1996-97 1.Kilkenny City 27 15 10 2 47 20 55 - Promoted 2.Drogheda United 27 12 8 7 44 27 44 - Promoted 3.Waterford United 27 12 8 7 41 28 44 - Playoff 4.Athlone Town 27 10 7 10 40 39 37 5.Cobh Ramblers 27 9 8 10 34 28 35 6.Galway United 27 9 8 10 33 38 35 7.Longford Town 27 7 13 7 31 38 34 8.Monaghan United 27 7 9 11 30 46 30 9.St.Francis 27 7 7 13 29 33 28 10.Limerick FC 27 4 8 15 23 55 20 NB: St. James's Gate were replaced by St. Francis Promotion/Relegation Playoff: First leg: Dundalk 3 Waterford United 0 Second leg: Waterford United 1 Dundalk 0 Dundalk win 3-1 on aggregate Authors: Julian Canny and Damian Byrne (C) Copyright Julian Canny, Damian Byrne and RSSSF 2000/13