Five talking points from the 2024-25 Irish League season

Linfield were presented with the Gibson Cup before their league game at home to Glentoran on 5 April

Cliftonville's victory over Coleraine in the Uefa Conference League play-off finally brought the curtain down on an intriguing Irish League season which provoked plenty of talking points.

In terms of silverware, it was a campaign which saw Linfield regain their place at the top of the pile in the Irish Premiership, Dungannon Swifts lift the Irish Cup for the very first time, Cliftonville collect the BetMcLean Cup, Glentoran win the County Antrim Shield and Bangor return to the top flight.

There was plenty happening off the pitch too with actual and anticipated new investment and ownership at some clubs, managerial changes, pre-contract transfer sensations and a first for the Irish League in Europe.

BBC Sport NI looks back at some of the main issues that grabbed our attention during the 2024-25 term.

Linfield back on top

After two years of finishing runners-up to Larne, Linfield regained the Irish Premiership title and achieved a record-extending 57th domestic crown in the most convincing fashion.

David Healy's side became the first team to secure an unassailable lead at the top of the division before the league splits into a top six and bottom six for the final five rounds of fixtures.

The Blues' supremacy was so total that their coronation as champions seemed only a matter of time months before their success was confirmed in March.

Raith Rovers' failed bid to prise manager Healy away from Windsor Park at the start of the season and Coleraine's dramatic securing of pre-contract agreement with star winger Joel Cooper failed to derail the south Belfast club's dominance.

The challenge for Linfield now is to plan for life without the player who was ultimately named the Football Writers' Player of the Year as they attempt to make significant progress in European competition and make it back-to-back title successes.

Larne's European adventure

Larne celebrate their winning goal against Gent in December

Larne broke new ground for the Irish League by becoming the first club to qualify for the league or group stage of a major European competition.

Their advancement in the Uefa Conference League saw them come up against some leading European teams, although they had to wait until their final match to celebrate their first win, a memorable 1-0 victory over Belgian outfit Gent at Windsor Park in December.

The east Antrim club's continental odyssey led to significant fixture congestion but the Invermen recovered to earn the second place finish in the league which ensured that they will take their place in the Uefa Conference League qualifying stages thanks to impressive results late in the season and a parallel dip in form by Glentoran.

Larne's season on the pitch came against a backdrop of some intrigue in the boardroom and in the dugout.

Tiernan Lynch moved on to Derry City in November and was initially replaced as manager by ex-Bruno's Magpies boss Nathan Rooney but on the discovery that he did not possess the necessary coaching badge for European competition, Gary Haveron stepped up from assistant coach to assume the role of head coach.

Swifts are season's surprise packets

Dungannon Swifts players run to celebrate their Irish Cup win over Cliftonville

Without the financial firepower being pumped into other clubs, Dungannon Swifts belied the fact that they were working on a fraction of the budget of the league's big spenders by finishing in a remarkable fourth position in the Premiership.

Rodney McAree's charges were the undoubted surprise packet of the season as they mixed it with the big boys and earned tangible reward for their endeavours by winning the Irish Cup in dramatic style thanks to a penalty shootout win over Cliftonville after having defender Steven Scott sent-off in the second half.

That landmark success secured European qualification for the Stangmore Park side, along with all the financial rewards that accompany it.

Many expected Dungannon to falter after their impressive early-season form but the Swifts retained their quality and consistency to consolidate their berth in the top half of the table.

The Reds meanwhile recovered from the disappointment of their cup final defeat to qualify for Europe via the play-offs, completing a rollercoaster campaign which saw them finish in a lowly seventh spot in the league but collect the BetMcLean Cup by beating Glentoran.

Managerial merry-go-round

Paddy McLaughlin returned to Irish League management with Glenavon

The 2024-25 season saw five of the 12 clubs in the top division part ways with their manager and make new appointments.

Carrick Rangers were the first to opt for a change as their poor early form put pay to Stuart King's tenure, with former Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter drafted in as his replacement. The club subsequently avoided the drop by comprehensively defeating Annagh United in a play-off.

In November, Glenavon replaced Stephen McDonnell with Paddy McLaughlin as they hovered perilously close to the relegation zone, the ex-Cliftonville boss going on to guide the Lurgan Blues to safety.

In the same month, Lynch vacated his position at Larne to take up the reins at Derry City, with Rooney and then Haveron subsequently appointed.

Loughgall being cut adrift at the foot of the standings led to Dean Smith's departure and the arrival of the experienced Darren Murphy to see out the season and attempt to secure promotion at the first time of asking in 2025-26.

Finally, Dean Shiels parted company with Coleraine before the play-offs despite clinching a top-five spot.

New majority shareholder Henry Ross put his stamp on the club with the appointment of former Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins and much of the focus next season will be on how the Bannsiders progress with Cooper and likely other new additions in their ranks.

Bangor back in the big time

Lee Feeney guided Bangor to promotion to the top flight

Bangor wrote another chapter in the remarkable story of their revival in recent seasons by sealing their return to the top flight in which they last competed in 2009.

Lee Feeney's side proved effective frontrunners as they led the Championship for almost the entire campaign, a 1-0 win over H&W Welders in 19 April confirming their promotion as winners of the second tier.

It was a second elevation in recent seasons after the Seasiders won the Premier Intermediate title in 2023.

Bangor also excelled in the Irish Cup, claiming the scalp of Declan Devine's Glentoran on their way to the semi-finals, where they succumbed to eventual winners Dungannon.