2001–02 League of Ireland First Division

The 2001–02 League of Ireland First Division season was the 17th season of the League of Ireland First Division.

League of Ireland First Division

Season	2001–02
Champions	Drogheda United
Top goalscorer	Kevin McHugh: 27 (Finn Harps) [1]
← 2000–01 2002–03 →

Overview

The First Division was contested by 10 teams and Drogheda United won the division. The 2002–03 season would see the League of Ireland First Division expanded from 10 to 12 teams. As a result, the runners-up, Finn Harps F.C. were not automatically promoted as in previous seasons.^[2][3]

Final table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Drogheda United F.C.	32	14	16	2	53	28	+25	58	Promoted to Premier Division
2	Finn Harps F.C.	32	15	9	8	51	47	+4	54	Lost promotion/relegation play-off
3	Dublin City F.C.	32	15	8	9	55	46	+9	53
4	Waterford United F.C.	32	13	12	7	47	35	+12	48[a]
5	Kilkenny City A.F.C.	32	12	9	11	47	39	+8	45
6	Sligo Rovers F.C.	32	8	9	15	35	48	−13	33
7	Athlone Town A.F.C.	32	7	11	14	40	53	−13	32
8	Cobh Ramblers F.C.	32	8	7	17	32	42	−10	31
9	Limerick F.C.	32	8	7	17	32	54	−22	31
10	St. Francis F.C.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0[b]	Resigned

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. Waterford United had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.
2. St. Francis resigned from the League of Ireland First Division two weeks before the start of the season due to a proposed merger with St Patrick's Athletic. This withdrawal occurred too late for a replacement team to be found. The proposed merger never happened and St. Francis subsequently rejoined the Leinster Senior League.

Promotion/relegation play-off

Second placed Finn Harps played off against Longford Town who finished in ninth place in the 2001–02 League of Ireland Premier Division. The winner would compete in the 2002–03 League of Ireland Premier Division.

1st leg

Longford Town v Finn Harps

20 April 2002

Longford Town

1–0

Finn Harps

2nd leg

Finn Harps v Longford Town

23 April 2002

Finn Harps

3–2

Longford Town

Longford Town win 6-5 on penalties after extra time and retain their place in the Premier Division. ^[2][3]

Waterford United

Limerick

Dublin City

Sligo Rovers

Finn Harps

Cobh Ramblers

Athlone Town

Kilkenny City

Drogheda United

Locations of the First Division teams

See also

• 2001–02 League of Ireland Premier Division