# 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division

The 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, was the 38th 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, having won their nineteenth Premier Division title the previous season. They retained the title on 24 October as a result of Derry City drawing 0-0 away to Sligo Rovers.

## Teams

Ten 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 were Shelbourne and UCD, after respective top flight absences of one and three years. They replaced Longford Town (relegated after just one year back in the top flight), and Waterford (relegated via play-off after four years back in the top flight).

### Stadiums and locations

| 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 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Dublin (Inchicore) | Richmond Park | 5,340 |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Tallaght) | Tallaght Stadium | 8,000 |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Drumcondra) | Tolka Park | 4,400 |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds | 3,873 |
| UCD | Dublin (Belfield) | UCD Bowl | 3,000 |

### 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 |
| Bohemians | Declan Devine | Conor Levingston | O'Neills | Des Kelly Interiors |
| Derry City | Ruaidhrí Higgins | Eoin Toal | O'Neills | Diamond Corrugated |
| Drogheda United | Kevin Doherty | Dane Massey | Umbro | Drogheda Credit Union |
| Dundalk | Stephen O'Donnell | Brian Gartland | Umbro | Bet Regal |
| Finn Harps | Ollie Horgan | David Webster | Joma | Guild Esports |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Tim Clancy | Ian Bermingham | Umbro | Manguard Plus |
| Shamrock Rovers | Stephen Bradley | Ronan Finn | Umbro | 888sport |
| Shelbourne | Damien Duff | Luke Byrne | Umbro | Hamptons Homes |
| Sligo Rovers | John Russell | David Cawley | Joma | Avant Money |
| UCD | Andrew Myler | Jack Keaney | O'Neills | Jigsaw |

#### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Shelbourne | Ian Morris | Sacked | 30 October 2021 | Pre-season | Damien Duff | 3 November 2021 |
| Dundalk | Vinny Perth | End of contract | 30 November 2021 | Pre-season | Stephen O'Donnell | 11 December 2021 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Stephen O'Donnell | Moved to Dundalk | 2 December 2021 | Pre-season | Tim Clancy | 2 December 2021 |
| Drogheda United | Tim Clancy | Moved to St Patrick's Athletic | 2 December 2021 | Pre-season | Kevin Doherty | 2 December 2021 |
| Sligo Rovers | Liam Buckley | Mutual Consent | 22 May 2022 | 6th | John Russell | 22 May 2022 |
| Bohemians | Keith Long | Sacked | 30 August 2022 | 6th | Derek Pender (interim) | 30 August 2022 |
| Bohemians | Derek Pender | Permanent appointment | 14 October 2022 | 6th | Declan Devine | 14 October 2022 |

## League table
### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers (C) | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 61 | 22 | +39 | 79 | Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Derry City | 36 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 53 | 27 | +26 | 66 | Qualification for Europa Conference League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Dundalk | 36 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 53 | 30 | +23 | 66 | Qualification for Europa Conference League first qualifying round |
| 4 | St Patrick's Athletic | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 57 | 37 | +20 | 61 | Qualification for Europa Conference League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Sligo Rovers | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 47 | 44 | +3 | 49 | |
| 6 | Bohemians | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 45 | 46 | −1 | 46 | |
| 7 | Shelbourne | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 41 | |
| 8 | Drogheda United | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 58 | −24 | 38 | |
| 9 | UCD (O) | 36 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 28 | 67 | −39 | 26 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Finn Harps (R) | 36 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 33 | 71 | −38 | 20 | Relegation to 2023 League of Ireland First Division |

### Positions by round

The 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.
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Bohemians | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Derry City | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Drogheda United | 5 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Dundalk | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Finn Harps | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Shelbourne | 10 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Sligo Rovers | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| UCD | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |

## Results

Teams will play each other four times (twice at home, twice away).
| Home \ Away | BOH | DER | DRO | DUN | FHA | STP | SHM | SHE | SLI | UCD |
| Bohemians | | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Derry City | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 7–1 |
| 1–0 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Drogheda United | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 4–2 |
| 0–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Dundalk | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 |
| Finn Harps | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Shelbourne | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| 1–1 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 4–4 | 0–0 | | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Sligo Rovers | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 2–2 |
| 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–3* | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | | 0–2 |
| UCD | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | |
| 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | |
*Note Sligo Rovers defeated Dundalk 2–0 but the result was overturned by the Football Association of Ireland to a 3–0 win for Dundalk after it was ruled that Sligo had fielded a suspended player.

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Aidan Keena | Sligo Rovers | 18 |
| 2 | Eoin Doyle | St Patrick's Athletic | 14 |
| 3 | Graham Burke | Shamrock Rovers | 11 |
| 3 | Jamie McGonigle | Derry City | 11 |
| 3 | Seán Boyd | Shelbourne | 11 |
| 6 | Will Patching | Derry City | 10 |
| 6 | Rory Gaffney | Shamrock Rovers | 10 |
| 8 | Patrick Hoban | Dundalk | 9 |
| 9 | Dawson Devoy | Bohemians | 8 |
| 10 | Max Mata | Sligo Rovers | 7 |
| 10 | Andy Lyons | Shamrock Fovers | 7 |
| 10 | Danny Mandroiu | Shamrock Rovers | 7 |
| 10 | Jack Moylan | Shelbourne | 7 |

### Clean sheets

| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Alan Mannus | Shamrock Rovers | 15 |
| 1 | Brian Maher | Derry City | 15 |
| 3 | Nathan Sheppard | Dundalk | 12 |
| 4 | Joseph Anang | St Patrick’s Athletic | 10 |
| 5 | Brendan Clarke | Shelbourne | 8 |
| 6 | Ed McGinty | Sligo Rovers | 5 |
| 7 | Richard Brush | Sligo Rovers | 3 |
| 7 | Colin McCabe | Drogheda United | 3 |
| 7 | Tadhg Ryan | Bohemians | 3 |
| 7 | Lorcan Healy | UCD | 3 |
| 7 | Sam Long | Drogheda United | 3 |
| 7 | Mark McGinley | Finn Harps | 3 |
| 7 | James Talbot | Bohemians | 3 |

## Play-offs
### Bracket

| First Division play-off Semi-finals | First Division play-off Semi-finals | First Division play-off Semi-finals | First Division play-off Semi-finals | First Division play-off Semi-finals | First Division play-off Final | First Division play-off Final | First Division play-off Final | Promotion/relegation play-off | Promotion/relegation play-off | Promotion/relegation play-off |
| 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | | | | | | |
| 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | | | | 11 November 2022 | 11 November 2022 | 11 November 2022 |
| Treaty United | Treaty United | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | 11 November 2022 | 11 November 2022 | 11 November 2022 |
| Treaty United | Treaty United | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 November 2022 | 4 November 2022 | 4 November 2022 | UCD | UCD | 1 |
| Waterford | Waterford | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 November 2022 | 4 November 2022 | 4 November 2022 | UCD | UCD | 1 |
| Waterford | Waterford | 4 | 3 | 7 | Waterford | Waterford | 3 | Waterford | Waterford | 0 |
| 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | Waterford | Waterford | 3 | Waterford | Waterford | 0 |
| 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | 26/29 October 2022 | Galway United | Galway United | 0 | | | |
| Longford Town | Longford Town | 2 | 0 | 2 | Galway United | Galway United | 0 | | | |
| Galway United | Galway United | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | |

### Promotion/relegation play-off
## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Ref. |
| Month | Player | Club | Ref. |
| February | Steven Bradley | Dundalk | |
| March | Aidan Keena | Sligo Rovers | |
| April | Jamie McGonigle | Derry City | |
| May | Daniel Kelly | Dundalk | |
| June | Mark Connolly | Dundalk | |
| July | Aidan Keena | Sligo Rovers | |
| August | Andy Lyons | Shamrock Rovers | |
| September | Phoenix Patterson | Waterford | |
| October | Rory Gaffney | Shamrock Rovers | |
| November | Cameron McJannet | Derry City | |

### Annual awards

| Award | Winner | Club |
| PFAI Player of the Year | Rory Gaffney | Shamrock Rovers |
| PFAI Young Player of the Year | Andy Lyons | Shamrock Rovers |
| PFAI Premier Division Manager of the Year | Stephen Bradley | Shamrock Rovers |
PFAI Team of the Year :
| Goalkeeper | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) | Brian Maher (Derry City) |
| Defenders | Cameron Dummigan (Derry City) | Cameron Dummigan (Derry City) | Cameron Dummigan (Derry City) | Mark Connolly (Derry City) | Mark Connolly (Derry City) | Mark Connolly (Derry City) | Joe Redmond (St Patrick's Athletic) | Joe Redmond (St Patrick's Athletic) | Joe Redmond (St Patrick's Athletic) | Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers) | Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers) | Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers) |
| Midfielders | Will Patching (Derry City) | Will Patching (Derry City) | Will Patching (Derry City) | Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) | Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) | Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) | Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) | Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) | Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) | Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) | Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) | Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) |
| Forwards | Aidan Keena (Sligo Rovers) | Aidan Keena (Sligo Rovers) | Aidan Keena (Sligo Rovers) | Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) | Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) | Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) | Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) | Seán Boyd (Shelbourne) | Seán Boyd (Shelbourne) | Seán Boyd (Shelbourne) | Seán Boyd (Shelbourne) | Seán Boyd (Shelbourne) |