# 1986–87 League of Ireland Premier Division

The 1986–87 League of Ireland Premier Division was the second season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The Premier Division was made up of 12 teams.
Shamrock Rovers F.C. won the championship, their 14th title.

## Teams

The Premier Division was contested by 12 teams, the top 10 teams for the prior season and two promoted teams. The promoted teams were Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers. They replaced Shelbourne and University College Dublin who were relegated to the First Division.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Hometown/Suburb | Stadium |
| Athlone Town | Athlone | St Mel's Park |
| Bray Wanderers | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
| Bohemians | Phibsborough | Dalymount Park |
| Cork City | Cork | Turners Cross |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Galway United | Galway | Terryland Park |
| Home Farm | Drumcondra, Dublin | Tolka Park |
| Limerick City | Limerick | Jackman Park |
| Shamrock Rovers | Milltown, Dublin | Glenmalure Park |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Inchicore | Richmond Park |
| Waterford United | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |

## Final Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers (C) | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 51 | 16 | +35 | 39 | Qualification to 1987–88 European Cup |
| 2 | Dundalk | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 40 | 21 | +19 | 30 | Qualification to 1987–88 European Cup Winners' Cup |
| 3 | Bohemians | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 32 | 23 | +9 | 29 | Qualification to 1987–88 UEFA Cup |
| 4 | Waterford United | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 24 | +18 | 28 | |
| 5 | St Patrick's Athletic | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 23 | |
| 6 | Galway United | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 22 | |
| 7 | Cork City | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 30 | 34 | −4 | 18 | |
| 8 | Bray Wanderers | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 33 | −8 | 17 | |
| 9 | Sligo Rovers | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 38 | −15 | 17 | |
| 10 | Limerick City | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 38 | −14 | 17 | |
| 11 | Home Farm (R) | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 24 | 48 | −24 | 13 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
| 12 | Athlone Town (R) | 22 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 35 | −17 | 11 | Relegation to League of Ireland First Division |
* ↑ Dundalk qualified for the 1987–88 European Cup Winners' Cup after reaching the 1986–87 FAI Cup final.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ATH | BOH | BRW | COR | DUN | GAL | HOM | LIM | SHM | SLI | StP | WAT |
| Athlone Town | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 |
| Bohemians | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| Bray Wanderers | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| Cork City | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Dundalk | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Galway United | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Home Farm | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–5 |
| Limerick City | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 1–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Sligo Rovers | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–8 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | — | 2–1 |
| Waterford United | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | — |