| Season | 1997–98 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Cliftonville 3rdIrish title |
| Relegated | Ards |
| Matches | 180 |
| Goals | 469 (2.61 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Vinny Arkins (22 goals) |
1998–99 → | |
The1997–98 Irish League was the 97th edition of theIrish League, the highest level of league competition inNorthern Irishfootball. The league consisted of 10 teams, andCliftonville won the championship.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cliftonville(C) | 36 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 49 | 37 | +12 | 68 | Qualification for theChampions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Linfield | 36 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 50 | 19 | +31 | 64 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first qualifying round |
| 3 | Portadown | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 50 | 38 | +12 | 60 | |
| 4 | Glentoran | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 52 | 34 | +18 | 59 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup qualifying round |
| 5 | Ballymena United | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 51 | |
| 6 | Crusaders | 36 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 51 | |
| 7 | Coleraine | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 43 | |
| 8 | Glenavon | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 47 | 56 | −9 | 39 | |
| 9 | Omagh Town | 36 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 43 | 68 | −25 | 31 | Promotion/relegation play-off andIntertoto Cup first round |
| 10 | Ards(R) | 36 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 31 | 63 | −32 | 23 | Relegation to theFirst Division |
Matches 1–18[edit]
Source:Irish League Archive Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. | Matches 19–36[edit]
Source:Irish League Archive Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
|
| Champions | Newry Town |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Newry Town |
| Matches | 112 |
| Goals | 350 (3.13 per match) |
1998–99 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newry Town(C, P) | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 61 | 18 | +43 | 65 | Promotion to thePremier Division |
| 2 | Bangor | 28 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 26 | +25 | 58 | Qualification for thepromotion/relegation play-off |
| 3 | Distillery | 28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 51 | |
| 4 | Dungannon Swifts | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 63 | 49 | +14 | 48 | |
| 5 | Ballyclare Comrades | 28 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 47 | 45 | +2 | 42 | |
| 6 | Larne | 28 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 30 | 58 | −28 | 26 | |
| 7 | Limavady United | 28 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 29 | 61 | −32 | 18 | |
| 8 | Carrick Rangers | 28 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 21 | 59 | −38 | 12 |
Omagh Town, who finished in the relegation play-off place, facedBangor, the 2nd-placed team in theFirst Division, in a two-legged tie for a place in next season'sIrish League Premier Division.
Omagh Town won 6–0 on aggregate