2003 League of Ireland First Division

The 2003 League of Ireland First Division season was the 19th season of the League of Ireland First Division and the first to be played as a summer league.

League of Ireland First Division

Season	2003
Champions	Dublin City
Top goalscorer	Alan Murphy: 14 (Galway United) [1]
← 2002–03 2004 →

Overview

The First Division was contested by 12 teams and Dublin City won the division. Each team played the other teams three times, totaling 33 games.^[2][3]

Final table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or qualification
1	Dublin City	33	19	10	4	44	26	+18	67	Promoted to Premier Division
2	Bray Wanderers	33	18	10	5	59	35	+24	64	Lost promotion/relegation play-off
3	Finn Harps	33	17	11	5	52	24	+28	62
4	Limerick	33	16	9	8	55	38	+17	57
5	Kildare County	33	15	10	8	50	39	+11	55
6	Sligo Rovers	33	11	13	9	39	39	0	46
7	Galway United	33	10	13	10	48	53	−5	43
8	Cobh Ramblers	33	9	11	13	33	45	−12	38
9	Athlone Town	33	9	10	14	37	42	−5	37
10	Dundalk	33	6	14	13	36	40	−4	32
11	Monaghan United	33	3	9	21	28	60	−32	15[a]
12	Kilkenny City	33	2	6	25	25	65	−40	12

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. Monaghan United were deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in a game against Dublin City which they lost 2–0.

Promotion/relegation play-off

Four teams entered the promotion/relegation play-off. The second, third and fourth placed teams from the First Division were joined by the ninth placed team from the 2003 League of Ireland Premier Division.

Semi-final

1st Legs

Limerick v Derry City

3 December 2003

Limerick

0–0

Derry City

Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers

3 December 2003

Finn Harps

1–0

Bray Wanderers

2nd Legs

Derry City v Limerick

6 December 2003

Derry City

4–0

Limerick

Derry City win 4–0 on aggregate

Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps

6 December 2003

Bray Wanderers

1–2

Finn Harps

Finn Harps win 3–1 on aggregate

Final

Finn Harps v Derry City

10 December 2003

Finn Harps

0–0

Derry City

Derry City v Finn Harps

13 December 2003	Derry City	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Finn Harps
	Farren 13' Coyle 101'		McHugh 95'

Derry City win 2–1 on aggregate and retain their place in the Premier Division. ^[2][3][4]

Bray Wanderers

Limerick

Kildare County

Dublin City

Sligo Rovers

Dundalk

Finn Harps

Galway United

Cobh Ramblers

Athlone Town

Monaghan United

Kilkenny City

Locations of the First Division teams

See also

• 2003 League of Ireland Premier Division

References

1. "Ireland - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
2. Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
3. "(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
4. "Ireland 2003". RSSSF. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2016.