A – Brian Ainscough
A vital figure in establishing Kerry FC. He shocked the club at the end of the season by opting to leave to purchase Dundalk. He played a crucial role in the club establishing themselves as a First Division side. Ainscough leaves behind some American investment.
B – Bray's struggles
The Seagulls were expected to be a real challenger in the division but ended up in seventh position.
Ian Ryan's move to the Carlisle Grounds had promised great things. He admitted they looked a better side on paper and simply hadn’t delivered.
It’s a big 2024 ahead with lots of fans disillusioned by the club since their merger with Cabinteely.
C – Ronan Coughlan
Nobody could have predicted how a previously goal-shy striker would take the league by storm.
He had the unique achievement of winning two player of the month awards while being in the second tier.
It was an incredible season for Coughlan, who scored an extraordinary 37 goals in league and cup action.
He is currently thinking over his future with a return to the Blues possible as he tries to build on the best year of his career.
D – Jack Doherty
Cobh Ramblers fans will look back on 2023 with so many fond memories. Sadly they will be somewhat tainted by seeing the best of what they had move on at the end of the year. However it was a wonderful 12 months at St Colman's Park.
Doherty found some of the best form of his career in Cobh's midfield scoring 18 goals over the course of a brilliant season.
He earned a move to rivals Cork City where he will be expected to be a key figure in the bid for promotion.
E – Ed McCarthy
It shouldn't have taken us this long to get to a Galway United player with the season that was in it.
He was consistent player for one of the best seasons in the history of the Tribesmen.
The Limerick man made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine times in that period for the club,
At 22 we will find out if he is ready to step up to the top flight and make himself a household name in the Premier Division.
F – Ryan Flood
There wasn't many high points for Finn Harps in 2023. The appointment of Dave Rogers simply didn't work out as a host of new signings from all parts of the world mostly disappointed.
The left-sided player was the star man at Finn Harps after joining from Phoenix Rising.
He played 34 games and scored 12 goals
Flood will depart for full-time football in 2024 with a Premier Division club likely.
G – Goals
It was one of the most goal-laden seasons in recent memory with 550 being scored over 360 games.
Galway had a lot to do with it with 98 scored, while newcomers Kerry FC shipped 91 goals.
The big surprise was the woes of Finn Harps. With 74 goals going in, the one-time promotion-fancied Harps conceded an average of more than two a match.
H – Haiti
The League of Ireland's second Haitian international brought plenty to the game in 2023.
Pascal Millien was the first to feature for Sligo Rovers over a decade ago.
Frantz Pierrot arrived with no reputation and took everyone by surprise with some classy displays for Athlone Town.
The midlanders had a US link-up so their squad was filled with players based in America or further afield.
Pierrot was the most eye-catching as he hit 20 goals. We'll see a lot more of him in the Premier Division in 2024 with Drogheda United.
I – Roland Idowu
The Waterford midfielder caught the attention of cross-channel clubs with his form in 2023 as the Blues secured promotion.
Shrewsbury Town snapped up the 21-year-old and he should make his debut in League 1 in January.
Idowu went to England as a teenager with Southampton before coming home with Bohemians in 2021.
His displays this year have seen him early another opportunity. It will certainly be a loss to the league.
J – John Caulfield
In a league dominated by young coaches, John Caulfield bucked the trend by winning the First Division at a third attempt with Galway United.
Caulfield was under real pressure coming into the season having failed to deliver the desire of the club to get back to the big time.
They made light work of all before them as United accumulated their highest ever points total.
K – Shane Keegan
Shane Keegan was another manager who's career in the game needed a lift.
After a demoralising spell with Dundalk during their American ownership, he was working with Treaty United's academy when the Cobh job came up.
Little was expected from the perennial strugglers. Keegan signed astutely and led Ramblers to third place and the First Division play-off final.
His role with Laois GAA saw Keegan departed in December in what will prove a loss to the division in 2024.
L – Lee Steacy
Another Keegan success story has been Lee Steacy.
He had 11 clean sheets in 36 games for Cobh.
Steacy shone with Longford as they won promotion but failed to make a real breakthrough at Drogheda last year.
The switch to Cobh inspired him and he secured a move to Shamrock Rovers where he will battle it out with Leon Pohls for the number one jersey at the champions.
M – Midfield goals
One of the features of the league has been goals coming from attacking midfielders.
Doherty, Idowu and Vincent Borden were some of those who hit double figures.
However it was David Hurley stealing the show.
He netted 21 times for the superb Galway side.
N – Netminders
With Lee Steacy performing so well for Cobh he could have taken top dog.
But veteran Brendan Clarke proved an inspired signing by champions Galway.
He recorded 20 clean sheets over the course of the season.
Enda Minogue looks one who could make a great impression in years to come with Athlone.
Sam Sargeant was a great signing for Waterford in the window and will continue in the Premier Division next season.
O – Ollie Horgan
What would the league be without this Galwegian maestro?
He left Finn Harps behind after a long spell and make the shock move to work under John Caulfield at Galway United.
It proved an inspired choice. The duo masterminded a promotion and an FAI Cup semi-final place.
No doubt they will gain plenty of attention in 2024.
P – Connor Parsons
If there's a player to watch from the promoted First Division sides, Connor Parsons could be the one.
The English midfielder has plenty of experience as a 23-year-old and shone in the Waterford side since joining last summer.
He appeared in the Guess The Footballer segment on Sky Sports recently featuring Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Q – Qualify
It was a superb year for First Division teams progressing in the FAI Cup.
Three teams reached the quarter-finals in Finn Harps, Wexford and Galway United. The last of those upset Dundalk 4-0 to qualify for the semis.
Bohemians edged out the Tribesmen in a tight affair in the west in front of a crowd of over 5,000.
R – Records
Galway's home record was simply perfect with 18 wins from as many matches was remarkable.
Ronan Coughlan's 37-goal total set a new scoring record for the First Division.
It bettered Andy Myler's 29 set in 2001 and was level with the the all-time League of Ireland goalscoring record done by Cork's Jimmy Turnbull in 1936
S – Streaming
LOI TV continues to transform the First Division.
Given its struggle for coverage, fans can stream all games and clubs are beginning to move away from automated cameras.
The service will return for 2024.
T – Tralee
The Kingdom has long-awaited League of Ireland football and it arrived to Mounthawk Park in 2023.
In the 18 matches Kerry FC failed to win a game. Nevertheless, the seed has been planted and growth has to be the priority for the Munster side.
The potential is huge for the club as they seek to grow the facility and team.
U – U-turn
Longford Town announce the re-signing of Dylan Hand in November.
But two days later midlands rival Athlone Town also unveiled him as a recruit.
Hand since confirmed he will be with Athlone in 2024.
It seemed the deal to Longford wasn't 100% completed when they announced.
V – Virgin Media
RTÉ have been joined by Virgin Media in broadcasting League of Ireland games.
Long without a secondary broadcaster for the League of Ireland, the FAI welcomed Virgin on board for a select number of fixtures.
One of the games chosen was the dramatic play-off encounter between Cork City and Waterford.
The Blues won promotion after extra-time with Virgin's coverage bringing the dramatic end of season clash to a wider audience.
W – Wondergoal for Wexford.
The 2023 Goal of the Season for the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division as voted by you 👏
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) November 28, 2023
Congratulations to Wexford FC's Daragh Levingston ☄️⚽️#LOI | @WexfordFC pic.twitter.com/kXbTENeGRB
The goal of the season was scored by Daragh Levingston against Treaty United
Wexford also scored some great team goals this year on the way to a fourth place finish.
X – X for the Cross
The nickname for Turner's Cross as Cork City made their absence from the second tier last just a single season.
They were beaten in the play-off by Waterford and so will once again be the giant for the First Division in 2024.
It's one of the best venues in the country so it's a real shame it will not be seen by more supporters.
A Munster derby of a different kind awaits in their first game back. It's Kerry FC in early February.
Y – Yoyo Mahdy
Having spent the second part of last season with Bray Wanderers, Yoyo Mahdy is the first of the new era signing at Treaty United following their takeover.
Mahdy has twice won the division before and return to familiar surrounding having spent his school days in the city.
Treaty will have aspirations to reach the play-offs once more in 2024.
Z – Zealous
The enthusiasm shown by supporters was superb once again. A total of 196,050 fans attended First Division games in 2023.
It will be a struggle to match that next year with Galway and Waterford gone but Cork will certainly keep numbers ticking along.
