2006 League of Ireland First Division

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League of Ireland First Division
Season 2006
Champions Shamrock Rovers
Promoted Galway United
Top goalscorer Philip Hughes: 19
(Dundalk)[1][2]
← 2005
2007 →

The 2006 League of Ireland First Division season was the 22nd season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by 10 teams and Shamrock Rovers won the division. Each team played the other teams four times, totalling 36 games.

Club information

Team Manager Main sponsor Kit supplier Stadium Capacity
Athlone Town Republic of Ireland Michael O'Connor Ganly's Hardware O'Neills St. Mel's Park 3,000
Cobh Ramblers Republic of Ireland Stephen Henderson Goodyear Uhlsport St. Colman's Park 5,000
Dundalk Republic of Ireland John Gill IJM Timber Frame Company Diadora Oriel Park 11,000
Finn Harps Republic of Ireland Anthony Gorman Harley's Cheers Bar PF Sports Finn Park 7,900
Galway United Republic of Ireland Tony Cousins Harrmack Developments Ltd. Umbro Terryland Park 3,500
Kildare County Republic of Ireland John Ryan Celbridge Football Park Umbro Station Road 2,500
Kilkenny City Republic of Ireland Adrian Fitzpatrick The Kilkenny Voice Umbro Buckley Park 6,500
Limerick Republic of Ireland Danny Drew Asian Harvest Jako Hogan Park 9,000
Monaghan United Republic of Ireland Mick Cooke The Steering Wheel Diadora Century Homes Park 3,000
Shamrock Rovers Republic of Ireland Pat Scully Woodie's DIY Umbro Tolka Park 10,100

Overview

In March 2006 it was announced that the League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland would be merging. As part of this arrangement the league would be restructured and membership of the 2007 Premier Division and 2007 First Division would be decided by an Independent Assessment Group chaired by a former FAI honorary secretary, Des Casey. Clubs would be assessed on their past five season record in the league. Crucially though, clubs would also be graded on off-field criteria, including attendance, infrastructure, governance, strategic planning, finance, youth development and marketing.[2][3] This decision would have a considerable impact on the 2006 First Division which began on March 10 and finished on November 18. The season developed into three-way battle between Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Galway United. Shamrock Rovers eventually emerged as champions while Dundalk finished second and went on to defeat Waterford United in a promotion/relegation play-off.[4][5][2][6] However it was subsequently announced that Dundalk had failed to meet the Independent Assessment Group criteria and they would not be promoted to the Premier Division and that third placed Galway United would be promoted instead.[2][3] The decision proved to be controversial and Dundalk were particularly aggrieved.[7] On 13 December, Mark Kavanagh, a Dundalk fan protesting the decision entered the FAI's headquarters in Merrion Square and allegedly threatened to set himself on fire after pouring petrol on his head and on furniture in the offices and reception area. He gave up the protest after obtaining a meeting with Dundalk manager John Gill.[8] Dundalk eventually accepted the FAI decision and remained in the First Division.[9]

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Shamrock Rovers 36 21 12 3 53 13 +40 72[lower-alpha 1] Promoted to Premier Division
2 Dundalk 36 22 5 9 57 33 +24 71 [lower-alpha 2]
3 Galway United 36 19 12 5 57 25 +32 69 Promoted to Premier Division[lower-alpha 3]
4 Cobh Ramblers 36 16 10 10 50 33 +17 58
5 Limerick 36 14 5 17 38 48 −10 47
6 Finn Harps 36 12 10 14 49 45 +4 46
7 Kildare County 36 11 10 15 38 55 −17 43
8 Athlone Town 36 11 9 16 29 47 −18 42
9 Monaghan United 36 6 9 21 32 64 −32 27
10 Kilkenny City 36 3 8 25 25 65 −40 17
Source: [6][2]
Notes:
  1. ↑ Shamrock Rovers were deducted 3 points for fielding a suspended player, Paul Shiels against Dundalk on 23 July.
  2. ↑ Dundalk did not meet the criteria set out by the FAI's Independent Assessment Group were not promoted.
  3. ↑ Galway United were promoted after passing the criteria set out by the FAI's Independent Assessment Group.

Promotion/relegation play-off

Dundalk who finished second played off against Waterford United who finished eleventh in the Premier Division.

1st Leg
2nd Leg

Dundalk won 3–2 on aggregate but did not meet the criteria set out by the FAI's Independent Assessment Group and were not promoted.[6][2][3]

IAG table

Template:2006 League of Ireland IAG table

Notes


Top scorers

Player Club Goals
Republic of Ireland Philip Hughes Dundalk 19
Republic of Ireland Conor Gethins Finn Harps/Galway United 16
Republic of Ireland Tadhg Purcell Shamrock Rovers 12
Republic of Ireland Barry Moran Galway United 11

Source:[1][2]

Gallery

  • Football league of ireland season 06.png

    The clubs that competed in the 2006 League of Ireland.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named rsssf2006
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named irishtimes
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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