The Irish President’s Cup, played on Saturday between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, kicks off a new season of Men’s and Women’s professional soccer in Ireland. The Republic’s leagues are growing in popularity, finances, competitiveness and literal size this year, meaning it is a great time to commit to supporting an Irish club. That support is made easy with LOITV.ie’s €100 season pass, which allows you to watch every Men’s Premier and First Division contest, as well as every Women’s Premier Division game, live or on replay for the 2026 season. The streams are not always immaculate, but rest easy knowing that no game will be interrupted by VAR.
Premier Division Preview
The President’s Cup pits the preseason title favorites against each other. Shamrock Rovers aim to restart their consecutive league championship streak—they won four league titles in a row to 2023—and won again last season; while Derry City have brought home their Republic of Ireland centurion James McClean for the club’s quest for its first league title of the 21st Century.
Another reason to support a League of Ireland club is the competitiveness now found throughout the league. The modern Premier Division is 10 fully professional clubs. Dublin’s Shelbourne have paid potentially the first six-figure transfer fee by an Irish team to bring Belfast defender Odhrán Casey south from Cliftonville, as the Joey O’Brien-managed squad aim to recapture the magic of their 2024 title winning season. Their north-side neighbors Bohemians bring a massive fanbase to the field, and will hope to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. Stephen Kenny, former manager of the Republic team, coaches his second season with St. Patrick’s Athletic.
Women’s National League back-to-back champions for 2024 and 2025 Athlone Town warming up ahead of the Women’s FAI Cup Final against Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium on Oct. 19 last, which they won to complete the double. [Inpho/Bryan Keane]
Kenny’s son, Eoin Kenny will to fire in enough goals this year to restore Dundalk as Premier League competitors among the clubs in the provinces, following their promotion from the First Division. County Louth rivals to the south, Drogheda United, have restocked their roster with American talent. Sligo Rovers have managed to hang onto talismanic striker Owen Elding after 16 goals at the age of only 18 last year made him a million Euro target for European clubs. Meanwhile, Waterford and Galway United hope to spring some surprises.
The Premier Division kicks off Feb. 6. In June, Irish clubs will enter the qualifiers for all of the European Champions’, Europa, and Conference Leagues for the first time ever, after years of increasing European success.
First Division Preview
The First Division is Cork City’s to lose on their fourth relegation to the league since 2020. Their county rivals Cobh Ramblers, along with Bray Wanderers, believe their continued emphasis on youthful talent will grow their promotion chances. Limerick’s Treaty United, the college student squad from UCD, the league’s newest squad, Kerry and Wexford will all build toward qualifying for the promotion playoff. The Longford Town vs. Athlone Town Midlands’ derby, El Clásico, is box-office viewing regardless of the teams’ league standing.
My own rooting interest in Ireland lies with Finn Harps, who aim to build towards promotion with a locally produced roster, including three teenagers who competed with the group champion Irish under-17 at the 2025 U-17 World Cup.
The growth of English Premier League soccer on American televisions following the 2010 World Cup has coincided with an avalanche of articles encouraging us to “pick our Premier League Club”—usually based on matching the qualities of an English soccer team to an NFL fanbase. A real connection with a club actually makes fandom passionate, however. My ancestors came from Donegal, and Finn Harps, whose stadium lies on the River Finn in the county, lets me own a piece of the club’s success and legacy through its Cooperative Society. Bohemians and Sligo Rovers offer the same chance in the Premier Division, while Shamrock Rovers, Athlone Town, and Wexford maintain elements of fan ownership. And Supporters Trusts exist at a number of other teams. Finding a connection with any club in Ireland offers the chance to enjoy the growth of the League of Ireland, the Greatest League in the World.
Women’s Premier Division
Speaking of growth, the Women’s Premier Division, playing since 2023, kicks off on March 14. Back-to-back Champions Athlone Town have real competition this season from Shamrock Rovers, who just signed Ireland’s player Ellen Molloy from Wexford. All women’s games stream on LOITV as well, with a weekly game on TG4. The 12-team league is quickly becoming the starting ground for the Women’s National Team, as well as a career path for American women’s college soccer players.
New Third Tier
This fall sees the start of the new third tier of men’s soccer. Counties Kildare, Kilkenny, and Mayo all get club representatives in Ireland’s soccer pyramid, with 20 teams total spread across North and South divisions making up the league. The future goal is a Promotion/Relegation structure into the First Division.
Chris Connell lives in Columbus, Ohio.
