The 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division season was the 12th season of the

League of Ireland First Division The League of Ireland First Division ( ga, Céad Roinn Sraith na hÉireann), also known as the SSE Airtricity League First Division, is the second level division in both the League of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football league system. Th ...

Overview

The First Division was contested by 10 teams and

Kilkenny City Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512. Kilkenn ...

won the division.

Final table

Promotion/relegation play-off

Third placed

Waterford United Waterford Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Phort Láirge) formerly Waterford United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Waterford who play in the League of Ireland First Division. The club was founded and elected to the ...

played off against

Dundalk F.C. Dundalk Football Club ( ; ga, Cumann Peile Dhún Dealgan) is a professional association football club that competes in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top tier of football in the Republic of Ireland. The club is based in Dundalk ...

who finished in tenth place in the

1996–97 League of Ireland Premier Division The 1996–97 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 12th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division was made up of 12 teams. Derry City F.C. won the title. Regular season The season saw each team playing three rounds of ...

. The winner would compete in the

1997–98 League of Ireland Premier Division The 1997–98 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 13th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division was made up of 12 teams. St Patrick's Athletic F.C. won the title. Regular season The season saw each team playing three ...

1st Leg

2nd Leg

won 3–1 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 League of Ireland First Division League of Ireland First Division seasons 2