1940–41 League of Ireland
# 1940–41 League of Ireland

The 1940–41 League of Ireland was the twentieth season of the League of Ireland. St James's Gate were the defending champions.

Cork United won their first title.

## Overview

Sligo Rovers resigned from the League voluntarily, resulting in a reduction in size from twelve to eleven teams.

After finishing with the same number of points, Cork United and Waterford were due to contest a Championship playoff at the Mardyke on 11 May 1941. However, Waterford refused to compete due to a failure to agree terms for the playoff and Cork United were subsequently awarded the title.

## Teams

| Team | Location | Stadium |
| - | - | - |
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Bray Unknowns | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
| Brideville | Dublin (The Liberties) | Harold's Cross Stadium |
| Cork United | Cork | Mardyke |
| Drumcondra | Dublin (Clonturk) | Clonturk Park |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Limerick | Limerick | Markets Field |
| St. James's Gate | Dublin (Drimnagh) | Iveagh Grounds |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Milltown) | Glenmalure Park |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Ringsend) | Shelbourne Park |
| Waterford | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Cork United | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 50 | 23 | +27 | 30 |
| 2 | Waterford | 20 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 62 | 31 | +31 | 30 |
| 3 | Bohemians | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 52 | 44 | +8 | 23 |
| 4 | Shamrock Rovers | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 48 | 43 | +5 | 21 |
| 5 | St James's Gate | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 21 |
| 6 | Drumcondra | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 20 |
| 7 | Dundalk | 20 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 19 |
| 8 | Brideville | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 39 | 57 | −18 | 16 |
| 9 | Limerick | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 44 | −17 | 16 |
| 10 | Shelbourne | 20 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 23 | 31 | −8 | 15 |
| 11 | Bray Unknowns | 20 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 29 | 55 | −26 | 9 |

## Results

| Home \ Away | BOH | BRY | BRI | CUF | DRU | DUN | LIM | SHM | SHE | STG | WAT |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Bohemians | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 6–4 | 6–1 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 5–1 |
| Bray Unknowns | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–4 |
| Brideville | 2–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Cork United | 1–2 | 2–1 | 7–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 1–2 |
| Drumcondra | 2–1 | 5–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 3–2 |
| Dundalk | 4–0 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–3 | — | 7–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–3 |
| Limerick | 4–2 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 3–0 | — | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 3–4 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 |
| Shelbourne | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–2 |
| St James's Gate | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–2 |
| Waterford | 3–0 | 5–2 | 6–3 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — |

## Championship playoff

After finishing with the same number of points, Cork United and Waterford were due to contest a Championship playoff at the Mardyke on 11 May 1941. However, Waterford refused to compete due to a failure to agree terms for the playoff, and Cork United were subsequently awarded the title.

## Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Michael O'Flanagan | Bohemians | 19 |
