1985–86 League of Ireland Premier Division

1st season of the League of Ireland Premier Division League of Ireland Premier Division 1985–86 12 Shamrock Rovers (13th title) ShelbourneUCD European Cup Shamrock Rovers UEFA Cup Galway United UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Waterford United Tommy Gaynor (Limerick City)15 goalshttps://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iertops.html Ireland - List of Topscorers 6 July 2016 live RSSSF https://web.archive.org/web/20120406093820/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html 6 April 2012 Graham Alex Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005 Soccer Books Limited 1-86223-135-4 1984–85 1986–87 The 1985–86 League of Ireland Premier Division was the first season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The Premier Division was made up of 12 teams. Overview The top tier of the League of Ireland was renamed the Premier Division in 1985. Honours list https://www.leagueofireland.ie/mens/sse-airtricity-mens-premier-division/honours-list/ 2025-12-09 www.leagueofireland.ie en The Premier Division was contested by 12 teams and Shamrock Rovers F.C. won the championship. The top 12 teams from the 1984–85 League of Ireland automatically qualified for the Premier Division.https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html (Republic of) Ireland League Tables 6 July 2016 live RSSSF https://web.archive.org/web/20080221000146/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ierhist.html 21 February 2008 Historical tables https://www.leagueofireland.ie/mens/sse-airtricity-mens-premier-division/historical-tables-mens-premier-division/ 2025-07-22 www.leagueofireland.ie en Teams Stadia and locations Ireland Map of the Republic of Ireland with the twelve League of Ireland Premier Division teams Locations of Premier Division teams right 280 Ireland 53 25 25 N 7 53 33 W top Athlone Town Ireland 51 53 50 N W 8 28 12 top Cork City Ireland 53 20 52 N 6 15 35 W left Dublin 12 Ireland 54 0 32 N W 6 24 18 right Dundalk Ireland Galway United right 53.272 -9.049 Ireland 52 39 55 N 8 37 25 W bottom Limerick City Ireland Waterford right 52.2462 -7.1247 Ireland TransparentPlaceholder.png 1 55 24 N 10 57 W right Dublin teamsBohemiansHome FarmShamrock RoversShelbourneSt Patrick's AthleticUCD Team Hometown/Suburb Stadium ManagerAthlone TownAthloneSt Mel's ParkIreland Con FlanaganBohemiansPhibsboroughDalymount ParkIreland Billy YoungCork CityCorkTurners CrossIreland Noel O'MahonyDundalkDundalkOriel ParkIreland Turlough O'ConnorGalway UnitedGalwayTerryland ParkIreland Tony MannionHome FarmDrumcondra, DublinTolka ParkIreland Mick LawlorLimerick CityLimerickJackman ParkIreland Joe O'MahoneyShamrock RoversMilltown, DublinGlenmalure ParkNorthern Ireland Jim McLaughlinShelbourneHarold's Cross Harold's Cross StadiumIreland Paddy MulliganSt Patrick's AthleticInchicoreRichmond ParkIreland Jimmy JacksonWaterford UnitedWaterfordKilcohan ParkIreland Alfie HaleUniversity College DublinBelfieldUCD BowlIreland Theo Dunne Final Table main WDL QR 2 SHM Shamrock Rovers GAL Galway United DUN Dundalk BOH Bohemians WAT Waterford United StP St Patrick's Athletic LIM Limerick City ATH Athlone Town HOM Home Farm COR Cork City SHE Shelbourne UCD UCD 15 3 4 44 17 C 12 7 3 42 19 12 6 4 35 16 8 11 3 27 22 8 10 4 27 25 8 9 5 23 19 10 4 8 45 28 6 7 9 23 27 5 5 12 15 30 3 7 12 23 44 3 7 12 15 40 R 2 4 16 19 51 R green1 Qualification to 1986–87 European Cup EC1 blue1 Qualification to 1986–87 UEFA Cup UC1 yellow1 Qualification to 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup ECWC Waterford United qualified for the 1986-87 European Cup Winners' Cup after reaching the 1985–86 FAI Cup final. red1 Relegation to League of Ireland First Division R R complete www.rsssf.com Results main FBR ATH BOH COR DUN GAL HOM LIM SHM SHE StP UCD WAT Shamrock Rovers 2–2 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 5–1 4–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 Galway United 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 3–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 6–1 3–0 Dundalk 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 2–2 1–0 3–0 Bohemians 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 2–2 2–0 Waterford United 1–0 2–2 2–5 1–1 1–0 2–1 3–2 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–3 0–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 Limerick 3–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 4–1 5–2 5–0 3–0 Athlone Town 2–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 0–0 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 Home Farm 2–3 0–1 0–3 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 Cork City 0–3 0–2 1–4 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 Shelbourne 1–1 0–3 0–3 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–4 0–0 0–0 0–2 5–3 UCD 1–4 1–2 1–2 3–3 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–3 2–2 0–2 complete Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Tommy GaynorLimerick City152Paul McGeeGalway United133Colm McGonigleGalway United113Pat MorleyLimerick City113Paul DoolinShamrock Rovers116Eugene DavisBohemians86Martin ReidWaterford United86Dessie GormanDundalk89Mick ByrneShamrock Rovers79Paddy HughesCork City7 Source:1985-1986 League of Ireland Premier Division Top Scorers extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football https://www.extratime.com/topscorers/86/100/1985-1986/ 2026-06-16 www.extratime.com League of Ireland clubs in Europe European Cup First round After winning the league title in the previous season, Shamrock Rovers received automatic qualification into the first round of the European Cup. Shamrock Rovers were drawn against Hungarian club, Budapest Honvéd, 1984-85 Hungarian League Winners. Budapest Honvéd were the hosts for the first leg and won the game comfortably in a 2-0 defeat of Shamrock Rovers. In the return leg, Shamrock Rovers were defeated once again 3-1, thus eliminating them from the competition. Budapest Honvéd Hungary 5-1 Shamrock Rovers IRL 2 - 0 3 - 1 First leg Budapest Honvéd v Shamrock Rovers 18 September 1985 Budapest Honvéd Hungary 1957 2 – 0 Report IRL Shamrock Rovers Dajka 36Détári 67 Illovszky Rudolf Stadion (1960), Budapest Second leg Shamrock Rovers v Budapest Honvéd 2 October 1985 Shamrock Rovers IRL 1 – 3 Report Hungary 1957 Budapest Honvéd Coady 84 Détári 69 74Cseh 85 Glenmalure Park, Dublin Budapest Honvéd won 5–1 on aggregate. UEFA Cup First round Bohemians IRL 4-7 Dundee United Scotland 2 - 5 2 - 2 European Cup Winners Cup First round FAI Cup Runners-up, Galway United entered the European Cup Winners' Cup in the first round against Danish side, Lyngby BK. Galway United were defeated 1-0 in the away leg in Lyngby BK. In the second leg, United were defeated 3-2 at Terryland Park, ending their European campaign. Lyngby BK Denmark 4-2 Galway United IRL 1 - 0 3 - 2 See also 1985–86 League of Ireland First Division References Category:League of Ireland Premier Division seasons Ireland, 1985-86 1