Everything you need to know about League of Ireland First Division: From the teams to the odds

The League of Ireland First Division is a quite exciting and competitive football league that forms the second tier of Irish football.

2023-07-24Everything you need to know about League of Ireland First Division: From the teams to the odds

It operates under the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and serves as a platform for clubs aspiring to reach the top-tier League of Ireland Premier Division.

With a rich history and passionate fanbase, the First Division offers thrilling matches and a chance for teams to showcase their talent on the national stage.

In this article, you can read about everything you need to know about the League of Ireland First Division, from the teams competing to the League of Ireland first division odds offered by bookmakers.

Teams in the League of Ireland First Division

The League of Ireland First Division features a mix of established clubs with a history in Irish football and emerging teams looking to make their mark.

The number of participating teams can vary from season to season, but typically there are eight to ten clubs in the league. Some of the most well-known teams in the First Division include:

• Bray Wanderers: Based in County Wicklow, Bray Wanderers is one of the oldest football clubs in Ireland. They have a rich history and have previously competed in the Premier Division.
• Drogheda United: Hailing from County Louth, Drogheda United has a strong following and has experienced success both domestically and in European competitions.

The list continues...

• Galway United: From the city of Galway, Galway United has a loyal fanbase and has enjoyed periods of success in the League of Ireland.
• Shelbourne FC: Based in Dublin, Shelbourne FC is one of the most successful clubs in Irish football history. They have a storied past and have achieved success both domestically and in European competitions.
• UCD AFC: Representing University College Dublin, UCD AFC often features young and talented players from the university's football program.
• Cobh Ramblers: Hailing from County Cork, Cobh Ramblers has a passionate local following and aims to compete at the highest level of Irish football.

Other teams that may compete in the League of Ireland First Division include Athlone Town, Cabinteely FC, and Wexford FC, among others.

League format and promotion

The League of Ireland First Division operates on a promotion and relegation system.

At the end of each season, the team that finishes at the top of the First Division table is crowned the league champion and earns automatic promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division.

On the other hand, the team that finishes at the bottom of the First Division table is relegated to the lower tiers of Irish football.

Promotion to the Premier Division provides clubs with the opportunity to compete against the best teams in Ireland and play in front of larger crowds.

Additionally, they have a chance to secure a place in European competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, which brings both prestige and financial rewards.

Betting on the League of Ireland First Division

As the League of Ireland First Division becomes more popular, you'll find that bookmakers are now offering a number of betting options for all the football fans out there.

Betting on the First Division matches can really add an ounce of excitement, eventually making the whole experience even more thrilling.

There are variety of betting markets available for the League of Ireland First Division, thus giving fans lists of options to choose from and enjoy.

Some of the common betting markets for the League of Ireland First Division include:

Match Result: Placing bets on the end result of individual matches, allowing punters to choose between a win, loss, or draw for each participating team.

Under/Over Goals: Engaging in bets based on the total number of goals scored in a match, with punters predicting whether the overall count will be lower or higher than a given number.

Both Teams to Score: This betting option involves wagering on whether both teams participating in a match will manage to score at least one goal during the game.

Outright Winner: Betting on the winning team of the League of Ireland First Division title at the end of the season.