The regular season began on 16 March and ended on 18 November. Each team played three rounds of games, totalling 33 games each. The season witnessed a decline in the fortunes of one the League of Ireland oldest surviving members. In April Shamrock Rovers entered examinership and it was revealed that the club had debts of nearly €3 million. It was also discovered that Rovers were not playing PAYE and PRSI. As a result of these financial irregularities, Rovers were deducted eight points. This ultimately resulted in the club being relegated to the First Division after they lost the relegation/promotion playoff to Dublin City. This was the first time Rovers' senior team had dropped out of the top level of the Republic of Ireland football league system since the club had joined the League of Ireland in 1922–23. Going into the final month of the league season only goal difference could separate leaders Cork City from second placed Derry City and title would be decided on the final day of the season when the two met at Turner's Cross on 18 November. Derry City went top of the table after Cork City's draw with Shelbourne the previous weekend. All they needed was a point to seal their first league title since 1996–97. Cork City started the better and nearly scored inside thirty seconds when John O'Flynn headed just over the crossbar. They were not to be denied however, and struck the deserved lead goal when O'Flynn headed home from a Roy O'Donovan cross. Cork City dominated the rest of the opening half but it seemed that the second killer goal would just not come. It eventually arrived in the 16th minute of the second half when Denis Behan set up Liam Kearney to score. Derry City never gave up, however, and were close to pulling a goal back but Michael Devine managed to pull off a fine save from a Pat McCourt header. It was to be Cork City's day, though, as they went on to see the match out and clinch their second league title.
Final table
Promotion/Relegation Play-off
who finished eleventh in the Premier Division played off against Dublin City who finished second in the First Division. ;1st Leg ;2nd Leg Dublin City win 3–2 on aggregate and are promoted to the Premier Division.
UEFA Coefficient
The League of Ireland Premier Division clubs' performances in Europe this season meant that the league received a coefficient of 1.833 added to their overall coefficient which now accumulated to 4.331. This gave them a ranking 40th place as shown.
The prize funds for the season more than quadrupled. The top clubs also got a financial from the Setanta Cup. The following table shows how eircom Leagueprize money was distributed for the season.
Position
Premier Division
First Division
League Cup
Fair Play
1
€100,000
€25,000
€15,000
€4,500 x 2
2
€45,000
€12,500
€7,500
€2,000 x 2
3
€25,000
€7,500
€2,500
-
4
€15,000
€6,000
€2,500
-
5
€10,000
€5,000
-
-
6
€7,500
€5,000
-
-
7
€6,000
€5,000
-
-
8
€5,000
€5,000
-
-
9
€5,000
€5,000
-
-
10
€5,000
€5,000
-
-
11
€5,000
-
-
-
12
€5,000
-
-
-
Totals
€233,500
€81,000
€27,500
€13,000
Attendances
Attendance figures increased this season in relation to previous seasons. The total attendance over all competitions for the season was 520,000 - a 6% increase on the previous season. The highest league attendance of the season came at Turner's Cross for the title decider at the end of the season between Cork City and Derry City. 8,000 spectators were at the game.
Media Coverage
The FAI agreed a new TV Rights deal for this season. This deal will run until 2009. The main terms of the agreement are:
Home clubs in other 12 live matches will get €2,000.
TV viewing figures for the season proved to be in excess of 1 million. In the end 44 matches were televised live with the highest viewing figure of 355,000 for the league title decider.
