Featured Image Credit: September 2nd, 2019, Cork, Ireland – Rory Feely at the League of Ireland Premier Division match: Cork City FC vs Waterford FC By D. Ribeiro / shutterstock.com [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/september-2nd-2019-cork-ireland-rory-1496041646 [Accessed 2 June 2021]

Table

Matches February 2022 (Series 1-2)

Recap Series 1 (18 Feb-19 Feb 2022)

Three big away wins on opening night in the 2022 SSE Airtricity League First Division saw Treaty United travel to Ferrycarrig Park and come away with a 5-1 win at Wexford FC; Cork City won 6-0 at the Carlisle Grounds versus Bray Wanderers and Waterford travelled to Athlone Town Stadium and defeated the hosts 5-2. The Saturday Night game between Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers FC was postponed. Reference: [1-2]

Recap Series 2 (25 Feb-26 Feb 2022)

Waterford maintained their 100% record with a 1-0 defeat of Bray Wanderers, the Wicklow team losing their second in a row. Galway United got their season off to a good start with a 1-0 win at Cork City, the hosts losing for the first time this season, and Wexford FC made a big improvement on their first game when winning 3-2 at Cobh Ramblers FC in the Cork side’s first game following the posptonement of the game way to Longford Town on the 18th. Waterford’s six points left them the early pacesetters. Reference: 1-2]

Matches March 2022 (Series 3-7)

Series 3 Recap (4 March-5 March 2022)

South East rivals Waterford and Wexford FC set the pace after Series 3 in the SSE Airtricity First Division, with Waterford remaining top despite dropping their first points of the season in a 2-2 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park versus hosts Galway United. Wexford FC won 2-1 at Ferrycarrig Park to move second after the defeat of Athlone Town, who were still pointless. Galway United were fifth following the result, with two more Munster teams (Cork City and Treaty United) in third and fourth respectively, after both drew 0-0 away to Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers respectively. The game at Bishopsgate was Longford’s first of the season, moving them up to sixth, with Cobh in seventh. Bray Wanderers remained bottom after the series having not played at the weekend. Reference: [1-2]

Series 4 Recap (11-12 March 2022)

With Treaty United FC v Longford Town FC postponed, leaving the teams on just two games and one game played respectively, there were just three games played in Series 4 in the First Division, and those games all saw a win for teams in the top three – Waterford FC defeated Wexford FC 2-1 in a South East derby to remain top, and with Wexford FC losing Cork City FC and Galway United were able to leap-frog them into second and third with wins over Cobh Ramblers FC and Bray Wanderers FC. Cork would be especially happy with a victory in their Leeside derby with Cobh. Reference: [1-2]

Series 5-6 Recap (14 March and 18 March 2022)

Cork City FC and Galway United FC moved top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division with two wins each over the course of St. Patrick’s Festival week. Cork City were in pole position with wins over Waterford FC (2-0) and Treaty United FC (4-0). Treaty United also lost at Galway United (1-2) with the Connacht team winning at Athlone Town, also by a 2-1 scoreline, in what were two important victories for the Eamonn Deacy Park team against Shannon rivals. The loss to Cork in an all-Munster tie was Waterford FC’s first of the season, and the South East team slipped to third. Wexford FC had a big 0-3 reverse at home in Ferrycarrig Park to Longford Town FC, who earned their first win of the season to move sixth. Bray Wanderers got off the bottom rung with wins away to Longford Town (2-1) and Cobh Ramblers (1-0), with the Cork team dropping to second last. Athlone Town remained last with four losses from four games, including a 2-3 loss at home to Cobh. Treaty United were also on four points with Cobh after the losses to Galway and Cork. [Reference: 1-2]

Series 7 Recap (25 March 2022)

Cork City FC took over sole possession of the top spot with a 4-1 defeat of still pointless Athlone Town AFC. Cork’s nearest challengers Galway United FC lost 2-1 away to Longford Town FC which put the midlanders fourth on goal difference with seven points and three games in hand on the leaders. Treaty United FC joined Longford on seven points after a 2-1 victory over Munster rivals Waterford FC, as did both Bray Wanderers FC and Wexford FC after the two South East teams drew 0-0 in the Carlisle Grounds. [References: 1-2]

Matches April 2022 (Series 8-13)

Results taken from SSE Airtricity League website: for Official please visit the SSE Airtricity website at the address in [Results and Tables References: 1-2]

Series 8 Recap (1 April 2022)

Cork City FC moved to 19 points with a 1-0 win at Wexford FC, while Galway United FC remained three points behind in second after a 1-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers FC at Eamonn Deacy Park. Third and fourth-placed Waterford FC and Longford FC cancelled each other out with a 1-1 draw at the Regional Sports Centre, as Waterford slipped to five points behind Galway United FC and Longford Town FC after further three points behind Waterford. Bray Wanderers FC moved up to fifth, with eight points like Longford Town FC as they drew at Athlone Town AFC. Wanderers moved above both Treaty United FC who were not playing and Wexford FC who lost to Cork. Cobh Ramblers remained on four points and Athlone Town AFC’s draw at home to Bray Wanderers FC was their first point of the season. [Results and Tables References: 1-2]

Rescheduled Recap (4 April 2022)

Treaty United FC picked up three points at the expense of Athlone Town AFC, as Athlone Town AFC remained in last place. [Results and Tables References: 1-2]

Series 9 Recap (8-9 April 2022)

With Cork City FC not playing and Galway United FC only managing a point at home to Wexford FC, Waterford FC moved back in touch with the top two, after a resounding 4-0 win at Cobh Ramblers FC. The win left Waterford on 14 points three behind Galway, while Cobh remained second last on four. Bottom-placed Athlone Town AFC lost yet again, 0-2 at Bishopsgate versus Longford Town FC who moved to 11 points and equal on points with Treaty United FC who drew 0-0 at Bray Wanderers FC, putting the Seagulls on eight points, one ahead of Wexford FC and two behind Longford Town and Treaty United. [References: 1-2]

Series 10-11 Recap (15-18 April 2022)

Cork City FC, Galway United FC and Longford Town FC continued to be the pacesetters in the SSE Airtricity First Division with Cork on 23 points following a 0-0 draw at home to Bray Wanderers FC in a game they would have been expected to take all three points from, and a 2-1 win at Waterford FC. Galway United were three points back following a 1-0 at Waterford, but have a game in hand on the leaders after having a bye series on the 18th of April. Longford Town had two games to make up on the leaders having also had a bye week on series 10, the 15th of April, but won 2-1 on Easter Monday at Bray to move within six points of the Leesiders. Treaty United and Waterford were both in mid-table on 15 and 14 points respectively, as Treaty moved ahead of Waterford with a 2-1 win at Markets Field versus Wexford FC after drawing 1-1 at Athlone Town AFC on Good Friday. Wexford FC moved above Bray into sixth with a 4-2 win at home to fellow strugglers Cobh Ramblers in a high-scoring game. Cobh however picked up a valuable win at home to Athlone Town AFC three days later, in another high-scoring game, Ramblers winning 3-2. [References: 1-2]

Series 12 Recap (22-23 April 2022)

Cork City FC maintained their three point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a 3-2 win at Cobh Ramblers in the Cork derby. Cork were now on 26 Points three ahead of nearest rivals Galway United FC who stayed within touching distance of them with a 2-0 victory at Eamonn Deacy Park versus Bray Wanderers FC. Longford Town slipped five points behind Galway after being held 0-0 by Treaty United at Bishopsgate, while Waterford FC moved above the Limerick team into fourth, a point behind Longford after a 2-0 victory at Wexford FC. [References: 1-2]

Series 13 Recap (29 April 2022)

Cork City FC and Galway United FC continued on winning ways, with Longford Town FC in third place slipping further back after losing 4-1 at Turner’s Cross. Galway’s victory over Treaty United FC at Market’s Field meant the Limerick side missed the chance to go above Longford and Waterford FC into third. At the other end of the table Bray Wanderers FC and Cobh Ramblers FC drew 1-1 at the Carlisle Grounds in a result that suits neither team as they try to get closer contact to mid-table. Athlone Town were still searching for that first win after losing 0-3 at home to Wexford FC, which kept Wexford in touch with mid-table Longford, Waterford and Treaty United [References: 1-2]

Matches May 2022 (Series 14-18)

Results taken from SSE Airtricity League website: for Official please visit the SSE Airtricity website at the address in [Results and Tables References: 1-2]

Series 14-18 Recap

Cork City and Galway United continued to set the pace at the top of the First Division with four wins and a draw each during the month of May. Waterford overtook Longford Town into third place with wins over Cobh Ramblers and Wexford FC and a draw with Longford Town, but two losses to the leaders Cork City and Galway United. Longford Town managed wins over Bray Wanderers and Cobh Ramblers as well as two draws to place fourth at the end of May while Treaty United in mid-table could only manage three draws. Bray Wanderers and Wexford FC drew at Ferrycarrig Park but apart from one draw more each that was the only points the two South East teams managed in May. Cobh Ramblers gained just the one point to remain second from bottom while last-placed Athlone Town went pointless in May. [References: 1-2]

ABOUT THE SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

The SSE Airtricity League First Division is the Second Highest Level Men’s Soccer League in the Republic of Ireland. Run by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) which governs Soccer in the Republic of Ireland, it is one of two Senior Level (National) Leagues in the Republic of Ireland. It is sponsored by SSE Airtricity. The season runs from 18 February 2022 to 5 November 2022.

Soccer Stock Image – Cork City V Waterford FC when both teams were in the Premier Division

References

[1] SSE Airtricity League (2022) First Division Table [Internet] Available from: https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-02GUHFMLNG000001VUM100GLVVH6KORK-G#table [Last Accessed 30 April 2022]

[2] SSE Airtricity League (2022) First Division Matches [Internet] Available from: https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-02GUHFMLNG000001VUM100GLVVH6KORK-G#matches [Last Accessed 30 April 2022]

IMAGES

[3] SSE Airtricity League (2020) SSE Airtricity League Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/assets/images/logos/sse-airtricity-league-logo.png [Accessed 11 February 2020]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Paul Foley and Jason Caldwell.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 15 June 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.