2018 League of Ireland First Division
The 2018 League of Ireland First Division season is the 34th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The league began on 23 February 2018 and will conclude in October 2018. Contrary to the previous editions, this tournament will have 10 teams, which is the largest number since 2011 season, and will return the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Overview
The First Division has 10 teams. Each team plays each other three times for a total of 27 matches in the season.On 22 December 2016, the FAI 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.
Teams
Stadia and locations
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Athlone Town |  Aaron Callaghan | Niall Scullion | Nike | Nitro Sports |
| Cabinteely | Pat Devlin | Daire Doyle | Uhlsport | Geoghegan Home Extensions |
| Cobh Ramblers | Stephen Henderson |  Paul Hunt | Legea | Tony & William O'Shea Fuels Rushbrooke |
| Drogheda United | Tim Clancy | Sean Thornton | CX+ Sport | Scotch Hall Shopping Center |
| Finn Harps | Ollie Horgan | Ciaran Coll | Joma | McGettigan Group |
| Galway United | Shane Keegan | Colm Horgan | Uhlsport | Comer Property Management |
| Longford Town | Neale Fenn | Kevin O'Connor | Legea | City Calling |
| Shelbourne | Owen Heary |  Dean Delaney | Macron | Dublin City University |
| UCD | Collie O'Neill | Gary O'Neill | O'Neills | O'Neills |
| Wexford | Damian Locke | Craig McCabe | Bodibro | Premier Tickets |
League table
Results
Matches 1–18
Teams played each other twice.Matches 19–27
Teams play each other once.Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | David O'Sullivan | Shelbourne | 15 |
| 2 | Georgie Kelly | UCD | 14 |
| 3 | Dylan McGlade | Longford Town | 13 |
| 4 | Sean Brennan | Drogheda United | 11 |
| 4 | James English | Shelbourne | 11 |
| 6 | Conor Barry | Galway United | 10 |
| 7 | Eoin McCormack | Galway United | 9 |
| 7 | Gary O'Neill | UCD | 9 |
| 7 | Mikey Place | Finn Harps | 9 |
| 7 | Sam Verdon | Longford Town | 9 |
Promotion/relegation playoffs
The second, third and fourth placed First Division teams played off to decide who would play Limerick, the ninth placed team from the Premier Division. The winner of this play off would play in the 2019 Premier Division.;Semi-finals
2–2 on aggregate. Drogheda United win on penalties.
;Finals
Finn Harps win 3–1 on aggregate.
;Relegation-promotion match
Finn Harps won 3–0 on aggregate and were promoted to 2019 Premier Division. Limerick were relegated to the 2019 First Division.