The SSE Airtricity First Division fixtures for the 2021 season have been confirmed, with one vacant place for a club awaiting a licence.
The First Division campaign is set to start on Friday, 26 March as Cork City welcome local rivals Cobh Ramblers to Turners Cross. Shelbourne will travel to Eamonn Deacy Park to face Galway United, Wexford welcome Cabinteely and Athlone Town head to UCD AFC.
The fixtures are being released before a final decision on licences to compete in the division. The list features a 10-team format for the new campaign with nine named teams confirmed.
Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers, Cabinteely, Cobh Ramblers, Cork City, Galway United, Shelbourne, UCD, Wexford – and one team designated as TBC ahead of the outcome of the licensing process later this month, which involves several candidates.
Shamrock Rovers B filled in as the tenth team last season after Limerick FC were not awarded a licence but new Limerick club Treaty United are in the running to take the final place for 2021.
If additional clubs are successful with their application for a First Division licence, and additional teams are granted entry to the First Division, the fixtures will be amended accordingly at the given time. All fixtures are subject to change.
The First Division play-off series will begin on Friday, 5 November with two-legged semi-finals ahead of the First Division play-off final on Friday, 19 November at a neutral venue.
The winner of this match will then face the ninth-position Premier Division team in the promotion/relegation play-off final in the week ending Sunday, 28 November.
