The 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division began on 14 February 2025 and is scheduled to conclude on 1 November 2025, featuring top Irish clubs like Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, and Derry City. Alongside the league, the 2025 FAI Cup—Ireland’s primary domestic knockout tournament—has also been underway, with matches played across several rounds. The first round took place in May, followed by the second round in July and the third round scheduled for 15–17 August. The quarter-finals will be held from 12–14 September, with semi-finals expected in early October, and the final set for 9 November 2025. These competitions run in parallel, offering both league honors and cup glory for clubs across the country.
2025 League of Ireland Premier Division – Tournament Format
The League of Ireland Premier Division follows a league (round-robin) format, not a knockout tournament. Here’s how it works:
League Format
• 10 teams participate.
• Each team plays 36 matches:
4 rounds (home and away twice) against every other team.
• Points system:
- Win = 3 points
- Draw = 1 point
- Loss = 0 points
• League Winner: The team with the most points after all matches is crowned champion.
• Tiebreakers: Goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head record.
Relegation & Promotion
• The team that finishes 10th (last place) is automatically relegated to the First Division.
• The 9th-place team enters a promotion/relegation playoff vs. the First Division playoff winner.
FAI Cup – Knockout Tournament Format
• Straight knockout (single elimination) format.
• Includes teams from the Premier Division, First Division, and selected intermediate/junior clubs.
• Rounds:
- First Round
- Second Round
- Third Round
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
- Final
• If tied after 90 minutes: Extra time + penalties (in later rounds).
• Winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.
August Match Schedule & Kick-off Times
The complete match details for the League of Ireland Premier Division for August 2025:
Friday, 1 August 2025
• Bohemians vs Drogheda United – Final score: 0-1 in favour of Drogheda United
• Cork City vs Galway United – Cork City won 1-0
Saturday, 2 August 2025
• Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne – Shelbourne triumphed 2-0
Sunday, 3 August 2025
• Waterford vs St Patrick’s Athletic – St Pat’s won 2-0
• Shamrock Rovers vs Derry City – Shamrock Rovers emerged with a 2-0 victory
Friday, 8 August 2025
• Derry City vs Cork City – Kick-off at 7:45 PM at Brandywell Stadium
• Drogheda United vs Waterford – Kick-off at 7:45 PM at Weavers Park
Saturday, 9 August 2025
• Shelbourne vs Bohemians – Scheduled for 5:00 PM at Tolka Park
Sunday, 10 August 2025
• Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers – KO at 5:00 PM at Eamonn Deacy Park
• St Patrick’s Athletic vs Sligo Rovers – KO at 6:00 PM at Richmond Park
Friday, 22 August 2025
• Bohemians vs Cork City – KO at 8:45 PM, Dalymount Park
• Drogheda United vs St Patrick’s Athletic – KO at 8:45 PM, Weavers Park
• Galway United vs Derry City – KO at 8:45 PM, Eamonn Deacy Park
• Waterford vs Sligo Rovers – KO at 8:45 PM, Regional Sports Centre
• Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne – KO at 8:00 PM, Tallaght Stadium
Friday, 29 August 2025
• Cork City vs Waterford – KO at 7:45 PM, Turner’s Cross
• Shelbourne vs Galway United – KO at 7:45 PM, Tolka Park
• Derry City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – KO at 7:45 PM, Brandywell Stadium
• Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United – KO at 8:00 PM, Tallaght Stadium
Saturday, 30 August 2025
• Sligo Rovers vs Bohemians – KO at 7:45 PM, The Showgrounds
August Venue Details
The full August 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division schedule with venues:
Friday, 1 August 2025
• Bohemians vs Drogheda United – Dalymount Park, Dublin
• Cork City vs Galway United – Turner’s Cross, Cork
Saturday, 2 August 2025
• Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne – The Showgrounds, Sligo
Sunday, 3 August 2025
• Waterford vs St Patrick’s Athletic – Regional Sports Centre, Waterford
• Shamrock Rovers vs Derry City – Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
Friday, 8 August 2025
• Derry City vs Cork City – Brandywell Stadium, Derry
• Drogheda United vs Waterford – Weavers Park, Drogheda
Saturday, 9 August 2025
• Shelbourne vs Bohemians – Tolka Park, Dublin
Sunday, 10 August 2025
• Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers – Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway
• St Patrick’s Athletic vs Sligo Rovers – Richmond Park, Dublin
Friday, 22 August 2025
• Bohemians vs Cork City – Dalymount Park, Dublin
• Drogheda United vs St Patrick’s Athletic – Weavers Park, Drogheda
• Galway United vs Derry City – Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway
• Waterford vs Sligo Rovers – Regional Sports Centre, Waterford
• Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne – Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
Friday, 29 August 2025
• Cork City vs Waterford – Turner’s Cross, Cork
• Shelbourne vs Galway United – Tolka Park, Dublin
• Derry City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – Brandywell Stadium, Derry
• Shamrock Rovers vs Drogheda United – Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
Saturday, 30 August 2025
• Sligo Rovers vs Bohemians – The Showgrounds, Sligo
Importance of League of Ireland Premier Division – August Fixtures
The August 2025 fixtures in the League of Ireland Premier Division are particularly important because they fall in the final third of the season, where every point can dramatically impact the table in both the title race and relegation battle. Here’s why this month matters so much:
1. Title Race Intensifies
• Shamrock Rovers are currently league leaders, and August gives them crucial games against challengers like Galway United (away) and Shelbourne (home). Wins here can extend their lead and edge them closer to the championship.
• Bohemians and Derry City also face key matches (like Bohemians vs Shelbourne on 9 Aug) that could decide whether they stay in the chase.
2. European Qualification Battles
• The top three spots secure European football for next season. August matches like Derry City vs St Patrick’s Athletic (29 Aug) and Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne (22 Aug) could directly determine who gets those lucrative positions.
• These matches carry extra weight because head-to-head results are a tiebreaker after goal difference.
3. Relegation & Playoff Pressure
• Cork City and Sligo Rovers are in serious danger. August features six-pointers like Waterford vs Sligo Rovers (22 Aug) and Cork City vs Waterford (29 Aug) where a single win could be the difference between survival and relegation.
4. Momentum Before the Run-in
• August is the bridge between mid-season form and the September/October run-in. Teams that hit a winning streak here can ride that momentum into the closing rounds, while those who stumble may see their campaigns collapse.
5. Cup & League Crossover
• The FAI Cup quarter-finals are in mid-September, so managers in August may have to rotate squads to keep players fresh—potentially affecting league performance.
Conclusion
August 2025 is a pivotal month in the League of Ireland Premier Division, acting as the turning point where ambitions meet reality. Title contenders will either cement their dominance or see rivals close the gap, European qualification hopes will be shaped by direct head-to-head clashes, and relegation-threatened sides face must-win battles for survival. With the season entering its decisive phase, every match carries heightened stakes—not just for points, but for momentum, morale, and positioning ahead of the final sprint. In short, August’s results could define the entire 2025 campaign.
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