Summary
The League of Ireland Premier Division (IRL1) (SSE Airtricity League) is the top football league in the Republic of Ireland's football system. At the end of the 2020 IRL1 season, the IRL1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2021 - 2022 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 1st place 2020 IRL1 team
- 2021 - 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 2nd and 3rd place 2020 IRL1 teams
The winner of the 2020 FAI Ford Cup, typically an IRL1 team, also receives a berth in the 1st Qualifying Round of the 2021 - 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Leagues Pyramid - Republic of Ireland
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| IRL1 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 10 |
| IRL2 | League of Ireland First Division | 10 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| 19 Mar 2021 - 19 Nov 2021 | 10: IRL1 (8 minimum), IRL2 (2 maximum) | ||
Season Format
The IRL1 season consists of a double round robin format where each IRL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 9 IRL1 teams twice, for a total of 36 league matches. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goal difference, then (2) goals scored.
Playoffs
Not applicable.
Relegation
At the end of the 2020 IRL1 season, the 10th place IRL1 team is relegated to the IRL2, and the 9th place IRL1 team enters into a Home-Away highest aggregate score playoff with the 2nd/3rd place team that won the IRL2 Promotion playoff. The winner of this playoff and the 1st place IRL2 team play in the 2021 IRL1.
More Info...
Relegation Playoffs
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
 | 01 | Longford Town FC | Richmond Park (Dublin) | |||
| Longford Town FC is promoted to IRL1 | ||||||
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 18 | 15 -3-0 | 48 | - | 44 | 7 | 37 | 9 | 7 -2-0 | 23 | 25 | 4 | 21 | 9 | 8 -1-0 | 25 | 19 | 3 | 16 |
| 2 | Bohemians FC | 18 | 12 -1-5 | 37 | - | 23 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 -0-3 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 -1-2 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 3 | Dundalk FC | 18 | 7 -5-6 | 26 | - | 25 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 3 -4-2 | 13 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 9 | 4 -1-4 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
| 4 | Sligo Rovers FC | 18 | 8 -1-9 | 25 | - | 19 | 23 | -4 | 9 | 6 -0-3 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 2 -1-6 | 7 | 4 | 12 | -8 |
| 5 | Waterford FC | 18 | 7 -3-8 | 24 | - | 17 | 22 | -5 | 9 | 4 -1-4 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 3 -2-4 | 11 | 8 | 13 | -5 |
| 6 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | 18 | 5 -6-7 | 21 | - | 14 | 17 | -3 | 9 | 3 -3-3 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 2 -3-4 | 9 | 7 | 11 | -4 |
| 7 | Derry City FC | 18 | 5 -5-8 | 20 | - | 18 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 4 -2-3 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 1 -3-5 | 6 | 6 | 10 | -4 |
| 8 | Finn Harps FC | 18 | 5 -5-8 | 20 | - | 15 | 24 | -9 | 9 | 3 -2-4 | 11 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 9 | 2 -3-4 | 9 | 9 | 13 | -4 |
| 9 | Shelbourne FC | 18 | 5 -4-9 | 19 | - | 13 | 22 | -9 | 9 | 2 -3-4 | 9 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 9 | 3 -1-5 | 10 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
| 10 | Cork City FC | 18 | 2 -5-11 | 11 | - | 10 | 30 | -20 | 9 | 2 -2-5 | 8 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 9 | 0 -3-6 | 3 | 4 | 20 | -16 |
UEFACL UEFAECL Relegation Playoffs Relegation | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 20 | Derry City FC | Tallaght Stadium |
 | 10 | Waterford FC | Finn Park |
| 02 | Shamrock Rovers | Tolka Park |
 | 12 | Bohemians FC | Richmond Park (Dublin) |
 | 02 | Sligo Rovers FC | Oriel Park |
 | 11 | Derry City FC | Turner's Cross |
| 00 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | Tallaght Stadium |
| 02 | Shamrock Rovers | Finn Park |
| 11 | Dundalk FC | Richmond Park (Dublin) |
| 32 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | Finn Park |
| 10 | Dundalk FC | Waterford Regional Sports Centre |
| 21 | Cork City FC | The Showgrounds (Sligo) |
| 02 | Finn Harps FC | Dalymont Park |
| 20 | Shelbourne FC | Brandywell Stadium |
| 12 | Dundalk FC | Brandywell Stadium |
| 10 | Sligo Rovers FC | Tolka Park |
| 00 | Waterford FC | Turner's Cross |
| 00 | Bohemians FC | Oriel Park |
| 02 | Dundalk FC | Turner's Cross |
| 10 | Derry City FC | The Showgrounds (Sligo) |