokers | ||
| Shamrock Rovers | Umbro | 888sport | ||
| Sligo Rovers | Joma | Avant Money | ||
| Waterford | Umbro | WIT Arena |
Managerial changes
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk | Change of role | 10 March 2021 | Pre-season | 10 March 2021 | ||
| Dundalk | Resigned | 19 April 2021 | 9th | 19 April 2021 | ||
| Derry City | Sacked | 22 April 2021 | 10th | 23 April 2021 | ||
| Waterford | Resigned | 5 May 2021 | 10th | 5 May 2021 | ||
| Waterford | End of interim spell | 12 May 2021 | 10th | 12 May 2021 | ||
| Dundalk | End of interim spell | 16 June 2021 | 8th | 16 June 2021 | ||
| Longford Town | Sacked | 2 November 2021 | 10th | 2 November 2021 | ||
| Waterford | Sacked | 23 November 2021 | 9th | 24 November 2021 |
League table
editStandings
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:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[8]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ 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
editThe 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.
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
= 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
editTeams will play each other four times (twice at home, twice away).
Matches 1–18
edit*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
editSeason statistics
editTop scorers
editLast updated after fixtures on 19 November 2021.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bohemians | 21 | |
| 2 | Shamrock Rovers | 15 | |
| 3 | Drogheda United | 13 | |
| 4 | Dundalk | 12 | |
| 5 | St Patrick's Athletic | 11 | |
| Sligo Rovers | |||
| Shamrock Rovers | |||
| 8 | Waterford | 10 | |
| Finn Harps | |||
| 10 | Drogheda United | 9 | |
| Bohemians |
Clean sheets
editLast updated after fixtures on 19 November 2021.
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 13 | |
| 2 | Sligo Rovers | 12 | |
| 3 | St Patrick's Athletic | 11 | |
| 4 | Derry City | 9 | |
| 5 | Bohemians | 8 | |
| 6 | Drogheda United | 7 | |
| 7 | Finn Harps | 6 | |
| 8 | Dundalk | 5 | |
| 9 | Waterford | 3 | |
| Dundalk |
Play-offs
editFirst Division play-off Semi-finals
editFirst 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 Colm Whelan |
Second leg
edit| 7 November 2021 | Galway United | 0–1 (0–1 agg.) | Bray Wanderers | Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 17:00 IST | Brandon Kavanagh |
| 7 November 2021 | UCD | 1–2 (4–2 agg.) | Treaty United | UCD Bowl |
| 17:00 IST | Adam Verdon |
Conor Melody Anthony O’Donnell |
First Division play-off Final
edit| 19 November 2021 | Bray Wanderers | 0–2 | UCD | Dalymount Park |
| 19:45 IST | Colm Whelan Paul Doyle |
Referee: Oliver Moran |
Promotion/relegation play-off
edit| 26 November 2021 | Waterford | 1–2 | UCD | Richmond Park |
| 19:45 IST | Anthony Wordsworth Niall O'Keeffe |
Report | Dara Keane Colm Whelan |
Referee: Paul McLaughlin |
Awards
editMonthly awards
edit| Month | Player of the Month | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | ||
| March/April | St Patrick's Athletic | [10] | |
| May | Sligo Rovers | [11] | |
| June | Bohemians | [12] | |
| July | Bohemians | [13] | |
| August | Bohemians | [14] | |
| September | Bohemians | [15] | |
| October | Shamrock Rovers | [16] | |
| November | UCD | [17] | |
Annual awards
edit| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| PFAI Player of the Year | Bohemians | |
| PFAI Young Player of the Year | Bohemians | |
| PFAI Premier Division Manager of the Year | Shamrock Rovers |
| PFAI Team of the Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||
| Defenders | |||||||||||||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||||
| Forwards | |||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "SSE Airtricity extends title sponsorship of League of Ireland". The Irish Times. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers crowned champions and Cork City relegated after Finn Harps win over Bohs". The 42.ie. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers ease past Harps to claim 19th league title". RTE Sport. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers claim 19th Premier Division title with victory over Finn Harps". Irish Independent. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "League of Ireland season deferred until mid-March". RTÉ.ie. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Drogheda seal promotion as play-off places are decided". RTÉ.ie. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Longford earn promotion as Shels' collapse completed". RTÉ.ie. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Premier Division 2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Sligo Rovers awarded victory following Waterford withdrawal due to Covid-cases". rte.ie. RTÉ. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Bolger lands monthly honour after leading Sligo top". RTÉ.ie. 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Free-scoring Georgie Kelly named League of Ireland Player of the Month". 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Bohs' teen sensation Dawson Devoy recognised after a string of outstanding performances". 10 August 2021.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Kelly lands monthly award as Bohs make it four on spin". RTÉ.ie. 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Mandroiu finally lands monthly honour for Hoops". 9 November 2021 – via www.rte.ie.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Ireland U21 striker Whelan named November's Player of the Month after netting 25 goals in 2021". 7 December 2021.