# 1951–52 League of Ireland

The 1951–52 League of Ireland was the 31st season of senior football in the Republic of Ireland.
Cork Athletic were the two-time defending champions.

## Changes from 1950–51

Two new teams were elected to the League: Evergreen United and St Patrick's Athletic.

## Teams

| Team | Location | Stadium |
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Cork Athletic | Cork (Mardyke) | Mardyke |
| Drumcondra | Dublin (Clonturk) | Clonturk Park |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Evergreen United | Cork (Turners Cross) | Turners Cross |
| Limerick | Limerick | Markets Field |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Milltown) | Glenmalure Park |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Ringsend) | Shelbourne Park |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Dublin (Inchicore) | Richmond Park |
| Transport | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
| Waterford | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |

## Season overview

St Patrick's Athletic won their first title.

## Final classification

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | St Patrick's Athletic | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 59 | 34 | +25 | 34 |
| 2 | Shelbourne | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 59 | 44 | +15 | 31 |
| 3 | Shamrock Rovers | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 18 | +25 | 29 |
| 4 | Sligo Rovers | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 29 |
| 5 | Evergreen United | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 24 |
| 6 | Drumcondra | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 23 |
| 7 | Bohemians | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 37 | 41 | −4 | 19 |
| 8 | Waterford | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 19 |
| 9 | Transport | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 43 | 50 | −7 | 17 |
| 10 | Cork Athletic | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 36 | 44 | −8 | 15 |
| 11 | Dundalk | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 15 |
| 12 | Limerick | 22 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 65 | −45 | 9 |

## Results

| Home \ Away | BOH | CAT | DRU | DUN | EVE | LIM | SHM | SHE | SLI | STP | TRA | WAT |
| Bohemians | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–5 | 3–0 | 1–4 |
| Cork Athletic | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 3–4 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 |
| Drumcondra | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–3 |
| Dundalk | 1–1 | 2–5 | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 |
| Evergreen United | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–3 |
| Limerick | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–5 | — | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Shelbourne | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 6–2 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 1–1 |
| Sligo Rovers | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 4–4 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 3–1 | — | 4–3 | 3–2 |
| Transport | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–2 | — | 5–2 |
| Waterford | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–6 | — |

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Shay Gibbons | St Patrick's Athletic | 26 |
| 2 | Rory Dwyer | Shelbourne | 22 |
| 3 | Dessie Glynn | Drumcondra | 20 |
| 4 | Billy Burns | Shamrock Rovers | 15 |
| 4 | Seán McCarthy | Evergreen United | 15 |
| 6 | Jack Fitzgerald | Waterford | 14 |
| 7 | Joey Dunne | Bohemians | 12 |
| 8 | Liam Coll | Sligo Rovers | 11 |
| 8 | Bernie Lester | Transport | 11 |
| 10 | Johnny Armstrong | Sligo Rovers | 10 |
| 10 | Jimmy Nelson | Waterford | 10 |
| 10 | Johnny Vaughan | Cork Athletic | 10 |