| Select Year | ||
Although many sections of the media were tipping Cork City for a European place or even a title challenge in their first year back in the top flight, most on Leeside accepted that consolidation was the order of the day.
That was exactly what they got too, with the Rebel Army eventually finishing sixth in the league table. It wasn’t exactly a stellar campaign, with many of the first team squad in virgin territory with regards to the Premier Division, and they took time to really settle in, and adjust to the step up in class.
City finished the season strongly however, to secure a very welcome Setanta Sports Cup place for 2013.
On the cup front, things weren’t so great. The 2011 finalists crashed out at the second round of the EA Sports Cup, losing 3-0 to eventual First Division champions Limerick at Jackman Park, while Tommy Dunne’s men went down 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght in the last 16 of the FAI Cup.
Note 1: Monaghan United withdrew from the league after 14 games. Their record was expunged.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sligo Rovers (C) | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 53 | 23 | 30 | 61 |
| 2 |  Drogheda United | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 57 |
| 3 |  St Patrick | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 44 | 22 | 22 | 55 |
| 4 |  Shamrock Rovers | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 56 | 37 | 19 | 52 |
| 5 |  Derry City | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 39 |
| 6 |  Cork City | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 38 | 36 | 2 | 36 |
| 7 |  Bohemians | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 36 |
| 8 |  Shelbourne | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 35 |
| 9 |  UCD | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 31 |
| 10 |  Bray Wanderers | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 54 | −21 | 25 |
| 11 |  Dundalk | 30 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 23 | 63 | −40 | 20 |
| 12 |  Monaghan United (R) Note 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
