The 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 34th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The league began on 16 February 2018 and concluded on 26 October 2018. Due to the decision to reduce the number of clubs in the Premier Division from 12 to 10, the promotion/relegation playoff was cancelled and only one club, Waterford F.C., was promoted.
On 5 October, Dundalk won the title after a 1âÂÂ1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic.
The Premier Division consists of 10 teams. Each team plays each other four times for a total of 36 matches in the season.
Waterford, the 2017 First Division champion, were promoted to the league for the first time since 2007.
On 22 December 2016, the Football Association of Ireland announced that the league would be restructured into two 10-team divisions from the 2018 season onwards, one of the recommendations made in the 2015 Conroy Report.
<small>Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.</small>
Teams played each other twice (once at home, once away).
Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).
Limerick, the ninth-placed team from the Premier Division took part in a two-legged play-off against Finn Harps, the winners of the 2018 First Division play-off, to decide who will play in the 2019 Premier Division.
Finn Harps won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate and were promoted to 2019 Premier Division. Limerick were relegated to the 2019 First Division.
<small>Source:</small>