# 1956–57 League of Ireland

The 1956–57 League of Ireland was the 36th season of senior football in the Republic of Ireland.
St Patrick's Athletic were the defending champions.

## Changes from 1955–56 season

No new teams were elected to the League.

## Teams

| Team | Location | Stadium |
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Cork Athletic | Cork (Mardyke) | Mardyke |
| Drumcondra | Dublin (Drumcondra) | Tolka 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 (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Transport | Dublin (Harold's Cross) | Harold's Cross Stadium |
| Waterford | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |

## Season overview

Shamrock Rovers won their eighth title and qualified for the following season's European Cup.

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 68 | 24 | +44 | 36 | Qualification for European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Drumcondra | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 49 | 28 | +21 | 31 | |
| 3 | Sligo Rovers | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 29 | |
| 4 | Evergreen United | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 27 | |
| 5 | Transport | 22 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 26 | |
| 6 | Shelbourne | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 24 | |
| 7 | Waterford | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 22 | |
| 8 | Cork Athletic | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 18 | Resigned |
| 9 | St Patrick's Athletic | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 55 | −22 | 17 | |
| 10 | Dundalk | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 16 | |
| 11 | Bohemians | 22 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 56 | −36 | 9 | |
| 12 | Limerick | 22 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 21 | 59 | −38 | 7 | |
* ↑ Shelbourne were deducted two points by the League.

## Results

| Home \ Away | BOH | CAT | DRU | DUN | EVE | LIM | SHM | SHE | SLI | STP | TRA | WAT |
| Bohemians | — | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Cork Athletic | 2–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Drumcondra | 1–0 | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 |
| Dundalk | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Evergreen United | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 |
| Limerick | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–6 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–2 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Shelbourne | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 1–0 | 2–5 | — | 3–0 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Sligo Rovers | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | — | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 3–2 | 1–6 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Transport | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 6–1 | 0–0 | 5–4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–2 |
| Waterford | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 10–2 | 3–5 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | — |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Tommy Hamilton | Shamrock Rovers | 15 |
| 1 | Donal Leahy | Evergreen United | 15 |
| 3 | Austin Noonan | Evergreen United | 13 |
| 4 | Jack Fitzgerald | Waterford | 12 |
| 4 | Dessie Glynn | Shelbourne | 12 |
| 6 | Willie Coleman | Drumcondra | 11 |
| 6 | Tommy Collins | Cork Athletic | 11 |
| 6 | Vincent Morrison | Sligo Rovers | 11 |
| 9 | Jackie McCourt | Drumcondra | 10 |
| 9 | Jack Walsh | Sligo Rovers | 10 |