To facilitate this expansion there was no promotion/relegation play-off this season and only one team, Dublin City, were automatically relegated.
Shelbourne had not quite sealed the title yet, though, as Cork City had reached second place and were just four points behind with four games remaining.
If Shelbourne had beaten Longford Town the following day they would be nine points clear with Cork City having just three games remaining.
Both Cork City and Shelbourne won their remaining games before the final round of matches.
This meant that Shelbourne retained the league title and Cork City would have to be satisfied with second place.