2026 League of Ireland First Division
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 13 February 2026 – 16 October 2026 |
| Matches | 29 |
| Goals | 67 (2.31 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Sean Maguire (5 goals each) |
| Biggest home win | UCD 2–0 Treaty United (27 February 2026) Athlone Town 2–0 Cobh Ramblers (13 March 2026) Treaty United 2–0 Athlone Town (20 March 2026) |
| Biggest away win | Cobh Ramblers 0–3 Wexford (13 February 2026) Wexford 1–4 Cork City (20 February 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Wexford 1–4 Cork City (20 February 2026) |
| Longest winning run | 3 matches Cork City |
| Longest unbeaten run | 6 matches Cork City |
| Longest winless run | 5 matches Kerry Longford Town Treaty United |
| Longest losing run | 3 matches Treaty United |
| Highest attendance | 3,520 Cork City 1–0 Treaty United (13 February 2026) |
| Lowest attendance | 286 UCD 2–1 Kerry (13 February 2026) |
| Total attendance | 29,584 |
| Average attendance | 1,057 |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of 20 March 2026. | |
The 2026 League of Ireland First Division, known as the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division for sponsorship reasons, is the 42nd season of the League of Ireland First Division for men's football.[1] The competition is scheduled to run from 13 February 2026 and until 16 October 2026.[2]
Teams
Locations of the 2026 First Division teams
Team changes
The 2025 League of Ireland First Division, saw Dundalk promoted after one season in the First Division.[3][4] They replaced Cork City who were relegated from the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division after a single season in the Premier Division.[5]
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 |
| Cork City | Cork | Munster FA Turner's Cross Stadium | 7,485 |
| 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 | Ian Ryan | Oisín Duffy | Macron | Valeo Futbol |
| Bray Wanderers | Paul Heffernan | Jimmy Corcoran | Capelli Sport[6] | OutdoorLiving.ie |
| Cobh Ramblers | Fran Rockett | Shane Griffin | Uhlsport | Caltech Electrical Supplies[7] |
| Cork City | Barry Robson | Sean Maguire | Rebel Army | Zeus Packaging[8] |
| Finn Harps | Kevin McHugh | Tony McNamee[9] | Joma | Kernans[10] |
| Kerry | Colin Healy | Sean McGrath[11] | Macron[12] | Kerry Airport[13] |
| Longford Town | Wayne Groves | Dean George | Umbro | None |
| Treaty United | Tommy Barrett | Mark Walsh[14] | O'Neills | Trade Electric Group |
| UCD | William O'Connor | Ronan Finn | O'Neills | Maples Group |
| Wexford | Stephen Elliott | Aaron Dobbs | Macron | Campion Insurance |
Managerial Changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of
departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of
appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobh Ramblers | Richie Holland (interim) | End of interim spell | 3 November 2025 | Pre-season | Fran Rockett[15] | 3 November 2025 |
| Cork City | Gerard Nash[16] | Resigned | 23 December 2025 | Barry Robson[17] | 11 January 2026 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cork City | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 16 | Promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division |
| 2 | Bray Wanderers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 11 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 3 | Athlone Town | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | |
| 4 | UCD | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | |
| 5 | Wexford | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 | |
| 6 | Finn Harps | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 6 | |
| 7 | Kerry | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 6 | |
| 8 | Cobh Ramblers | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 | |
| 9 | Treaty United | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 5 | |
| 10 | Longford Town | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on 20 March 2026. Source: SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Results
Teams play each other four times (twice at home and twice away).
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.
| Promotion to 2027 League of Ireland Premier Division | |
| Qualification for League of Ireland Premier Division play-off |
Updated to match(es) played on 20 March 2026. Source: SSE Airtricity Men's First Division
Season statistics
Top scorers
- As of 20 March 2026
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Maguire | Cork City | 5 |
| 2 | Ciaran Behan | UCD | 4 |
| 3 | Cian Curtis | Treaty United | 3 |
| 4 | Liam Doyle | Wexford | 2 |
| Richard Ferizaj | Bray Wanderers | ||
| Patrick Ferry | Athlone Town | ||
| Ruairí Keating | Cork City | ||
| Cian Murphy | Kerry | ||
| Max Murphy | Wexford | ||
| Jason Oyenuga | Treaty United | ||
| Conor Tourish | Finn Harps |
See also
- 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
- 2026 League of Ireland Women's Premier Division
- 2026 FAI National League
- 2026 FAI Cup
References
- ^ "League of Ireland season to begin earlier in 2026". RTÉ. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ "2026 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Fixture List". League of Ireland. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ "Dundalk dispatch Finn Harps to seal promotion to Premier Division". RTE Sport. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ "Richie Towell: Dundalk delight but readiness for Premier Division return a concern". RTE Sport. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ "Shels nab late winner to confirm Cork City's relegation". RTE Sport. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Bray Wanderers FC x Capelli Sport". Capelli Sport. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Caltech Electrical Supplies Proud New Premier Partner / Front of Shirt Sponsor of Cobh Ramblers FC". Cobh Ramblers. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "City & Zeus Extend Partnership!". Cork City. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Tony McNamee Named Club Captain". Finn Harps. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Kernans Renew Sponsorship for 2026". Finn Harps. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Brennan, Paul (5 February 2025). "Sean McGrath will captain Kerry FC for 2025 League of Ireland season". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Macron become Kerry FC's new Technical Kit Partner". Kerry FC. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Kerry Airport Ireland Announced as Proud Front-of-Jersey Sponsor of Kerry FC Kit". Kerry. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Treaty United confirm captain for 2024 SSE Airtricity League season". www.limerickleader.ie. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Cobh Ramblers FC Appoint Fran Rockett as Men's Senior Head Coach - Cobh Ramblers Football Club". Cobh Ramblers. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Ger Nash Steps Down". Cork City. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Barry Robson Becomes Cork City FC Manager". Cork City. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.