# 2009 League of Ireland Premier Division

The 2009 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 25th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division was made up of 10 teams. Bohemians were champions while Shamrock Rovers finished as runners-up.

## Teams

| Team | Base | Manager | Stadium |
| Bohemians | Phibsborough | Pat Fenlon | Dalymount Park |
| Bray Wanderers | Bray | Eddie Gormley | Carlisle Grounds |
| Cork City | Cork | Paul Doolin | Turners Cross |
| Derry City | Derry | Stephen Kenny | Brandywell Stadium |
| Drogheda United | Drogheda | Alan Mathews | United Park |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Seán Connor | Oriel Park |
| Galway United | Galway | Ian Foster | Terryland Park |
| Shamrock Rovers | Tallaght | Michael O'Neill | Tallaght Stadium |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | Paul Cook | The Showgrounds |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Inchicore | Pete Mahon | Richmond Park |

## Overview

The 2009 Premier Division featured 10 clubs. The regular season began on 6 March and concluded on 6 November. Each team played every other team four times, totalling 36 matches. On the final day of the regular season Bohemians were crowned League of Ireland champions for the eleventh time in the club's history after drawing 1–1 with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds. After the season ended both Derry City and Cork City were expelled from the League of Ireland. Derry City were accused of making extra payments to players using unofficial secondary contracts. This was against league rules which placed limits on the amount clubs could spend on players' wages. Cork City had been in serious financial difficulties for several seasons and its holding company was eventually wound up by the High Court. However both clubs were effectively reformed and were subsequently allowed to join the 2010 First Division.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Bohemians (C) | 36 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 62 | 21 | +41 | 77 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Shamrock Rovers | 36 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 51 | 27 | +24 | 73 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Cork City (R) | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 28 | +14 | 60 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
| 4 | Derry City (R) | 36 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 59 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
| 5 | Dundalk | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 44 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 6 | Sligo Rovers | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 41 | 51 | −10 | 43 | |
| 7 | St Patrick's Athletic | 36 | 13 | 4 | 19 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 43 | |
| 8 | Galway United | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 42 | |
| 9 | Drogheda United (O) | 36 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 32 | Qualification to Relegation play-off |
| 10 | Bray Wanderers | 36 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 56 | −26 | 28 | Qualification to Relegation play-off |
* ↑ Cork City were expelled from Premier Division after its holding company was wound up by the High Court.
* ↑ Derry City were expelled from Premier Division after accusations of making extra payments to players using unofficial secondary contracts.
* ↑ Despite losing play-off, Bray Wanderers retained their place in the Premier Division after Cork City and Derry City were relegated.

## Results
### Matches 1–18

| Home \ Away | BOH | BRW | COR | DER | DRO | DUN | GAL | SHM | SLI | StP |
| Bohemians | — | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| Bray Wanderers | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Cork City | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Derry City | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Drogheda United | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Dundalk | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Galway United | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Sligo Rovers | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–3 | — | 0–1 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — |

### Matches 19–36

| Home \ Away | BOH | BRW | COR | DER | DRO | DUN | GAL | SHM | SLI | StP |
| Bohemians | — | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 |
| Bray Wanderers | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Cork City | 0–2 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Derry City | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Drogheda United | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Dundalk | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Galway United | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Sligo Rovers | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | — |

## Promotion/relegation play-offs

The ninth and tenth placed teams from the Premier Division, Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers, played off after the regular season was completed. The winner would retain a place in the 2010 Premier Division. The loser would play off against the winner of the 2009 First Division play off. The winner of this match would also gain a place in the 2010 Premier Division.

### Premier Division

Drogheda United retain their place in the 2010 Premier Division

### Premier Division v First Division

Sporting Fingal won 4–2 on aggregate and were promoted to the Premier Division. The result of the play off would eventually prove null and void. Despite losing play-off, Bray Wanderers also retained their place in the Premier Division after Cork City and Derry City were relegated.

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Scorer | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Gary Twigg | Shamrock Rovers | 24 |
| 2 | Jason Byrne | Bohemians | 22 |
| 3 | Raffaele Cretaro | Sligo Rovers | 15 |
| 4 | Chris Turner | Dundalk | 12 |
| 5 | Mark Farren | Derry City | 10 |
Last updated: 6 November 2009 Source: soccerway.com