| Season | 1956–57 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Shamrock Rovers (8th title) |
| European Cup | Shamrock Rovers |
| Matches played | 132 |
| Goals scored | 484 (3.67 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Tommy Hamilton Donal Leahy (15 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Waterford 10–2 Limerick |
| Biggest away win | Limerick 1–6 Shelbourne F.C. Shelbourne 0–5 Evergreen United |
| Highest scoring | Waterford 10–2 Limerick |
| ← 1955–56 1957–58 → | |
The 1956–57 League of Ireland was the 36th season of senior football in the Republic of Ireland.
St Patrick's Athletic were the defending champions.
Changes from 1955–56 season
No new teams were elected to the League.
Teams
Dublin
CorkDundalkSligoLimerickWaterfordclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 1954–55 League of Ireland teams
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Cork Athletic | Cork (Mardyke) | Mardyke |
| Drumcondra | Dublin (Drumcondra) | Tolka Park |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Evergreen United | Cork (Turners Cross) | Turners Cross |
| Limerick | Limerick | Markets Field |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Milltown) | Glenmalure Park |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Ringsend) | Shelbourne Park |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park |
| Transport | Dublin (Harold's Cross) | Harold's Cross Stadium |
| Waterford | Waterford | Kilcohan Park |
Season overview
Shamrock Rovers won their eighth title and qualified for the following season's European Cup.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 68 | 24 | +44 | 36 | Qualification for European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Drumcondra | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 49 | 28 | +21 | 31 | |
| 3 | Sligo Rovers | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 29 | |
| 4 | Evergreen United | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 27 | |
| 5 | Transport | 22 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 26 | |
| 6 | Shelbourne | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 24 | |
| 7 | Waterford | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 22 | |
| 8 | Cork Athletic | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 18 | Resigned |
| 9 | St Patrick's Athletic | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 55 | −22 | 17 | |
| 10 | Dundalk | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 16 | |
| 11 | Bohemians | 22 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 56 | −36 | 9 | |
| 12 | Limerick | 22 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 21 | 59 | −38 | 7 |
Notes:
- Shelbourne were deducted two points by the League.
Results
| Home \ Away | BOH | CAT | DRU | DUN | EVE | LIM | SHM | SHE | SLI | STP | TRA | WAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemians | — | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Cork Athletic | 2–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Drumcondra | 1–0 | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 |
| Dundalk | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Evergreen United | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 |
| Limerick | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–6 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–2 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Shelbourne | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 1–0 | 2–5 | — | 3–0 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Sligo Rovers | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | — | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 3–2 | 1–6 | 1–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Transport | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 6–1 | 0–0 | 5–4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–2 |
| Waterford | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 10–2 | 3–5 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | — |
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Hamilton | Shamrock Rovers | 15 |
| Donal Leahy | Evergreen United | 15 | |
| 3 | Austin Noonan | 13 | |
| 4 | Jack Fitzgerald | Waterford | 12 |
| Dessie Glynn | Shelbourne | ||
| 6 | Willie Coleman | Drumcondra | 11 |
| Tommy Collins | Cork Athletic | ||
| Vincent Morrison | Sligo Rovers | ||
| 9 | Jackie McCourt | Drumcondra | 10 |
| Jack Walsh | Sligo Rovers |
| 1956–57 in European football (UEFA) | |
|---|---|
| « 1955–56 1957–58 » | |
| Domestic leagues |
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| Domestic cups |
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| League cups | |
| UEFA competitions | |
| Non-UEFA competitions | |