Late goals, young players and real thrills - understanding the growth of domestic soccer

A recently overheard conversation on a train between a father and his young son about their favourite footballers brought a nice surprise. While the son started with the predictable Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland, he also included a mention for Bohemians now departed Jonathan Afolabi.

While there have obviously always been young fans of the League of Ireland, the ever-increasing crowds at domestic games in recent years shows that the league and its players are viewed with more esteem, especially among younger fans. A league that has had a slightly niche following, is now much trendier.

But what trends have been happening on the pitch in recent years and what indicators do they give us for the 2024 season?

There has been increases in goals scored, match competitiveness and the age profile of players. These can all help the appeal of the league.

Goals

The number of goals scored per game has often gone through different phases. From the last season of winter football in 2003 until 2009 the league averaged 2.32 goals per game and was never above 2.41 in a single season. But from 2010 to 2018 the average went up to 2.70 and never dropped below 2.58. Fuelled by Dundalk having between 2014 and 2018 the five best goals per games of any team over a full season since 1987, the 2010s had comfortably more goals that the 90s or 00s.

2019 and 2020 brought big decreases in goals scored but the last three years have seen the average in the Men's Premier Division trend upwards.

That change is also seen in fewer scoreless draws of which there has been an average of 11 in the last three years, fewer than the 15 from 2010 to 2018. There was 21 in 2019 and 10 in 2020's half-season.

One reason goal-scoring is on the up is that more goals are