Ireland. Changes before the season: Galway Rovers renamed Galway United. Cork United went into bankruptcy and was out. Thurles Town, last in the 1981-82 season, was not re-elected and was out of the league. No new team was elected, so the league was reduced from 16 to 14 teams. There was no Second Division, thus, no direct promotions. The whole Europe was concerned with football becoming too dull and looking for the point instead of the win, so attempts to spur the game into more competitive – and hopefully, more attractive – spirit were starting. Ireland tried a new reward formula the previous year: 4 points for away win, 3 for home win, 2 for away draw, and 1 point for home draw. This was dropped for 1982-83 season and the point system, which eventually became universal, was introduced: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. After all that actual football was played. The better known clubs underperformed.
Bohemians finished 4th with 46 points. Shamrock Rovers was further down – 6th with 38 points. Dundalk was 3rd with 48 points. None was a factor this season.
At the bottom, the picture was painfully familiar – Thurles Town was far too weak in generally weak league the previous year. Now it was Home Farm – they finished last with 9 points. University College (Dublin) was hardly much better, but still got 16 points – 5 less than Sligo Rovers, which was also 5 points behind Galway United, which, in its turn, was 6 points behind Waterford. Apart from a race for the 2nd place, won by Drogheda United with 48 points, there was nothing competitive, regardless of the new point system. One team vastly dominated the championship, finishing with 65 points from 20 wins, 5 ties, and a single loss.
Athlone Town was enjoying its strongest period ever and won its 2nd title, after getting its 1st in 1980-81. And the championship was their sole success – the boys also won the League Cup for the second time, beating Dundalk 2-1 at the final. Splendid season.
The Cup Final opposed Bohemians to Sligo Rovers. Bohemians was the obvious winner: they did not have a strong year, but were among the top teams. On the other hand, Sligo Rovers was miserable with only 2 teams weaker than them in the championship. But a Cup final… that is different. Sligo Rovers fought bravely and clinched a 2-1 victory.
In a way, Sligo Rovers had even better reason to celebrate than Athlone Town – they won the Irish Cup for the 1st time. Wonderful success of the underdog.