View source for 2006 League of Ireland Premier Division

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football league season
| image            =
| caption          =
| competition      = [[League of Ireland Premier Division]]
| season           = 2006 
| winners          = [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] (13th title)
| relegated        = [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]<br>[[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]] 
| continentalcup1  = [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
| continentalcup2  = [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]
| continentalcup2 qualifiers = <small>[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]</small><br>[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]] 
| continentalcup3  = [[2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup|UEFA Intertoto Cup]]
| continentalcup3 qualifiers = [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
| continentalcup4  = [[2007 Setanta Sports Cup|Setanta Sports Cup]]
| continentalcup4 qualifiers = [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]<br>[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]<br>[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]<br><small>[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]</small>
| league topscorer = [[Jason Byrne (footballer)|Jason Byrne]]: 15<br>([[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]])<ref name="rsssftop">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iertops.html |title=Ireland - List of Topscorers |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=6 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406093820/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}</ref> 
| biggest home win =
| biggest away win =
| highest scoring  =
| matches          =
| total goals      =
| attendance = 257,745<ref group=note>Figures do not include results from matches played against [[Dublin City F.C.]] who withdrew midway through the season https://www.researchgate.net/figure/League-of-Ireland-Premier-Division-Attendance_tbl1_286919999</ref> 
|average attendance = 1,562
| highest attendance = 6,080<ref>{{cite web |title=DERRY'S GAME WITH CORK BEST ATTENDED |url=http://tribune.ie/2006/12/10/80154.html |website=tribune.ie |access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] 1–0 [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
| prevseason       = [[2005 League of Ireland Premier Division|2005]]
| nextseason       = [[2007 League of Ireland Premier Division|2007]]
}}

The '''2006 League of Ireland Premier Division''' was the 22nd season of the [[League of Ireland Premier Division]]. The division was made up of 12 teams. [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] were champions while [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] finished as runners-up. However Shelbourne were subsequently demoted to the [[2007 League of Ireland First Division|First Division]] and had to withdraw from the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League]] and [[2007 Setanta Sports Cup]] because of their financial difficulties.

== Club information ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Team
! Manager
! Main sponsor
! Kit supplier
! Stadium
! Capacity
|-
| [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Gareth Farrelly]] || Des Kelly Carpets || [[O'Neills]] || [[Dalymount Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 8,500
|-
| [[Bray Wanderers A.F.C.|Bray Wanderers]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Eddie Gormley]] || Slevin Group|| [[Adidas]] || [[Carlisle Grounds]] || style="text-align:center;"| 7,000
|-
| [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Damien Richardson (footballer)|Damien Richardson]] || [[Nissan]] || [[O'Neills]] || [[Turners Cross (stadium)|Turners Cross]] || style="text-align:center;"| 8,000
|-
| [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] ||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Stephen Kenny (football)|Stephen Kenny]] || MeteorElectrical.com || [[Umbro]] || [[The Brandywell]] || style="text-align:center;"| 7,700
|-
| [[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Paul Doolin]] || Murphy Environmental || [[Jako]] || [[United Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 5,400
|-
| [[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Dermot Keely]] ||<small> Carroll's Irish Gift Stores</small>|| [[Umbro]] ||[[Dalymount Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 8,500
|-
| [[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Alan Mathews]] || Flancare || [[Umbro]] || [[Flancare Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4,500
|-
| [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Pat Fenlon]] || JW Hire || [[Umbro]] || [[Tolka Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 10,100
|-
| [[Sligo Rovers F.C.|Sligo Rovers]] || {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Sean Connor]] || Toher's || [[Jako]] || [[The Showgrounds (Sligo)|The Showgrounds]] || style="text-align:center;"| 5,500
|-
| [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[John McDonnell (footballer)|John McDonnell]] || [[Smart Telecom]] || [[Umbro]] || [[Richmond Park (football ground)|Richmond Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 5,500
|-
| [[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} Pete Mahon ||[[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] || [[O'Neills]] || [[Belfield Park]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1,900
|-
| [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] || {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Gareth Cronin]] || ThermoFrame || [[Diadora]] || [[Waterford Regional Sports Centre]] || style="text-align:center;"| 8,000
|}

==Overview==
The Premier Division season kicked off on 10 March and concluded on 17 November. The season saw several clubs face financial difficulties. The [[Revenue Commissioners]] took [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] action and threatened to have [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] wound up after it failed to pay more than €104,000 in outstanding taxes.<ref name="rte1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2006/0823/208277-shelbourne/|title=Shelbourne given time to settle tax debt|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|access-date=20 July 2016|date=14 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="rte2">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2006/0905/208772-shelbourne/|title=Shelbourne clear tax debt|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|access-date=20 July 2016|date=14 June 2007}}</ref> Shelbourne also struggled to pay its players during the season. In July [[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]] also went out of business and withdrew from the league, unable to complete the season. Their results were expunged from the record which benefited both Cork and Derry who had dropped points to them.<ref name="rte3">{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2006/0719/207034-dublincity/|title=Dublin City FC bow out of eircom League|date=19 July 2006|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}</ref> However Shelbourne's off field problems did not prevent them from winning the title. [[Mark Farren]]'s stoppage-time winner for [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]] away to [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] on 13 November ensured that for the third successive year the title would be decided on the final day of the season. Shelbourne clinched the title with a 2–1 win over [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] at [[Tolka Park]]. [[Jason Byrne (footballer)|Jason Byrne]] and [[Glen Crowe]] scored the vital goals. However Shelbourne's celebrations were cut short when the league decided to demote them to the [[2007 League of Ireland First Division|First Division]]. They also withdrew from the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League]] and [[2007 Setanta Sports Cup]] because of their financial difficulties.<ref name="rsssfloe" /><ref name="rsssf2006a" />

==Final table==
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=QR

|team1=SHE|name_SHE=[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
|team2=DER|name_DER=[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|team3=DRO|name_DRO=[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
|team4=COR|name_COR=[[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
|team5=SLI|name_SLI=[[Sligo Rovers F.C.|Sligo Rovers]]
|team6=UCD|name_UCD=[[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]]
|team7=StP|name_StP=[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]
|team8=LON|name_LON=[[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]]
|team9=BOH|name_BOH=[[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]]
|team10=BRW|name_BRW=[[Bray Wanderers A.F.C.|Bray Wanderers]]
|team11=WAT|name_WAT=[[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
|team12=DUB|name_DUB=[[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]]
|win_SHE=18|draw_SHE=8|loss_SHE=4|gf_SHE=60|ga_SHE=27|status_SHE=C,R
|win_DER=18|draw_DER=8|loss_DER=4|gf_DER=46|ga_DER=20
|win_DRO=16|draw_DRO=10|loss_DRO=4|gf_DRO=37|ga_DRO=23
|win_COR=15|draw_COR=11|loss_COR=4|gf_COR=37|ga_COR=15
|win_SLI=11|draw_SLI=7|loss_SLI=12|gf_SLI=33|ga_SLI=42
|win_UCD=9|draw_UCD=11|loss_UCD=10|gf_UCD=26|ga_UCD=26
|win_StP=9|draw_StP=10|loss_StP=11|gf_StP=32|ga_StP=29
|win_LON=8|draw_LON=10|loss_LON=12|gf_LON=23|ga_LON=27
|win_BOH=9|draw_BOH=5|loss_BOH=16|gf_BOH=29|ga_BOH=34|adjust_points_BOH=-3
|win_BRW=3|draw_BRW=8|loss_BRW=19|gf_BRW=22|ga_BRW=64
|win_WAT=2|draw_WAT=6|loss_WAT=22|gf_WAT=20|ga_WAT=58 |status_WAT=T
|win_DUB=4|draw_DUB=3|loss_DUB=10|gf_DUB=11|ga_DUB=24|status_DUB=DR
|note_BOH=[[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] were deducted three points for fielding [[Jason McGuinness]] while he was suspended.
|note_WAT=[[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] lost promotion/relegation play-off but subsequently replaced [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] for the [[2007 League of Ireland Premier Division|2007]] season.
|col_REL=red1|text_REL=Demotion to [[2007 League of Ireland First Division|League of Ireland First Division]]
|note_res_REL=[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] were demoted to the [[2007 League of Ireland First Division|First Division]] for financial irregularities.
|result1=REL
|col_CL1Q=green1|text_CL1Q=Qualification to [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League#First qualifying round|Champions League first qualifying round]]
|result2=CL1Q
|col_UC1Q=blue1|text_UC1Q=Qualification to [[2007–08 UEFA Cup#First qualifying round|UEFA Cup first qualifying round]]
|result3=UC1Q
|col_IC1=#ccccff|text_IC1=Qualification to [[2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup#First round|Intertoto Cup first round]]
|result4=IC1
|col_UCC1Q=blue1|text_UCC1Q=Qualification to [[2007–08 UEFA Cup#First qualifying round|UEFA Cup first qualifying round]]
|result7=UCC1Q
|note_res_UCC1Q=[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] qualified for the [[2007–08 UEFA Cup#First qualifying round|UEFA Cup first qualifying round]] after reaching the [[2006 FAI Cup Final]].
|col_RPO=red2|text_RPO=Qualification to [[2006 League of Ireland Premier Division#Promotion/relegation play-off|Relegation play-off]]
|result11=RPO
|col_WIT=red1|text_WIT=Withdrew from league
|note_res_WIT=[[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]] withdrew from league on 18 July. All their results were expunged.
|result12=WIT
|update=complete|source=<ref name="rsssfloe">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html|title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=6 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="rsssf2006a">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier06.html|title=Ireland 2006|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=20 July 2016}}</ref>
|show_limit=5
}}</onlyinclude>

==Results==
=== Matches 1–20 ===
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR
|team1=BOH|team2=BRW|team3=COR|team4=DER|team5=DRO
|team6=LON|team7=SHE|team8=SLI|team9=StP|team10=UCD
|team11=WAT

|name_SHE=[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
|match_SHE_DER=1–0
|match_SHE_DRO=2–1
|match_SHE_COR=2–2
|match_SHE_SLI=3–0
|match_SHE_UCD=6–0
|match_SHE_StP=3–0
|match_SHE_LON=0–0
|match_SHE_BOH=2–0
|match_SHE_BRW=4–1
|match_SHE_WAT=5–1

|name_DER=[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|match_DER_SHE=2–0
|match_DER_DRO=1–2
|match_DER_COR=2–0
|match_DER_SLI=3–1
|match_DER_UCD=2–0
|match_DER_StP=3–1
|match_DER_LON=1–0
|match_DER_BOH=1–0
|match_DER_BRW=3–0
|match_DER_WAT=4–0

|name_DRO=[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
|match_DRO_SHE=1–3
|match_DRO_DER=3–1
|match_DRO_COR=0–0
|match_DRO_SLI=2–2
|match_DRO_UCD=1–0
|match_DRO_StP=2–1
|match_DRO_LON=1–0
|match_DRO_BOH=1–0
|match_DRO_BRW=1–0
|match_DRO_WAT=4–0

|name_COR=[[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
|match_COR_SHE=2–1
|match_COR_DER=1–0
|match_COR_DRO=1–0
|match_COR_SLI=2–0
|match_COR_UCD=1–0
|match_COR_StP=0–0
|match_COR_LON=2–1
|match_COR_BOH=1–0
|match_COR_BRW=6–0
|match_COR_WAT=2–0

|name_SLI=[[Sligo Rovers F.C.|Sligo Rovers]]
|match_SLI_SHE=1–1
|match_SLI_DER=3–1
|match_SLI_DRO=0–0
|match_SLI_COR=0–3
|match_SLI_UCD=0–1
|match_SLI_StP=1–1
|match_SLI_LON=3–1
|match_SLI_BOH=1–0
|match_SLI_BRW=2–0
|match_SLI_WAT=3–1

|name_UCD=[[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]]
|match_UCD_SHE=1–2
|match_UCD_DER=0–0
|match_UCD_DRO=0–0
|match_UCD_COR=0–0
|match_UCD_SLI=3–0
|match_UCD_StP=0–1
|match_UCD_LON=2–2
|match_UCD_BOH=0–1
|match_UCD_BRW=4–1
|match_UCD_WAT=2–1

|name_StP=[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]
|match_StP_SHE=2–2
|match_StP_DER=1–1
|match_StP_DRO=0–1
|match_StP_COR=2–0
|match_StP_SLI=3–1
|match_StP_UCD=0–0
|match_StP_LON=0–0
|match_StP_BOH=0–1
|match_StP_BRW=3–0
|match_StP_WAT=0–0

|name_LON=[[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]]
|match_LON_SHE=0–0
|match_LON_DER=0–1
|match_LON_DRO=0–0
|match_LON_COR=0–2
|match_LON_SLI=0–0
|match_LON_UCD=0–0
|match_LON_StP=2–0
|match_LON_BOH=3–1
|match_LON_BRW=1–0
|match_LON_WAT=3–0

|name_BOH=[[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]]
|match_BOH_SHE=2–1
|match_BOH_DER=1–2
|match_BOH_DRO=0–1
|match_BOH_COR=0–0
|match_BOH_SLI=0–2
|match_BOH_UCD=2–1
|match_BOH_StP=0–0
|match_BOH_LON=0–1
|match_BOH_BRW=3–0
|match_BOH_WAT=4–2

|name_BRW=[[Bray Wanderers F.C.|Bray Wanderers]]
|match_BRW_SHE=2–2
|match_BRW_DER=2–3
|match_BRW_DRO=0–1
|match_BRW_COR=0–0
|match_BRW_SLI=1–2
|match_BRW_UCD=1–1
|match_BRW_StP=1–2
|match_BRW_LON=1–0
|match_BRW_BOH=0–3
|match_BRW_WAT=3–1

|name_WAT=[[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
|match_WAT_SHE=0–1
|match_WAT_DER=1–2
|match_WAT_DRO=2–3
|match_WAT_COR=0–0
|match_WAT_SLI=1–2
|match_WAT_UCD=0–1
|match_WAT_StP=1–3
|match_WAT_LON=0–0
|match_WAT_BOH=1–3
|match_WAT_BRW=1–1

|update=complete
|source=<ref name="rsssf2006a"/>
}}

=== Matches 21–30 ===
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR
|team1=BOH|team2=BRW|team3=COR|team4=DER|team5=DRO
|team6=LON|team7=SHE|team8=SLI|team9=StP|team10=UCD
|team11=WAT

|name_SHE=[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
|match_SHE_DER=2–2
|match_SHE_DRO=2–2
|match_SHE_COR=null
|match_SHE_SLI=null
|match_SHE_UCD=null
|match_SHE_StP=null
|match_SHE_LON=2–0
|match_SHE_BOH=2–1
|match_SHE_BRW=null
|match_SHE_WAT=null

|name_DER=[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|match_DER_SHE=null
|match_DER_DRO=0–0
|match_DER_COR=1–0
|match_DER_SLI=4–0
|match_DER_UCD=0–0
|match_DER_StP=null
|match_DER_LON=null
|match_DER_BOH=1–1
|match_DER_BRW=0–0
|match_DER_WAT=null

|name_DRO=[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
|match_DRO_SHE=null
|match_DRO_DER=null
|match_DRO_COR=0–0
|match_DRO_SLI=null
|match_DRO_UCD=1–0
|match_DRO_StP=null
|match_DRO_LON=2–0
|match_DRO_BOH=null
|match_DRO_BRW=1–1
|match_DRO_WAT=1–0

|name_COR=[[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
|match_COR_SHE=1–0
|match_COR_DER=null
|match_COR_DRO=null
|match_COR_SLI=2–0
|match_COR_UCD=null
|match_COR_StP=null
|match_COR_LON=1–1
|match_COR_BOH=1–0
|match_COR_BRW=null
|match_COR_WAT=4–1

|name_SLI=[[Sligo Rovers F.C.|Sligo Rovers]]
|match_SLI_SHE=0–2
|match_SLI_DER=null
|match_SLI_DRO=2–3
|match_SLI_COR=null
|match_SLI_UCD=null
|match_SLI_StP=3–2
|match_SLI_LON=null
|match_SLI_BOH=1–0
|match_SLI_BRW=null
|match_SLI_WAT=0–0

|name_UCD=[[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]]
|match_UCD_SHE=0–2
|match_UCD_DER=null
|match_UCD_DRO=null
|match_UCD_COR=1–1
|match_UCD_SLI=1–0
|match_UCD_StP=0–0
|match_UCD_LON=3–1
|match_UCD_BOH=null
|match_UCD_BRW=4–0
|match_UCD_WAT=null

|name_StP=[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]
|match_StP_SHE=1–3
|match_StP_DER=0–1
|match_StP_DRO=3–0
|match_StP_COR=0–1
|match_StP_SLI=null
|match_StP_UCD=null
|match_StP_LON=null
|match_StP_BOH=null
|match_StP_BRW=5–1
|match_StP_WAT=0–1

|name_LON=[[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]]
|match_LON_SHE=null
|match_LON_DER=0–2
|match_LON_DRO=null
|match_LON_COR=null
|match_LON_SLI=0–2
|match_LON_UCD=null
|match_LON_StP=0–0
|match_LON_BOH=3–0
|match_LON_BRW=null
|match_LON_WAT=null

|name_BOH=[[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]]
|match_BOH_SHE=null
|match_BOH_DER=null
|match_BOH_DRO=2–2
|match_BOH_COR=null
|match_BOH_SLI=null
|match_BOH_UCD=0–1
|match_BOH_StP=0–1
|match_BOH_LON=null
|match_BOH_BRW=1–1
|match_BOH_WAT=3–1

|name_BRW=[[Bray Wanderers F.C.|Bray Wanderers]]
|match_BRW_SHE=2–3
|match_BRW_DER=null
|match_BRW_DRO=null
|match_BRW_COR=2–1
|match_BRW_SLI=1–1
|match_BRW_UCD=null
|match_BRW_StP=null
|match_BRW_LON=0–2
|match_BRW_BOH=null
|match_BRW_WAT=null

|name_WAT=[[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
|match_WAT_SHE=0–1
|match_WAT_DER=0–1
|match_WAT_DRO=null
|match_WAT_COR=null
|match_WAT_SLI=null
|match_WAT_UCD=0–0
|match_WAT_StP=null
|match_WAT_LON=1–2
|match_WAT_BOH=null
|match_WAT_BRW=3–0

|update=complete
|source=<ref name="rsssf2006a"/>
}}

==Promotion/relegation play-off==
[[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]] who finished second in the [[2006 League of Ireland First Division]] played off against [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] who finished eleventh in Premier Division.
;1st Leg
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 22 November 2006
|time = 
|team1 = [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]] 
|score = 1–1
|report = 
|team2 = [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
|goals1 = 
|goals2 = 
|stadium = 
|attendance = 
|referee =
}}
;2nd Leg
{{footballbox collapsible
|date = 25 November 2006
|time = 
|team1 = [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] 
|score = 1–2
|report = 
|team2 = [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]]
|goals1 = 
|goals2 = 
|stadium = 
|attendance = 
|referee = 
}}

''[[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]] won 3–2 on aggregate but did not meet the criteria set out by the [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]]'s Independent Assessment Group and were not promoted.''<ref name="rsssf2006a" /><ref name="rsssfloe2">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=10 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 }}</ref><ref name="irishtimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/rovers-and-galway-promoted-1.800628|title=Rovers and Galway promoted|work=The Irish Times|access-date=19 July 2016|date=12 December 2006}}</ref>

==Independent Assessment Group==
In March 2006 it was announced that the [[League of Ireland]] and the [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] would be merging. As part of this arrangement the league would be restructured and membership of the [[2007 League of Ireland Premier Division|2007 Premier Division]] and [[2007 League of Ireland First Division|2007 First Division]] would be decided by an Independent Assessment Group established by [[John Delaney (football administrator)|John Delaney]] and chaired by a former FAI honorary secretary, Des Casey. Former [[List of Republic of Ireland international footballers|Republic of Ireland]] international footballer, [[Niall Quinn]] was originally a member of the group. However he later withdrew because of his growing commitments to [[Sunderland A.F.C.]] He was replaced by Richard Collins, a former chairman of and current director of [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]. Other members of the group included John Fitzgerald, the former city manager of [[Dublin City Council]] and Pat O'Neill, a former chairman of the [[Irish Sports Council]]. The IAG effectively performed a [[Stress test (financial)|financial stress test]] on the League of Ireland member clubs. Clubs were assessed on their past five season record in the league. Crucially though, clubs would also be graded on off-field criteria, including attendance, infrastructure, governance, strategic planning, finance, youth development and marketing. The IAG announced their results in December 2006. However the final outcome of the IAG decision was further complicated by the financial difficulties of [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] who, despite initially passing the stress test, were subsequently relegated to the First Division. This provided a reprieve for [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]], ranked at thirteen by the IAG, who were selected to replace them.<ref name="rsssf2006a" /><ref name="irishtimes1" /><ref name="irishtimes2">{{cite web |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/quinn-leaves-assessment-group-1.1263082|title=Quinn leaves assessment group|work=The Irish Times|access-date=23 July 2016|date=26 July 2006}}</ref><ref name="fai"/><!-- defined by template:2006 League of Ireland IAG table -->

===IAG Table===
{{2006 League of Ireland IAG table}}

===Notes===
<references group="note" />

==UEFA coefficient==
The [[League of Ireland Premier Division]]'s [[UEFA coefficient]] accumulated to a total value of 6.498 for the 2006–07 European season.
;League's 2006 UEFA ranking
* 33 {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Veikkausliiga|Finland]]
* 34 {{flagicon|Moldova}} [[Moldovan National Division|Moldova]]
* 35 {{flagicon|Ireland}} '''[[League of Ireland Premier Division|Ireland]]'''
* 36 {{flagicon|Georgia}} [[Umaglesi Liga|Georgia]]
* 37 {{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} [[Liechtenstein Football Association|Liechtenstein]]
{{small|'''Source''':<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method3/crank2007.html|title=UEFA Country Ranking 2007|publisher=xs4all.nl}}</ref> }}

==Top-scorers==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#efefef;"
!Player
!Club
!League goals
!Cup goals
!Total
|- align=left
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Jason Byrne (footballer)|Jason Byrne]]
| [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|- align=left
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Mark Farren]]
| [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|- align=left
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Glen Crowe]]
| [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
| style="text-align:center;"|12
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|- align=left
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Ciarán Martyn]]
| [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|7
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|- align=left
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Declan O'Brien (footballer)|Declan O'Brien]]
| [[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
| style="text-align:center;"|11
| style="text-align:center;"|3
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|}
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="rsssftop" /><ref name="rsssf2006a" /> }}

==Awards==
'''[[SWAI]] eircom League Player of the Month award'''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Month
!Winner
!Club
|-
|March
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Paul Keegan (footballer born 1984)|Paul Keegan]]
|[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
|-
|April
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Jason Gavin (footballer)|Jason Gavin]]
|[[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]
|-
|May
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Patrick McCourt|Pat McCourt]]
|[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|-
|June
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Paul McTiernan
|[[Sligo Rovers F.C.|Sligo Rovers]]
|-
|July
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Cameroon}} [[Joseph Ndo]]
|[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
|-
|August
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Kevin Deery
|[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|-
|September
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Darren Kelly]]
|[[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]
|-
|October
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Philip Hughes (Irish footballer)|Philip Hughes]]
|[[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]]
|-
|November
|align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Roy O'Donovan]]
|[[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]
|}

'''[[Professional Footballers Association of Ireland|PFAI]] eircom League Player of the Year award'''
* [[Joseph Ndo]] – [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]

'''[[Professional Footballers Association of Ireland|PFAI]] eircom League Young Player of the Year award'''
* Kevin Deery – [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]

'''[[TV3 Ireland|TV3]]'s Goal of the Season award'''
* Kevin Deery – [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]

==Attendances==
Premier Division games had an average attendance of 1,539 people. [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]'s average home attendance of 3,127 was the highest of any league team for the season. The record for the highest attendance in the Premier Division was also set in the [[Brandywell Stadium]] on the last night of the season when Derry City met [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]]. 6,080 attended the game.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Football league of ireland season 06.png|The clubs that competed in the 2006 League of Ireland.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[2006 Shelbourne F.C. season]]
* [[2006 League of Ireland First Division]]
* [[2006 League of Ireland Cup]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{League of Ireland seasons}}
{{2006 in Republic of Ireland football}}
{{2006–07 in European football (UEFA)}}
{{2005–06 in European football (UEFA)}}

[[Category:2006 League of Ireland Premier Division| ]]
[[Category:2006–07 in European association football leagues|Ireland]]
[[Category:2005–06 in European association football leagues|Ireland]]
[[Category:League of Ireland Premier Division seasons]]