The Scottish Professional Football League Premiership was formed in 2013 when the Scottish Premier League ( SPL , founded 1998) "re-merged" with the Scottish Football League (founded 1890) to once again form a single governing body for senior league clubs in Scotland, the Scottish Professional Football League ( SPFL ). All four divisions within the league structure were re-branded, with the Premiership as the top level with the Championship , League 1 and League 2 beneath. The following Northern Ireland players have featured in the Premiership to date... Liam Boyce (Ross County) Conor Brennan (Kilmarnock) Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock) Ben Hall (Motherwell) Josh Magennis (Aberdeen, St Mirren , Kilmarnock) Alan Mannus (St Johnstone) Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) Ryan McGivern (Hibernian) Ryan McLaughlin ( Aberdeen ) Michael McGovern (Hamilton Academical) Billy McKay (Inverness Caledonian Thistlem Dundee Unired ) Rory McKeown (Kilmarnock) Brian McLean ...