| Select Year | ||
Rob Hindmarch took the reins, but it was obvious he had inherited a mess. The club was in the mire, the stadium dragging it under. In mid-season the receiver was called in and the club was left homeless. Frantic efforts to save the situation saw a new Board installed and a move to Turners Cross. Penniless, Hindmarch had skimmed along with bargain basement imports but relegation still threatened, a three-point deduction adding to the problems. A Cup exit saw Dave Barry appointed and the team gleaned enough points to scramble to ninth. They lost the Munster Cup decider to junior side Waterford Glass.
Note 1: Shelbourne qualified for the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup after winning the 1995–96 FAI Cup final.
Note 2: Cork City F.C. were docked 3 points for fielding an ineligible player. The club went into liquidation in January 1996 but were saved from extinction after moving from Bishopstown Stadium to Turners Cross.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  St. Patrick's Athletic (C) | 33 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 53 | 34 | 19 | 67 |
| 2 |  Bohemians | 33 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 60 | 29 | 31 | 62 |
| 3 |  Sligo Rovers | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 45 | 38 | 7 | 55 |
| 4 |  Shelbourne | 33 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 54 |
| 5 |  Shamrock Rovers | 33 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 50 |
| 6 |  Derry City | 33 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 50 | 38 | 12 | 46 |
| 7 |  Dundalk | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 38 | 39 | -1 | 42 |
| 8 |  UCD | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 38 | 40 | -2 | 42 |
| 9 |  Cork City | 33 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 41 |
| 10 |  Athlone Town | 33 | 8 | 7 | 18 | 38 | 59 | -21 | 31 |
| 11 |  Drogheda United (R) | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 39 | 51 | -12 | 30 |
| 12 |  Galway United (R) | 33 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 26 | 67 | -41 | 21 |
