title: 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division
text: # 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division
  
  The 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division season was the 12th season of the League of Ireland First Division.
  
  ## Overview
  
  The First Division was contested by 10 teams and Kilkenny City won the division.
  
  ## Final table
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Kilkenny City A.F.C. | 27 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 47 | 20 | +27 | 55 | Promoted to Premier Division |
  | 2 | Drogheda United F.C. | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 44 | Promoted to Premier Division |
  | 3 | Waterford United F.C. | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 44 | Lost promotion/relegation play-off |
  | 4 | Athlone Town A.F.C. | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 37 | |
  | 5 | Cobh Ramblers F.C. | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 34 | 28 | +6 | 35 | |
  | 6 | Galway United F.C. | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 38 | −5 | 35 | |
  | 7 | Longford Town F.C. | 27 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 34 | |
  | 8 | Monaghan United F.C. | 27 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 46 | −16 | 30 | |
  | 9 | St Francis F.C. | 27 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 29 | 33 | −4 | 28 | |
  | 10 | Limerick F.C. | 27 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 55 | −32 | 20 | |
  
  * ↑ St Francis F.C. replaced St James's Gate F.C. before the season started. The latter were expelled from the league as they were unable to meet financial guarantees.
  
  ## Promotion/relegation play-off
  
  Third placed Waterford United played off against Dundalk F.C. who finished in tenth place in the 1996–97 League of Ireland Premier Division. The winner would compete in the 1997–98 League of Ireland Premier Division.
  
  ### 2nd leg
  
  Dundalk F.C. won 3–1 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division.
  
  