2012 League of Ireland Premier Division

The 2012 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 28th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division featured 12 teams. Sligo Rovers were champions, winning their first top league title since 1976–77. Drogheda United finished as runners-up.

League of Ireland Premier Division
Season2012
ChampionsSligo Rovers
UEFA Champions LeagueSligo Rovers
UEFA Europa LeagueDerry City
Drogheda United
St. Patrick's Athletic
Setanta CupSligo Rovers
Derry City
Drogheda United
St. Patrick's Athletic
Shamrock Rovers
Cork City
Matches played165
Goals scored437 (2.65 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Twigg: 22
(Shamrock Rovers) [1]
Biggest home winShamrock Rovers 7–0 Dundalk
Biggest away winBray Wanderers 0–4 Derry City
Highest scoringBray Wanderers 2–4 Drogheda United
St. Patrick's Athletic 5–1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 6–0 Dundalk
Bray Wanderers 3–3 St. Patrick's Athletic
Cork City 4–2 UCD
Highest attendance6,097
Sligo Rovers 0–2 Shamrock Rovers
Lowest attendance151
Monaghan United 0–1 Bray Wanderers
Total attendance281,925[note 1]
Average attendance1,575[2][note 2]
← 2011
2013 →

Teams

Stadia and locations
Locations of Premier Division teams
Locations of Dublin Premier Division teams
Team Location Stadium
BohemiansPhibsboroughDalymount Park
Bray WanderersBrayCarlisle Grounds
Cork CityCorkTurners Cross
Derry CityDerryBrandywell Stadium
Drogheda UnitedDroghedaUnited Park
DundalkDundalkOriel Park
Monaghan UnitedMonaghanKingspan Century Park
Shamrock RoversTallaghtTallaght Stadium
Shelbourne DrumcondraTolka Park
Sligo RoversSligoThe Showgrounds
St. Patrick's AthleticInchicoreRichmond Park
UCDBelfieldUCD Bowl

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Bohemians Aaron Callaghan Owen Heary Macron DHL
Bray Wanderers Pat Devlin Danny O'Connor Adidas Sinnot Autos Volkswagen
Cork City Tommy Dunne Dan Murray Umbro Clonakilty Blackpudding
Derry City Declan Devine Kevin Deery Hummel Diamond Corrugated
Drogheda United Mick Cooke Paul Crowley Vandanel Scotch Hall Shopping Centre
Dundalk Darius Kierans Chris Shields Umbro Fyffes
Monaghan United Roddy Collins Alan Byrne Nike None
Shamrock Rovers Brian Laws[3] Ken Oman Umbro SEAT
Shelbourne Alan Mathews David Cassidy Macron Cab 2000
Sligo Rovers Ian Baraclough Danny Ventre Jako Connolly's Volkswagen
St. Patrick's Athletic Liam Buckley Conor Kenna Umbro Nissan Motors
UCD Martin Russell Michael Leahy O'Neills O'Neills Soccer

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Dundalk Ian Foster Contract Ended 29 October 2011 Pre-season Sean McCaffrey 23 December 2011
Bohemians Pat Fenlon Signed by Hibernian 25 November 2011 Pre-season Aaron Callaghan 31 December 2011
St. Patrick's Athletic Pete Mahon Contract Ended 2 December 2011 Pre-season Liam Buckley 2 December 2011
Derry City Stephen Kenny Resigned 24 December 2011 Pre-season Declan Devine 6 January 2012
Shamrock Rovers Michael O'Neill Signed by Northern Ireland 24 December 2011 Pre-season Stephen Kenny 27 December 2011
Sligo Rovers Paul Cook Signed by Accrington Stanley 13 February 2012 Pre-season Ian Baraclough 27 February 2012
Dundalk Sean McCaffrey[4] Mutual Consent 12 January 2012 10th Stephen Kenny N/A
Shamrock Rovers Stephen Kenny Sacked[5] 11 September 2012 4th Brian Laws 17 September 2012[6]
Bray Wanderers Keith Long Mutual Consent September 2012 9th Pat Devlin September 2012

Overview

There was a mid-season break coinciding with the Republic of Ireland national football team's UEFA Euro 2012 finals campaign. On 18 June 2012, Monaghan United announced their withdrawal from the league. [7][8][9] Their record was subsequently expunged. [10] The Premier Division title was won by Sligo Rovers, their first title in thirty five years.[11][12][13][14][15]

Final table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sligo Rovers (C) 30 17 10 3 53 23 +30 61 Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round
2 Drogheda United 30 17 6 7 51 36 +15 57 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
3 St Patrick's Athletic 30 15 10 5 44 22 +22 55
4 Shamrock Rovers 30 14 10 6 56 37 +19 52
5 Derry City 30 11 6 13 36 36 0 39 Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
6 Cork City 30 8 12 10 38 36 +2 36
7 Bohemians 30 9 9 12 35 38 −3 36
8 Shelbourne 30 9 8 13 35 43 −8 35
9 UCD 30 8 7 15 32 48 −16 31
10 Bray Wanderers 30 5 10 15 33 54 −21 25
11 Dundalk (O) 30 4 8 18 23 63 −40 20 Qualification to Relegation play-off
12 Monaghan United (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew from league[lower-alpha 2]
Source: [16][17]
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Derry City qualified for the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round after winning the 2012 FAI Cup Final.
  2. Monaghan United withdrew after 14 games. Their record was expunged.

Results

Matches 1–22
Home \ Away BOH BRW COR DER DRO DUN MON SHM SHE SLI StP UCD
Bohemians 0–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 4–0 0–2 0–0 0–0 1–0
Bray Wanderers 2–1 0–3 0–4 2–4 1–1 2–2 2–3 1–2 3–3 3–1
Cork City 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–3 3–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 4–2
Derry City 1–0 3–2 2–0 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2 0–0
Drogheda United 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–2 3–1 1–3 0–0 1–0
Dundalk 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 2–1
Monaghan United
Shamrock Rovers 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 6–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Shelbourne 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 4–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–2
Sligo Rovers 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 3–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 2–1
St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–2 1–2 5–1 1–0 0–0 2–0
UCD 1–2 2–3 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–0 1–1
Source: www.rsssf.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33
Home \ Away BOH BRW COR DER DRO DUN MON SHM SHE SLI StP UCD
Bohemians 1–1 1–4 2–2 2–3
Bray Wanderers 1–4 0–0 1–3 1–3 0–0
Cork City 2–0 3–2 3–0 1–2 0–0
Derry City 2–0 0–1 4–0 2–1 1–2
Drogheda United 2–1 3–2 0–2 2–1 2–1 0–0
Dundalk 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–2
Monaghan United
Shamrock Rovers 0–1 1–3 7–0 2–2 2–1
Shelbourne 0–0 3–2 0–2 1–3 0–2
Sligo Rovers 3–1 4–1 3–0 0–2 3–2 3–0
St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 1–0 2–1 5–0
UCD 2–2 3–1 3–2 1–0 1–1
Source: www.rsssf.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion/Relegation play-off

Dundalk, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division, played Waterford United, the winner of the First Division play-off. The winner of this play off would play in the 2013 Premier Division.

30 October 2012 Dundalk 2–2 Waterford United Oriel Park [18]
Lorcan Shannon  23'
Stephen McDonnell  75'		 [ Report] Paul Phelan  50'
Ben Ryan  60'		 Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan)
2 November 2012 Waterford United 0–2 Dundalk Waterford RSC [19]
[ Report] Michael Rafter  45' (68) Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)

Dundalk win 4–2 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division. Waterford United appealed the result of the playoff, claiming Michael Rafter was ineligible as Dundalk had incorrectly registered him when they signed him earlier that season. However the appeal was unsuccessful. [19][20][21]

Awards

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals
1 Gary Twigg Shamrock Rovers[1] 22
2 Danny North Sligo Rovers 15
3 Jason Byrne Bray Wanderers 14

Player of the Month
Month Player Club
March Gary Twigg Shamrock Rovers[22]
April Christopher Forrester St Patrick's Athletic[23]
May Jason Byrne Bray Wanderers[24]
June Danny North Sligo Rovers[25]
July Chris Fagan St Patrick's Athletic [26]
August Mark Quigley Sligo Rovers[27]
September Jason McGuinness Sligo Rovers[28]
October Gary Twigg Shamrock Rovers[29]
November Rory Patterson Derry City [30]

See also

Notes
  1. Figures include results from matches played against Monaghan United who withdrew midway through the season https://www.researchgate.net/figure/League-of-Ireland-Premier-Division-Attendance_tbl1_286919999
  2. Figures include results from matches played against Monaghan United who withdrew midway through the season https://www.researchgate.net/figure/League-of-Ireland-Premier-Division-Attendance_tbl1_286919999

References
  1. "Ireland - List of Topscorers". www.rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  2. "The Demand for League of Ireland Football". research gate. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. "Kenny confirmed as Hoops boss". RTÉ News. 27 December 2011.
  4. "McCaffrey leaves Dundalk by mutual consent". Airtricityleague.ie. Archived from the original on 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  5. "Stephen Kenny sacked by Shamrock Rovers – RTÉ Sport". RTÉ.ie. 11 September 2012.
  6. "Laws joins Hoops until end of season – RTÉ Sport". RTÉ.ie. 17 September 2012.
  7. "FAQ: What happens next now that Monaghan United are gone?". www.the42.ie. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  8. "FAI Statement Re Monaghan United FC withdrawal". www.sseairtricityleague.ie. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  9. "What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League Of Ireland First Division?". www.balls.ie. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  10. "Ireland 2012". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  11. "Sligo Rovers 3 St Patrick's Athletic 2". RTÉ Sport. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  12. "Sligo Rovers celebrate first title in 35 years". Score. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  13. "Title win sends Sligo wild". Irish Examiner. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  14. "Sligo seal title". Goal.com. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  15. "Sligo are 2012 League Champions". Extra Time. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  16. "Ireland 2012". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  17. "Monaghan United withdraw from league". extratime.ie. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  18. "Dundalk 2–2 Waterford United". RTÉ News. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  19. "Waterford United 0–2 Dundalk (agg 2–4)". RTÉ News. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  20. "Waterford to appeal Dundalk play-off result". RTÉ News. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  21. "FAI dismiss Waterford protest". The Irish Times. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  22. "Gary Twigg named SWAI". SWAI.ie. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  23. "Chris Forrester named SWAI". SWAI.ie. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  24. "Jason Byrne named SWAI". SWAI.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  25. "Danny North named SWAI". SWAI.ie. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  26. "Fagan wins Airtricity/SWAI Player of the Month for July". Airtricityleague.ie.
  27. "Mark Quigley named Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for August". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  28. "Jason McGuinness named Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for September". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  29. "Gary Twigg named Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for October". Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  30. "Patterson is November's Player of the Month". Airtricityleague.ie.
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