Final day League of Ireland deciders - a chronology

The Premier Division title is up for grabs - once more - on the final night.

Thu, 31 Oct, 2024 - 21:51

John Fallon

It’s been a decade since the title outcome went down to the wire but final day dramas have been a staple of the League of Ireland since the modern version commenced in 1985.

A mammoth 15 campaigns have been settled on the last night of the season and Friday sees two matches in Derry and Dublin settle the destiny of this year’s 36-series season.

1986: Requiring a point to secure their third title on the spin, Shamrock Rovers faced Cork City at Milltown aware a slip-up could allow Galway, two points behind, to steal. They held firm to run out 4-0 victors.

1988: Rising manager Brian Kerr versus the wily Turlough O’Connor and the latter staved off the Greener by steering his Dundalk side to a draw against St Patrick’s Athletic. Dessie Gorman’s penalty earned the necessary point.

1989: Derry’s City treble hasn’t been matched since and they held off holders Dundalk by two points, thanks to Paul Doolin’s brace against Cobh Ramblers.

1991: Cork City were top and favourites for their first league crowd when hosting Dundalk at Turner’s Cross but the first of many Tom McNulty season-defining goals wrested control away from Leeside.

1993: All that could go wrong for leaders Bohemians did as their bus broke down on the way to Dundalk and their defence was broken by McNulty’s winner. Their superior goal difference didn’t count either and Cork City prevailed in a titanic three-way playoff with Shelbourne.

1995: McNulty – again – plunged a dagger into a would-be title winner, Derry City this time stumbling. While Dundalk beat Galway, Derry couldn’t get the win at strugglers Athlone - Roscommon GAA goalkeeper Shane Curran made the difference by saving Stuart Gauld’s penalty.

1998: Kilkenny’s Buckley Park was the scene of joyous St Patrick’s Athletic scenes, for they beat the city’s team 2-1 while Shelbourne choked at Dundalk, feeling the loss of suspended Pat Fenlon is a 2-1 defeat.

1999: Another Saints crown – this one by seeing off Cork City on the run-in. Both teams had an identical goal difference but Jeff Clarke’s winner on the last day against Bray Wanderers banked the three points that separated the sides.

2001: Ollie Cahill ruined his future club Shelbourne’s title defence by snaffling three points for Cork City at Tolka Park on a sunny final day. Bohemians profited, Roddy Collins clinching a first title for the Gypsies since 1978 by sweeping aside Kilkenny City 5-0.

2004: The second Shelbourne title of three for Pat Fenlon over a four-year spree was collected by holding out for a scoreless draw against St Pat’s, retaining the three-point gap to Cork City.

2005: Turner’s Cross was throbbing for a winner-takes-all and the Cork City faithful were in fine voice as goals from John O’Flynn and Liam Kearney saw off the challenge from Stephen Kenny’s Derry City.

2006: Kenny’s Derry were again in the mix on the final day but Shelbourne vanquished them by coming from behind to beat Bohs to win on goal difference. Goalscorer Stuey Byrne’s infamous TV rant at Kenny remains a standout memory.

2009: An eventful season off the pitch amid the economic crash concluded with Bohs, under Fenlon, finishing four points ahead of Rovers. 1-1 draw away to Bray sealed it for the Gypsies 2010: Loyal Shamrock Rovers fans had waited 23 years for a title so they were patient until the final night, as Bray was the scene again for celebrations. A 2-2 draw edged out Bohs by a two-goal difference.

2014: Cork were back in a final day decider but they couldn’t eke out the draw at Oriel Park. Former Rebel Stephen O’Donnell broke the deadlock and Brian Gartland added a second, jumpstarting a decorated period under Stephen Kenny.