1948–49 League of Ireland

The 1948–49 League of Ireland was the 28th season of senior football in the Republic of Ireland.

League of Ireland

Season	1948–49
Champions	Drumcondra (2nd title)
Matches played	90
Goals scored	332 (3.69 per match)
Top goalscorer	Bernard Lester Eugene Noonan Patrick O'Leary (12 goals each)
Biggest home win	Waterford 5–0 Transport
Biggest away win	Bohemians 0–6 Shelbourne
Highest scoring	Transport 6–2 Limerick Transport 2–6 Cork Athletic
← 1947–48 1949–50 →

Drumcondra were the defending champions.

Changes from 1947–48

Two new teams were elected to the League: Sligo Rovers returned after an eight-year absence, while Transport made their début. This resulted in an expansion in size for the first time in six seasons, from eight to ten.

For the first time in the history of the League, there were more teams from outside Dublin (six) than from Dublin (four).

Teams

Dublin

Bray

Cork

Dundalk

Sligo

Waterford

Limerick

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Locations of the 1948–49 League of Ireland teams

Team	Location	Stadium
Bohemians	Dublin (Phibsborough)	Dalymount Park
Cork United	Cork	Mardyke
Cork Athletic
Drumcondra	Dublin (Clonturk)	Clonturk Park
Dundalk	Dundalk	Oriel Park
Limerick	Limerick	Markets Field
Shamrock Rovers	Dublin (Milltown)	Glenmalure Park
Shelbourne	Dublin (Ringsend)	Shelbourne Park
Sligo Rovers	Sligo	The Showgrounds
Transport	Bray	Carlisle Grounds
Waterford	Waterford	Kilcohan Park

Season overview

Cork United resigned from the League on 10 October 1948 and disbanded following their participation in the Dublin City Cup. Cork Athletic were founded with a new board and elected in their place.

Drumcondra successfully defended their title.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Drumcondra	18	12	5	1	34	23	11	29
2	Shelbourne	18	9	5	4	39	23	16	23
3	Dundalk	18	9	5	4	33	24	9	23
4	Shamrock Rovers	18	6	8	4	33	25	8	20
5	Transport	18	5	8	5	35	41	−6	18
6	Limerick	18	6	5	7	27	35	−8	17
7	Waterford	18	7	1	10	39	34	5	15
8	Sligo Rovers	18	4	5	9	31	37	−6	13
9	Cork Athletic	18	6	1	11	33	41	−8	13
10	Bohemians	18	2	5	11	28	49	−21	9

Source: RSSSF, foot.dk

Results

Home \ Away	BOH	CAT	DRU	DUN	LIM	SHM	SHE	SLI	TRA	WAT
Bohemians	—	2–2	1–3	1–4	2–3	2–1	0–6	1–2	2–2	3–2
Cork Athletic	3–1	—	2–4	0–2	2–0	3–4	2–5	3–2	3–0	0–2
Drumcondra	3–2	1–0	—	1–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–1	1–4
Dundalk	2–2	2–1	0–0	—	2–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	1–2	4–0
Limerick	2–1	5–2	0–1	3–2	—	1–1	0–2	3–2	1–1	1–5
Shamrock Rovers	2–2	3–1	2–3	3–0	0–0	—	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–1
Shelbourne	0–0	0–1	3–4	0–1	3–1	1–0	—	2–1	3–1	2–2
Sligo Rovers	3–1	5–2	0–1	3–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	1–1	0–3
Transport	4–3	2–6	1–1	3–3	6–2	1–1	3–1	4–3	—	2–0
Waterford	5–2	1–0	2–3	1–2	1–2	2–3	2–3	1–2	5–0	—

Source: Extratime.ie
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Bernard Lester	Transport	12
	Eugene Noonan	Waterford
	Patrick O'Leary	Cork Athletic
4	Brendan Carroll	Shelbourne	10
	George Sergeant	Sligo Rovers
6	Kit Lawlor	Drumcondra	9
	Paddy Mullen	Shamrock Rovers
8	Emmet McLoughlin	Bohemians	8
	Gerry Malone	Shelbourne
	Peadar Walsh	Dundalk

See also

• 1948–49 FAI Cup
• 1948–49 Dublin City Cup
• 1948–49 League of Ireland Shield