| Select Year | ||
This was an eventful season for City in many ways: the sacking of O’Keefe, another relegation battle, a first FAI Cup final appearance and a European qualification at the end of it all.
Poor early form and attendances cast doubts over O’Keefe’s tenure and there was an acrimonious parting of the ways before Christmas with O’Mahony re-installed to guide the ship to safety. The side battled to finish eighth in the league and produced brave but unsuccessful defences of the Munster and League Cups. Losing to treble champions Derry City in the FAI Cup decider earned the club its first European ticket.
League of Ireland Premier Division 1988-1989
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derry City (C) | 33 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 49 | 53 |
| 2 | Dundalk | 33 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 27 | 28 | 51 |
| 3 | Limerick | 83 | 18 | 9 | 56 | 37 | 20 | 45 |
| 4 | St. Patrick's Athletic | 33 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 21 | 43 |
| 5 | Bohemians | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 43 | -2 | 30 |
| 6 | Athlone Town | 33 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 33 | -3 | 29 |
| 7 | Shamrock Rovers | 33 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 42 | -8 | 29 |
| 8 | Cork City | 33 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 36 | -7 | 26 |
| 9 | Shelbourne | 33 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 40 | -14 | 26 |
| 10 | Galway United | 33 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 56 | -22 | 25 |
| 11 | Cobh Ramblers (R) | 33 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 54 | -25 | 21 |
| 12 | Waterford United (R) | 33 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 58 | -37 | 18 |
