2002–03 League of Ireland First Division

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League of Ireland First Division
Season2002–03
ChampionsWaterford United
Top goalscorerKevin McHugh: 14
(Finn Harps)
Willie Bruton: 14
(Cobh Ramblers) [1]
2003 →

The 2002–03 League of Ireland First Division season was the 18th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by 12 teams. Waterford United won the title while Finn Harps won the First Division Cup, a one-off tournament staged this season.

Overview[]

First Division Cup[]

Between July and August the 12 teams competed in the First Division Cup. The teams were divided into two regionalised groups and played a single round of games. The two group winners then qualified for the final. On 6 July 2002 Kildare County, the First Division's newest members, made their competitive debut against Limerick at Station Road. Philip Gorman and Shey Zellor scored for County as they won 2–0. County went on to win their regional group and qualify for the final but lost 4–0 on aggregate to Finn Harps.[2][3][4]

Final tables[]

Southern section
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kildare County 5 4 1 0 9 1 +8 13 Qualified for final[a]
2 Limerick 5 4 0 1 10 8 +2 12
3 Cobh Ramblers 5 2 1 2 5 5 0 7
4 Waterford United 5 1 1 3 5 6 −1 4
5 Kilkenny City 5 1 1 3 6 10 −4 4
6 Athlone Town 5 0 2 3 4 9 −5 2
Source:[citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Kildare County replaced Fingal–St. Francis.
Northern section
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Finn Harps 5 3 2 0 10 5 +5 11 Qualified for final
2 Sligo Rovers 5 3 2 0 8 3 +5 11
3 Monaghan United 5 2 1 2 6 5 +1 7
4 Dublin City 5 2 0 3 5 5 0 6
5 Dundalk 5 1 1 3 3 6 −3 4
6 Galway United 5 0 2 3 2 10 −8 2
Source:[citation needed]

Final[]

28 August 2002 Kildare County 0–2 Finn Harps Station Road[5]
Jonathan Minnick Goal 55'
Neil Lloyd Goal 67'
4 September 2002 Finn Harps 2–0 Kildare County Finn Park[4]
Bradley Goal 16'
Bonner Goal 34'

Finn Harps win 4–0 on aggregate.

Source:[3]

Regular season[]

The regular season began in August [4] and concluded in January. It used a round-robin format which saw each team play 22 games. Under manager Jimmy McGeough and with a team that included Dan Connor, Waterford United won the title and were automatically promoted to the 2003 Premier Division.[6][7][8]

Final table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Waterford United 22 13 7 2 37 25 +12 46 Promoted to Premier Division
2 Finn Harps 22 12 5 5 41 22 +19 41 Lost promotion/relegation play-off
3 Galway United 22 10 6 6 34 21 +13 36
4 Cobh Ramblers 22 10 5 7 39 38 +1 35
5 Kildare County 22 9 6 7 32 31 +1 33
6 Sligo Rovers 22 8 6 8 28 27 +1 30
7 Dublin City 22 8 4 10 36 35 +1 28
8 Monaghan United 22 5 11 6 26 27 −1 26
9 Dundalk 22 5 8 9 28 36 −8 23
10 Limerick 22 6 5 11 26 36 −10 23
11 Athlone Town 22 5 6 11 26 40 −14 21
12 Kilkenny City 22 3 7 12 23 38 −15 16
Source: [7][8]

Promotion/Relegation Play-off[]

The promotion/relegation play-off format was changed this season. It now featured four teams, the second, third and fourth placed teams from the First Division plus Drogheda United, the ninth placed team from the 2002–03 League of Ireland Premier Division.

Semi-finals[]

1st Legs
29 January 2003 Galway United 2–0 Finn Harps
29 January 2003 Cobh Ramblers 2–2 Drogheda United
2nd Legs
1 February 2003 Finn Harps 1–0 Galway United

Galway United win 2–1 on aggregate

1 February 2003 Drogheda United 2–0 Cobh Ramblers

Drogheda United win 4–2 on aggregate

Final[]

5 February 2003 Galway United 2–0 Drogheda United
8 February 2003 Drogheda United 3–0 Galway United

Drogheda United win 3–2 on aggregate and retain their place in the Premier Division.

Source:[7][8]

Locations of the First Division teams

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ireland - List of Topscorers". www.rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Kildare make impressive start to campaign". www.irishexaminer.com. 6 July 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ireland Cups 2002/03". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Kildare face Limerick on Saturday". www.breakingnews.ie. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Finn Harps win first leg of First Division Cup final". www.breakingnews.ie. 29 August 2002. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Waterford United sack manager McGeough". www.irishtimes.com. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c "(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level". www.rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
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