 St Francis continued to be one of the top Leinster Senior League sides and when St. James's Gate were expelled from the League of Ireland First Division, St Francis were invited to apply along with two other clubs to take their place.The club's first senior game was a drab drawn tie against Longford Town in the League of Ireland Cup.Their first League of Ireland game ended in a 4–0 defeat to Waterford United on 11 October 1996.