# 1939–40 League of Ireland

The 1939–40 League of Ireland was the nineteenth season of the League of Ireland. Shamrock Rovers were the two-time defending champions.
St James's Gate won their second title.

## Overview

No new teams were elected to the League.
Cork City withdrew on 13 February 1940. However, a new team, Cork United, were immediately elected in their place, being given special permission to complete Cork City's remaining fixtures.

## Teams

| Team | Location | Stadium |
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Bray Unknowns | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
| Brideville | Dublin (The Liberties) | Harold's Cross Stadium |
| Cork City | Cork | Mardyke |
| Cork United | Cork | Mardyke |
| Drumcondra | Dublin (Clonturk) | Clonturk Park |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Limerick | Limerick | Markets Field |
| St. James's Gate | Dublin (Crumlin) | St. James's Park |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Milltown) | Glenmalure Park |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Ringsend) | Shelbourne Park |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds |
| Waterford | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |
* ↑ Cork City withdrew on 13 February 1940. However, a new team, Cork United, were immediately elected in their place, being given special permission to complete Cork City's remaining fixtures.

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | St James's Gate | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 63 | 27 | +36 | 36 |
| 2 | Shamrock Rovers | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 51 | 39 | +12 | 30 |
| 3 | Sligo Rovers | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 28 |
| 4 | Dundalk | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 36 | +9 | 25 |
| 5 | Cork United | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 25 |
| 6 | Drumcondra | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 25 |
| 7 | Shelbourne | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 20 |
| 8 | Bohemians | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 18 |
| 9 | Bray Unknowns | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 52 | −3 | 17 |
| 10 | Brideville | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 17 |
| 11 | Waterford | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 44 | 54 | −10 | 16 |
| 12 | Limerick | 22 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 75 | −52 | 7 |

## Results

| Home \ Away | BOH | BRY | BRI | CUF | DRU | DUN | LIM | SHM | SHE | SLI | STG | WAT |
| Bohemians | — | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 |
| Bray Unknowns | 6–2 | — | 1–3 | 7–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 |
| Brideville | 1–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 5–2 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 2–2 |
| Cork United | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 5–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–3 | 4–1 |
| Drumcondra | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–4 | 0–2 | — | 2–5 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–5 | 0–1 | 3–2 |
| Dundalk | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 |
| Limerick | 2–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–3 | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 5–2 |
| Shelbourne | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 8–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Sligo Rovers | 3–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 6–2 | 3–1 | 9–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| St James's Gate | 6–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–1 |
| Waterford | 4–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 2–3 | — |

## Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Patrick Bradshaw | St James's Gate | 29 |