Waterford will begin life in the SSE Airtricity League First Division away to Athlone Town.
The Blues were relegated back to the First Division in the playoffs at the hands of Colm Whelan and UCD who can look forward to top-flight football for 2022.
This year’s league structure has changed thanks to the merger of Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely into the one club (as Bray Wanderers), reducing the league from ten to nine teams.
They will host Cork City on the opening day of the season while Treaty United are away to Wexford.
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Longford Town’s return to the First Division sees them host Cobh Ramblers.
Bray Wanderers – who have merged with Cabinteely – will host Cork City, while Treaty United are away to Wexford.
The season begins on Friday, February 18th, with Galway United into action the following week away to Cork City.
The fixtures for next year’s Premier Division will be released at 5 on Monday evening.
Promotion/Relegation
For the 2022 season, the nine-team format will see the SSE Airtricity First Division champions promoted automatically to the Premier Division with the sides finishing in second, third, fourth and fifth spots contesting a promotion/relegation play-off series alongside the team that finishes ninth in the Premier.
The First Division teams finishing second and fifth and the teams in third and fourth place will play each other in a two-legged play-off with the winners then contesting a one-legged final. The winner of this tie will then play the team that finishes ninth in the Premier Division to secure the final top flight spot for the 2023 season.
All SSE Airtricity First Division games will be available on LOITV next season with details of the service to be announced early in the new year. All fixtures are subject to clubs meeting the licensing criteria to participate in the League of Ireland.
View all fixtures
Check out the full run of fixtures from February to November here, including play-offs and cup runs.
